SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) - Charlie Austin scored two goals on his first Premier League start this season as Southampton crushed Everton 4-1 Sunday.
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s long-range strike canceled out Dusan Tadic’s opener, but Austin scored two second-half headers before Steven Davis rounded off the scoring to give the Saints a deserved victory over its hapless opponent.
Former Everton player David Unsworth has been in temporary charge since Ronald Koeman was fired on Oct. 23, but has managed just one win during his seven-game tenure. The club is still searching for a permanent replacement, with Unsworth’s failure to improve results likely having ruled him out.
Everton is now 16th, just two points clear of the relegation zone. Southampton moved up to 10th.
Despite Southampton’s attacking struggles at home - it has failed to score 10 times in league games at its St Mary’s stadium in 2017 - it was able to create chances with ease on this occasion.
Austin had two chances to open the scoring early on as he blazed over after a corner, before hitting the post from close range four minutes later.
However, Tadic was more clinical in the 18th minute when Ryan Bertrand played him through on goal, coolly sliding his finish past Jordan Pickford.
Southampton seemed in complete control, but on the stroke of halftime Sigurdsson leveled with a dipping strike that hit three different parts of the woodwork before crossing the line.
Seven minutes after the break, Bertrand provided another fine assist by crossing to the near post where Austin headed onto the bar and in to restore the lead.
Austin wasn’t done there. Much like his first goal, he beat the Everton defense to the near post to head in Tadic’s cross just before the hour mark. Davis rounded off the win with a curling effort from the edge of the box three minutes from the end.
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