Everton manager Marco Silva was delighted to mark his first home match with a first Premier League victory since taking over at Goodison Park.

After digging deep with 10 men in last weekend’s draw at newly-promoted Wolves, the Toffees flew out of the blocks on home turf against Southampton, eventually winning 2-1.

Theo Walcott capped a fine free-kick routine with a 15th-minute opener that big-money summer signing Richarlison added to before the break.

Everton were made to sweat thanks to Saints’ vastly-improved
second-half display – but Mark Hughes’ men were unable to add to Danny Ings’ first goal for the club.

Silva said: “Everybody is happy. Important win for us, good performances in some moments. Fantastic atmosphere in our stadium. For our first match it is really good.

“That is something that I expected. I now hear there is a fantastic atmosphere during the matches.

“They know because I already told them, it is important for me and our players to feel them behind us always supporting our players.”

There was a feelgood factor around Goodison Park, especially with new boy Richarlison impressing once again.

The fee which brought the Brazilian from Silva’s former club Watford raised eyebrows – but a third goal in just two matches has helped quieten doubters.

Silva continued: “It is important for him. I don’t like to talk about individual players every time.

“Two games, three goals is important for him – but the first goal from Theo was important as well.”

In truth, it was all too easy for Everton as Southampton produced another meek first-half display.

Saints boss Mark Hughes said: “I think certainly in the first half even we find
ourselves 2-0 down but in general play we created any number of good chances.

“I thought at the time Danny had just missed his chance and hit the bar but in fairness their keeper (Jordan Pickford) has made an outstanding save to knock it on to the bar.

“At that point I thought we were in the ascendancy and we switched off on a free-kick.

“We see that movement time and time again and we should recognise it and deal with it and then we had opportunities to stop the ball at source and stop it being played into a good area. We didn’t and we are 2-0 down.

“Second half we got in the position where the positive from our point of view was Danny getting off on the scoring trail, which will help him on a personal level.

“We needed to try and gain momentum and pressurise them at that point.”

Former Liverpool striker Ings’ movement and threat caused Everton a headache throughout Saturday’s encounter.

Pickford reacted to one moment of threat with a no-nonsense clearance that infuriated Hughes, leaving the former Liverpool striker with five stud marks in his back and a ripped shirt.

“You saw the state of his shirt, it’s ripped off his back so clearly there is contact,” Hughes said.

“The referee was there. The linesman has a lot of experience. Didn’t see it apparently when we went to talk to them.

“I haven’t been in, my assistant has. They said it ‘happened a bit quick’.

“We will look at it back and take a view on it. In my view I didn’t feel he needed to follow through like he did.

“It’s not sour grapes and I’m not trying to get the kid in trouble, but it’s got to be consistent.”