What Beto did after FT sums up new issue as Everton forward close to tears

What Beto did after full time sums up Sean Dyche issue as Everton forward close to tears again

Snap analysis from Chris Beesley after Everton's dismal 1-0 loss to Southampton

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Just seven days after he was thumping the Goodison Park turf in a passionate outpouring of emotion following his stoppage time equaliser against Fulham, Beto, again brought on to try and be Everton’s saviour, looked close to tears at St Mary’s after being denied a goal.

Rewarded for his contributions against the Cottagers last time out with a lengthier cameo this time around, the striker got his most substantial Premier League run-out of the campaign to date as he came on for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who, for all his endeavours, had not enjoyed any clear openings, just after the hour mark.

While he might still be rougher around the edges than the Blues’ number nine, once again, the £25.8million signing from Udinese was able to come on and fashion some opportunities after previous outings of just 14 minutes (against Brighton & Hove Albion); 18 minutes (Tottenham Hotspur); two minutes (Bournemouth); nine minutes (Aston Villa) and nine minutes (Fulham).

At this level though you have to be ruthless and while Beto was able to get on the end of chances in a way Calvert-Lewin had not, after coming agonisingly close with a header that rattled the crossbar, Southampton launched a devastating counter-attack and were scoring the only goal of the game down at the other end.

There was more frustration to come as Beto then had the ball in the net, again latching on to a pass from James Tarkowski, this time a ball over the top, but despite his best efforts to try and force the issue and look the part as it were, defiantly picking up the ball out of the net and marching back to place it on the centre-spot, a lengthy VAR check came up with what felt like an inevitable decision to chalk off the equaliser for offside. These are the razor thin margins by which you live or die by in the Premier League.

Just as he was on Everton’s previous trip to the south coast against Bournemouth on March 30 when he did score a late equaliser but the hosts went on to net a last minute winner through a Seamus Coleman own goal, Beto, a player who like so many Evertonians, wears his heart on his sleeve, was left bereft. He won’t be the only one feeling such emotions on the long trip back up to Merseyside after this.

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