Russell Martin: Southampton's penalty shootout hero Alex McCarthy 'brilliant'

Having lost his starting place in the Premier League to new arrival Aaron Ramsdale, McCarthy returned for Tuesday's cup tie to make his 150th appearance for the club.

The 34-year-old went on to secure his side a 6-5 triumph on penalties, following a 1-1 draw, when he diverted Ashley Young's spot-kick against the post, and Martin said: "What a guy.

"He was brilliant (against Everton), he was amazing last season, at the end of last season (when Southampton gained promotion via the Championship play-offs), we wouldn't have done it without him for sure, and then he's been an amazing team-mate, the way he has responded to losing his place to Rambo.

"Al is first and foremost a brilliant human being, and that helps, and then he puts the team first. He comes in and can perform like that - I thought he was great.

"He deserves it - I'm really pleased for Al that he had a moment with the fans chanting his name."

Abdoulaye Doucoure had put Everton in front with a 20th-minute header that was cancelled out by Taylor Harwood-Bellis just past the half hour.

The hosts were unable to make the most of some good opportunities, which included Jesper Lindstrom having shots saved by McCarthy either side of the equaliser.

The contest - for which Southampton's starting XI showed 10 changes, and Everton's eight - was a meeting between the two clubs to have opened their Premier League campaigns with four defeats from as many games.

They will bid again to get off the mark on Saturday, when Martin's men host Ipswich and Everton go to Leicester.

And when asked about trying to lift his squad after this latest blow, Everton boss Sean Dyche - who saw the Toffees go from leading 2-0 to losing 3-2 in their last two top-flight games, against Bournemouth and Aston Villa - said: "The truth is we've had a lot of challenges since I joined the club (in January 2023).

"It's been a constant challenge more or less. This is another one of them.

"Last season we had a very similar start, we were creating lots of chances, couldn't score goals. The difference was we were tight in games, and we haven't been tight, we're aware of that.

"A couple of things have really gone against us, with injuries, all of that. But the fact is, it's a very similar start, it's been there for four seasons now.

"We can't change it all overnight but we've sort of got to. We've got to get back to winning ways, and it's got to be the next game, and I'm well aware of that.

"We've had the chance to win games, obviously the last two games particularly. We've had chances again (against Southampton) to win.

"If it's been a longer term thing, then you are scratching your head going 'why is that?' You can't find every answer, each week that you find them, that's what I'm attempting to do. That's my job, to find answers, short term, middle term and long term. The first thing is short term, so we need to win games." 

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