Managerless Everton thrashed again

London - A managerless Everton endured more misery in a 4-1 thrashing at Southampton on Sunday.

At St Mary's, Everton's miserable season hit another low point as caretaker boss David Unsworth oversaw a fifth defeat in his seven matches in charge following Ronald Koeman's sacking.

Everton, linked with a move for Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill, are now just two points above the relegation zone.

Just days after a 5-1 humiliation against Atalanta in the Europa League, Unsworth's side were put to the sword by Charlie Austin, who hadn't scored a league goal in open play for almost a year.

Having hit just nine goals in their previous 12 league games, Southampton took advantage of woeful Everton defending to win for the first time in four league matches.

Dusan Tadic put Saints ahead in the 18th minute when he beat Phil Jagielka to Ryan Bertrand's pass and held off the England international before guiding the ball past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised for Everton on the stroke of half-time, the Iceland midfielder cleverly working space for a superb 25-yard strike that went in off the crossbar.

But Southampton needed just seven second-half minutes to regain their advantage as Austin headed home from Bertrand's cross.

Austin repeated the feat six minutes later, arriving free in the Everton area to nod Tadic's cross home.

Steven Davis got Southampton's fourth in the 87th minute with an angled finish to cap a wretched day for the visitors.