Dwight McNeil admission after first Everton goal as…

Dwight McNeil admission after first Everton goal as Conor Coady proves he's the perfect signing

Here are your Everton evening headlines for Sunday, October 1.

McNeil reflects on first Toffees goal

Dwight McNeil admitted he remained confident his ‘drought’ would end so long as he kept focused on his own game.

The Everton winger scored his first goal for the club in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Southampton, rifling home the eventual winner from a tight angle in the 54th-minute. McNeil’s strike topped off a frantic five-minute period in which Joe Aribo opened the scoring for the home side, before Conor Coady equalised and the ex-Burnley man smashed home the winner.

As well as providing Frank Lampard with his second consecutive victory, McNeil’s finish ended an 18-month baron spell in which the winger failed to find the net. And speaking after the whistle, he acknowledged a difficult personal period - but added he knew the goals would come if remained focused on himself.

He said: “I know I hadn't scored in however many games before today, and I knew the drought was getting bigger and bigger. But I knew if I kept focusing on myself and kept playing well I knew it would come. And it did come.”

See what else McNeil had to say here.

Coady’s post-match message

Conor Coady insists he ‘wants to do anything’ to help his side after a battling performance contributed to yesterday’s victory.

Coady levelled the scoring from close-range after Amadou Onana’s knockdown, but will have enjoyed a string of committed challenges and saves from his defensive unit nearly as much.

He, along with James Tarkowski, Vitaliy Mykolenko and Seamus Coleman battled throughout and were able to keep Saints at bay after taking the lead, with an outstanding Jordan Pickford behind on the occasion he was called upon. Speaking after the final whistle, the on-loan defender admitted his eyes lit up as Onana headed the ball into his path.

And in a comment that will do even more to win over the Blue fanbase, Coady added: "It's the greatest feeling ever (scoring for Everton)...I want to do anything to help the team, whether it's a block on the line, a tackle, a goal at the other end...it's a real special feeling."

See what else Coady had to say here.

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