Everton were lucky to scrape a point after being outfought and out battled by Gordon Strachan's Southampton in this 0-0 draw.
Their passion and desire were superior to the home side but despite chance after chance for James Beattie they just couldn't find the back of the net.
The Toffees' James McFadden fired the first warning shot in the fourth minute exchanging passes with Thomas Gravesen before launching a curling shot that Saints keeper Antti Niemi just managed to hold.
Francis Jeffers was up next with a fine effort from a long ball by Nigel Martyn but again Niemi was up to the challenge, before Kevin Campbell fired wide from a Steve Watson cross.
But with 25 minutes gone the visitors began to take control with Everton unable to keep hold of possession for a ten-minute spell.
The home fans were getting on their players' backs and a blunder in the 32nd minute by Martyn didn't help matters. He raced out of his box to clear a loose ball but his horrendous slice left him stranded and Beattie in possession.
As he ran back to his goal line the Southampton hit man launched a dipping shot, but a relieved Martyn watched gratefully as it fell just wide.
Everton managed to wrestle back control as the end of the first half approached but after the whistle they were on the back foot for 45 minutes.
Southampton had three shots in a minute with Beattie heading over, Brett Ormerod testing the keeper with a stinging shot and Fabrice Fernandes firing high.
And the efforts kept coming, Beattie headed over from a Fernandes cross as the Saints piled on more and more pressure. Rory Delap had two good chances and both made Martyn earn his keep as the Saints dominated the game.
Everton offered little resistance in midfield with Gravesen the main culprit. His passing was awful and lack of positional discipline left the Toffees back four exposed time and time again.
The home side did manage two efforts in the second half, but wasted both. The first was from a Gravesen cross which beat Southampton's defence before falling to McFadden, who put it wide.
And in the 67th minute a Jeffers' cross found Watson unmarked but he couldn't direct his header on target.
In the last minute of the game Saints substitute David Prutton could have made himself a hero when Beattie crossed to the young midfielder near the back post. But his volley was so far off target the ball went over the stands and the spoils were shared.