Matthew Le Tissier and Egil Ostenstad grabbed the goals but it was goalkeeper Paul Jones who made the headlines with a stunning virtuoso performance at The Dell.

Le Tissier scored his eighth of the season from the penalty spot after Slaven Bilic had been sent off for bringing down Ostenstad, who wrapped up the win three minutes from time with a powerful back-post header.

And despite Carl Tiler's last-minute consolation Howard Kendall's men were left glancing nervously over their shoulders at the relegation fight.

But Saints owed their win mainly to Jones, who had brilliantly saved Don Hutchison's first-half penalty after Ken Monkou had been the first into an early bath for a foul on Mickael Madar.

The Welsh international also pulled off a string of superb stops to keep the hosts in the game in the first hour as Everton dominated.

Ironically Jones had twice made a hash of attempted clearances early in the game on a surface which had been made greasy by torrential pre-match rain.

But it was not long before he demonstrated why he is rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the country with a fingertip save after 18 minutes to deny Hutchison his first goal for Everton.

The midfielder was unmarked just six yards out as he rose to meet John O'Kane's cross but his header was acrobatically tipped over by Jones.

Saints had enjoyed the majority of the early possession but they were grateful for the intervention of home debutant John Beresford as the visitors showed more of a cutting edge up front.

O'Kane's cross was cleared only as far as John Oster and his drive was heading for the back of the net before the former Newcastle man got in the way to divert it for a corner.

Beresford was making his home debut four weeks after his £1.5million move from Newcastle after a combination of suspension and away games kept him out of the side.

Everton welcomed back Nicky Barmby after a groin strain but were still without the services of Duncan Ferguson, who was serving the second match of a three-game suspension.

It was Barmby who was pulling the strings in midfield and his through ball should have seen the Toffeemen go ahead after 32 minutes.

Barmby's lofted through-ball beat the offside trap to put Madar clear on goal but his attempted lob of the advancing Jones lacked any conviction and the keeper gathered comfortably.

Saints failed to learn their lesson however and a near-identical move four minutes later again should have given Everton the goal their play deserved.

There was a large question mark over whether Madar was onside as he ran on to Gareth Farrelly's through-ball but there was no doubt that Ken Monkou, back after suspension, brought down the Frenchman as he rounded the keeper.

Referee David Elleray had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and was equally sure about deciding to reach for the red card to dismiss the Dutch defender.

But Jones has no intention of letting his hard work go to waste and he flung himself to his right to brilliantly save Hutchison's effort.

It took until the 43rd minute for Southampton to force Thomas Myhre into a save, the Norwegian keeper turning away David Hirst's powerful left-foot shot just before the break.

Jones was instantly called up to repeat his heroics at the start of the second half with two more quality stops.

Just two minutes after the break he tipped Farrelly's curling shot over the bar when it appeared destined for the top corner and moments later he got down quickly to gather Madar's low drive.

Saints' best effort came from Le Tissier, a typical right-foot drive flying inches past Myhre's left-hand post.

It then became a tale of two penalties as the tables were turned when Southampton were awarded a spot-kick and Everton reduced to 10 men.

This time Le Tissier sent Ostenstad clear and just as he pulled his leg back to shoot he was brought down by Bilic.

Again referee Elleray had no hesitation in pointing first to the spot and then to the dressing rooms as Bilic was shown the red card.

Le Tissier strolled up to calmly slot the ball past Myhre and put the home side in front after 68 minutes.

Everton refused to give up hope however and it was Jones again making a vital double save, first dashing from his line to frustrate substitute Danny Cadamarteri and then leaping to his feet to collect Madar's attempted lob.

But it was Saints who found the net again three minutes from the end, Ostenstad rising high at the far post to head Carlton Palmer's cross past a helpless Myhre.

Tiler reduced the deficit with a header from Barmby's corner that finally got past Jones but it was virtually the last action of the match and left Everton wondering how they came away without anything to show for their afternoon's work.

Teams

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Benali, Palmer, Monkou, Lundekvam, Le Tissier (Dryden 76), Oakley, Hirst, Ostenstad, Beresford.

Subs Not Used: Slater, Richardson, Williams, Moss.

Sent Off: Monkou (36).

Goals: Le Tissier 69 pen, Ostenstad 86.

Everton: Myhre, O'Kane, Watson, Bilic, Tiler, Ball, Barmby, Hutchison, Farrelly (Cadamarteri 74), Madar, Oster.

Subs Not Used: Dunne, Allen, Jevons, Gerrard.

Sent Off: Bilic (68).

Booked: Tiler, Hutchison, Madar.

Goals: Tiler 89.

Att: 15,102

Ref: D R Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).