Carlo Ancelotti says Everton will summon their reserves of “spirit and belief and attitude and ambition” to deliver a positive reaction to losing this season’s final unbeaten Premier League record at Southampton.

Everton fell behind to James Ward-Prowse’s goal on 27 minutes and Southampton scored again eight minutes later through Che Adams.

Lucas Digne was red carded with 18 minutes remaining to compound a bad afternoon for Ancelotti’s team.

Everton remain top of the table, however - and are the division’s third highest scorers despite Sunday’s blank – with a trip to Newcastle United next Sunday their first opportunity to hit back.

“This defeat doesn’t have to affect our belief and ambition,” Ancelotti told evertontv.

“We are still in a good position in the table and that is really important.

“I knew sooner or later the defeat would come and it arrived today.

“Now we have to behave properly, keeping the same spirit and attitude and belief and ambition.

“I'm disappointed we lost the game but I cannot forget what we did until now and we did really well, honestly.

“And we have to keep going to continue to do well. This is the point… we don't have to be too disappointed.

“We are still at the top of the table, that is an unbelievable achievement for us and we have to try to stay there.

“It was not a good performance but it came after a really good run for us. 

“We found a better team than us [on the day] and they won.”

Everton made three changes for the visit to Southampton and one of the men who came in, Gylfi Sigurdsson, struck the bar on 19 minutes.

Southampton responded with a shot from Oriol Romeu saved by Jordan Pickford.

But 60 seconds after Pickford repelled the Spaniard’s 30-yard drive, Ward-Prowse advanced onto Danny Ings’ return pass to fire beyond the Everton goalkeeper.

Striker Adams’ doubled the hosts' lead, via a deflection off Sigurdsson, prompting Ancelotti into a rush of changes.

Bernard was introduced at half-time and Anthony Gordon and Fabian Delph came on 13 minutes after the restart.

But Digne’s dismissal left Everton with too much to do.

“We tried to get back, we had some good control, the beginning to the game was not so bad and we had opportunities,” said Ancelotti.

“At some key points in the game Southampton were better than us.

“We had an opportunity to take the advantage with Sigurdsson.

“We made a mistake conceding the first goal and after that the game was really complicated.

“When Digne was sent off, the game was gone.

“We tried in the second half, with difficulties because Southampton were close and compact and we didn’t find a lot of space and opportunity.

“We have to accept the fact we didn’t play well and lost.”

Everton retain their advantage over Liverpool at the Premier League summit on goal difference.

Ancelotti’s side won four and drew one of their opening five games before suffering defeat against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team this weekend.

They are away from Goodson Park again in seven days, travelling to a Newcastle team which pinched a late draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

“We did not play as well as usual… but this doesn’t mean we lost attitude or spirit," continued Ancelotti.

“We fought and made a fantastic effort with 10 men.

“We did very well until today.

“We didn’t do very well today but we will do well again.

“It was not a good day for us, or for me.

“We have to go home, relax, and from Tuesday prepare for the next game.

“Every game is a test. Now we will check the players available to play against Newcastle and get ready for that match.”