Everton came from a goal down to record a superb 2-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary's.

After a dominant first-half performance, the Toffees fell behind early in the second period when Saints' Joe Aribo's arrowed a shot into the corner of the net.

But the character and fighting spirit of Frank Lampard's side was on display once again, when Conor Coady tapped home from close range to ensure the visitors' response was instant.

Everton then hit the front moments later, Dwight McNeil firing past Gavin Bazunu with a venomous left-footed strike from an acute angle.

The win stretches Everton's unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions.

Boss Lampard made three changes from the side that defeated West Ham United last time out, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford returning to the starting line-up after overcoming a thigh problem.

Captain Seamus Coleman was handed his first Premier League appearance of the campaign in place of Nathan Patterson, who sustained an ankle injury while on international duty with Scotland.

Meanwhile, McNeil was recalled in attack in place of Anthony Gordon, who had been unwell in the build up to the match on the south coast.

Speaking in his pre-match interview, Lampard called on his side to build on their impressive recent displays, while warning a revitalised Saints outfit would pose a stern test at St Mary's.

Everton started the contest on the front foot, launching a first meaningful attack with less than two minutes on the clock.

Neal Maupay showed strong hold-up play against the towering Armel Bella-Kotchap - a theme throughout the afternoon - before finding Alex Iwobi in the left channel. The Nigerian's eventual cross fell agonisingly out of reach for Amadou Onana, but that move was to set the tone for the opening period.

Demarai Gray had Saints goalkeeper Bazunu panicked with a 30-yard free-kick that whistled inches wide of the target, before providing a low cross that was almost turned in by Coady moments later.

The Toffees remained in the ascendancy and Idrissa Gana Gueye, operating in a deep midfield role, was close to faultless in dealing with any rare traffic heading in the opposite direction.

Maupay threatened to break the deadlock five minutes before the interval but his header from McNeil's corner - one of the visitors' six in the opening period - was well held by Bazanu.

Southampton eventually registered their first shot on target two minutes later, but Pickford was more than equal to Stuart Armstrong's hopeful snap-shot from the edge of the penalty area.

If there were embers of life in the first half, the second half burst into flames in no time at all.

Aribo broke the deadlock inside four minutes of the restart, letting fly with a pinpoint shot beyond Pickford after an attack down the Blues' right side.

Everton's response, however, was clinical - and immediate.

Parity was soon restored when Gray's deep free-kick was headed back across the face of goal by Onana, leaving Coady with the simplest of tasks in tapping home from a few yards out.

It was no less than Lampard's side deserved - and neither was the strike to put them in front two minutes later.

After an Everton counter, it looked like Onana was destined to nod home Iwobi's cross but a questionable challenge from Kyle Walker-Peters took out the Belgian, as the ball rolled to McNeil at the back post.

The summer signing from Burnley had it all to do from a tight angle, but took a touch before lashing a ball past Bazunu with a fierce left-footed shot. 

A breathless encounter showed no sign of relenting and the Blues went close to extending their lead with a header from Onana after neat play by Coleman in the right channel.

Bazanu was then off his line quickly to deny Maupay before, at the other end, Pickford was on hand to produce a stunning diving save to keep out Armstrong's curling effort.

The Saints pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but Everton defended resolutely to protect a well-earned three points.