James Ward-Prowse scored a stunning free-kick as Southampton came from behind to win and increase the pressure on Frank Lampard and Everton.
A season of frustration has seen the Toffees once again struggling at the wrong end of the table, and the discontent among the fans was clear at Goodison Park with banners displayed in protest at the club's owners.
Indeed, there was enough concern at the club for the safety of their board members that they were told to stay away from the ground.
The fans, though, were clearly behind their players, welcoming them to the ground with an incredible scene of blue flares and passionate chanting.
That support was rewarded just before half-time when, after a half low on quality from both sides, Everton took the lead when Amadou Onana headed home Demarai Gray's superb cross.
But Southampton, who shocked Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, turned it around in the second half thanks to Ward-Prowse.
He slotted in the equaliser after great footwork inside the box and, after Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit the crossbar, Ward-Prowse secured a huge three points for the Saints with a free-kick late on that left Jordan Pickford stranded.
“[I'm] really proud," said Saints manager Nathan Jones. “Proud of the football club. Proud of the team. Today we had to really dig in against a really physical side.
“It was really difficult to get any rhythm because of the physicality and they were very, very direct. Pickford kicks it a mile, they've got Calvert-Lewin and Onana and everyone around there. They're a very aggressive side.
“We had to match that, and I thought we did that in spells first half. In the second half I think we had the tempo and I thought we were a lot better for it second half. There's a few counterattacks either side and I thought if we had a bit more quality we could have extended it.
“It's a great group and I'm so proud of them. With the greatest of respect, [Everton] had the luxury of not playing in midweek and we've had to go through that. We had to chop and change with everything we've done. I'm really proud as they had to dig deep, and they had to go through some real physical barriers this week. We've had to demand from people."
On Ward-Prowse, he added, “He's a special Saint. Let's use that adjective and that sort of euphemism for him really. He's a special Saint. He's a wonderful technician, it's why he's the best there is. The energy, the work rate, how he leads the football club, what he does, the humility he shows, how he comes over adversity."
