Southampton 2-0 Everton in tide-turning match at the Dell

But on that day, Alan Ball’s determined Saints side finally became the 'Ghostbusters', decisively smashing the long-standing Everton jinx with a commanding 2-0 victory at the Dell.

The roar of the crowd wasn't just for the goals, it was a cathartic release, celebrating the first time a Southampton team had triumphed over the Toffees since the heady days of 1984 – that golden era when Saints, in their pomp, finished runners-up only to the mighty Liverpool in the league. Not since then had the proud colours of the blue half of Merseyside been lowered by the South Coast club.

For manager Alan Ball, the fixture always held a special resonance. A true legend in the Everton annals, one of the finest talents ever to grace their pitch, facing his old club ignited a particular fire. 

He sent his Saints warriors out onto The Dell turf brimming with palpable intent and unwavering purpose. It helped that Southampton were already riding a wave of confidence, navigating a rich 'purple patch' of form. 

This crucial victory over their long-time bogey side wasn't just breaking a curse, it marked their fifth consecutive win, extending a burgeoning unbeaten streak to seven games.

The sheer quality dripping from the goals provided almost as much satisfaction as the result itself. 

The deadlock was broken after 18 minutes, woven from yet another moment of pure alchemy conjured by the club’s electrifying partnership - the talent of Ronnie Ekelund and, inevitably, the maestro himself, Matthew Le Tissier.

Ekelund, the multi-talented Danish magician on loan from the giants of Barcelona, instinctively swept a pass across the field to the waiting Le Tissier. 

'Le God' cushioned it imperiously on his chest before, with breathtaking technique, volleying a return pass right back into Ekelund's path. 

The Dane elegantly shrugged off the attentions of defender David Burrows before executing a sublime finish, clipping the ball with precision from a tight angle, sending it whispering past the despairing dive of the legendary Neville Southall and nestling just inside the far post.

It was a third goal in just three starts for Ekelund, a player who radiated star quality and looked every bit the future icon. 

Tragically, however, he carried the unseen burden of a persistent back problem. This injury would worsen, cruelly eroding his dazzling ability. 

When faced with the stark choice of surgery, Ekelund declined the knife, a decision that sadly saw his promising career fade far too prematurely.

But in that glorious moment, he was the toast of The Dell, a new hero emerging. 

Yet, the undisputed king remained Le Tissier, whose own phenomenal career was rapidly approaching its zenith. 

The crowd received another delicious reminder of his sublime, almost casual genius with just 18 minutes left on the clock. Spotting a channel invisible to mere mortals, he threaded a defence-splitting pass through the heart of the Everton backline for Neil Heaney. 

Heaney's subsequent cross was only partially repelled by the scrambling defence. 

Unfortunately for the beleaguered visitors, the ball fell invitingly, almost inevitably, to Le Tissier, who, with characteristic composure, steered it firmly home from 18 yards out.

This marked Le Tissier’s tenth goal of the campaign, adding yet more weight to the growing clamour for his inclusion in the England squad. 

For Everton, however, the defeat was another bitter pill, leaving them painfully anchored to the foot of the Premiership table. 

Manager Mike Walker faced a mounting headache, presiding over the club's most dismal start to a season since the distant echoes of 1926.

The Toffees, frankly, never looked like breaching the Saints' rear guard. 

Their cause wasn't helped when Southampton suffered an early blow, losing goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar to a depressed fracture of the cheekbone after a mere three minutes. 

The unfortunate injury occurred following a heavy collision with his own determined teammate, Francis Benali. 

Yet, Grobbelaar's replacement, the experienced Dave Beasant, enjoyed one of his more serene afternoons between the sticks. 

This was largely thanks to the commanding presence of Ken Monkou, who expertly snuffed out any potential threat posed by the former Saints centre-forward, Paul Rideout.

In stark contrast, his opposite number, Neville Southall, was frequently in the thick of the action. 

The Welsh custodian produced moments of brilliance, including a stunning save to deny an acrobatic overhead kick from Neil Maddison and bravely thwarting a powerful flying header from Iain Dowie. 

He also showed immense courage, diving bravely at the feet of Ekelund to prevent the Dane grabbing a second goal after Le Tissier had once again unlocked the defence to put him through.

But Southall's heroics were ultimately in vain. The day belonged to Southampton, Alan Ball's 'Ghostbusters', who had finally, emphatically, laid a decade-old ghost to rest.