Tuesday 3 January 2017 19:31, UK
Ronald Koeman praised Enner Valencia for keeping Everton's European aspirations on track in their 3-0 win over Southampton.
The game at Goodison Park appeared to be heading for a drab 0-0 draw until the on-loan West Ham player was brought on just after the hour mark.
Valencia scored Everton's first goal before winning the penalty converted by Leighton Baines and then setting up Romelu Lukaku's late third to keep the Toffees seventh in the Premier League.
Koeman said: "Players like Enner Valencia are strong, they run and that is sometimes really difficult.
"Enner did well, not only for scoring the first goal but also for his performance. He brought what we missed in the first 60 minutes.
"We spoke about trying to be part of Europe for next season and that's still our target. We know it's not easy because more teams like to play in Europe.
"But I think the team is doing well at the moment. It is more competitive and we are strong at home. Winning 3-0 at home to Southampton is a big result."
After a run of five defeats in nine games, Everton have now gone unbeaten through the festive programme, winning 2-0 at Leicester and drawing 2-2 with Hull before their triumph over Southampton.
Koeman added: "That's really good. Everybody knows it's a hard, tough time with a lot of games but we are responding well.
"After the defeat to Liverpool at home, we were really disappointed but to get seven points from Leicester away, Hull away and Southampton at home is really good.
"I think we deserved those seven points. Today [Monday] it was not easy in the first half and there was not that intensity we like to bring to the game. The second half was much better."
With the transfer window now open, Koeman is looking to add to his squad.
The Goodison side have been linked with Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk.
However, Sky sources understand the south coast club's position on 25-year-old Van Dijk is that he will not leave in this window.
Koeman said: "There's always a lot of speculation and we know there is a lot of attention to the transfer window. We know what we would like to do and hopefully the board will fix that."
