Phil Jagielka insisted that Everton have some overdue momentum building after their 1-0 victory over Southampton this afternoon.

The Toffees captain scored what he admits to being a fortunate goal at Goodison Park to secure his side three straight Premier League wins for the first time this season.

This sequence of victories has lifted the Merseysiders to 11th in the table and, while admitting some frustration that this form has come too late in the campaign, Jagielka is determined for Everton to see it through to the end.

"The ball went in off my shin pad for the goal but who cares," he is quoted by BBC Sport as saying. "It was a great team effort, the boys put their bodies on the line today.

"We haven't played particularly bad but the results haven't come. Hopefully we can finish the season strongly.

"We would have loved to have got this momentum earlier in the season but we are where we are. Hopefully this will be the start and continue it for the remaining seven games."

Everton's 34-point total prior to today was their worst at this stage of a season since 2003-04.