Everton defender Ben Godfrey made his return from injury during the Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, but he could not save his team from another defeat that could prove costly in the fight for survival at the wrong end of the league standings.

Godfrey had missed some weeks of football action due to a thigh injury and he returned to the Everton starting XI for the home game against Wolves in the league on Sunday. He could not prevent his team from suffering a 1-0 defeat to the visitors courtesy the first half header from skipper Conor Coady. England international Coady scored his third league goal of the season to hand Wolves the three points and boost their hopes of finishing in the top four positions.

Everton went into the Wolves game on the back of a run of four defeats in five league games under new manager Frank Lampard and the only game that didn’t end in a defeat was the home clash with Leeds United. The Leeds United game ended in a 3-0 home win for Lampard and Everton.The Wolves defeat then made it five losses from six Premier League games since the appointment of Lampard as the man to replace Rafael Benitez in the Everton dugout.

With the run of five defeats in six league games, Everton are now away from the relegation zone on goal difference after Watford beat hosts Southampton. Watford moved above Burnley and they are now third from bottom on the league tableas a result of the 2-1 away win over Southampton thanks to the first half brace from Cucho Hernandez, while Norwegian star Mohamed Elyounoussi scored the only goal of the match for the Saints.

Both Everton and Watford are now on 22 points, but the Toffees have played lesser games and they have a better goal difference.