The Everton board of directors was instructed to avoid Goodison Park due to alleged security dangers, but they failed to notice that their relegation-threatened squad was spiraling further into difficulty following a 2-1 loss to the bottom team Southampton.
After abusive comments, including death threats to chairman Bill Kenwright, were sent to specific people during the course of the week by incensed fans, the executives abstained in an unprecedented step. Amadou Onana's first goal for the Toffees gave Everton the lead, but they squandered it, making it a "profoundly sad day," according to club officials.
James Ward-Prowse scored twice as the Saints tied the home team in points. The hosts, who have just one victory in their last 11 league games and have their lowest point total (15) at the halfway point of a Premier League season, are only kept off the bottom of the standings by goal differential.
Fans who were upset with the way they believe those executives have run the club increased the number of people who would participate in the previously scheduled sit-in protest after the final whistle.
After a morale-boosting Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City the previous week, Southampton's players had already left by that point, and new manager Nathan Jones was celebrating his first league victory after four straight losses.
The team coach's welcome, complete with flags and blue smoke, was revived by the same home fans during last season's late escape from relegation, and the mood was upbeat prior to kickoff.
Demarai Gray's wide attempt and Dominic Calvert-timid Lewin's header provided some further optimism, but tension seemed to be building on both sides as Ward-Prowse chose to pass rather than shoot at Jordan Pickford.
Three more times the midfielder found himself in or close to the penalty area. He once struck the post in the first half's extra time before punishing Everton with the equalizer two minutes after the break.
Che Adams' cushioned header from 20 yards out fell to him, and he avoided Ben Godfrey to score past Pickford and negate Onana's debut goal.
The greatest player on the field was the Belgian international, who beat Gavin Bazunu with a downward header from Gray's right-wing corner to score after a pretty uneventful first 39 minutes.
When Everton has had a lead this season, they have a history of failing to capitalize on it. A few moments later, Alex Iwobi cut in from the left and curled a shot just wide of the far post. When their bubble popped early in the second half, it wasn't shocking.
With Ward-Prowse at the center, it gave Saints the assurance to exert more control over the game. Under pressure, manager Frank Lampard responded by switching from five at the back to 4-3-3 and inserting forward Anthony Gordon in place of wing-back Seamus Coleman.
Godfrey headed an Onana cross into the side netting with 12 seconds left, but Ward-Prowse was right there to take advantage of Gordon's careless and unnecessary foul on Adams 30 yards away. He duly whipped a free-kick over the wall while Pickford remained motionless.
After a fourth straight home league loss, The Gwladys Street chanted "sack the board" at the final whistle, the first time that had happened since a club-record run of seven in 1958. It stood in stark contrast to the festivities that were being held in
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