Tim Howard Makes Flying Save In Everton's Win Over Southampton (GIF)

2014-15 hasn’t been Tim Howard’s best season, but the American goalkeeper was up to his old tricks Saturday.

Howard made a spectacular flying save in the early stages of Everton’s 1-0 win over Southampton in the Premier League. Howard denied Graziano Pelle’s early goal-scoring effort, preventing Southampton from a fast start, which might have changed the of the game. Instead, Everton is celebrating its third-straight Premier League win.

Howard’s heroic moment came in the sixth minute. Southampton forward Shane Long floated a cross to Pelle, who volleyed a shot on goal. Everton fans might have been dreading the throught of an early deficit, but Howard had other ideas.

Tim Howard save Everton Southampton

Howard’s save lifted his team, and Phil Jagielka scored the game’s only goal 10 minutes later.

The win took Everton up to 11th place in the Premier League standings with 37 points after 31 games and most likely sealed the Toffees’ escape from relegation.

Howard has struggled at times in 2014-15. Howard’s and Everton’s form was inconsistent in the fall, and a calf injury sidelined him for six games between late December and early February. However, Howard and the Toffees are finding their footing at the right time, as the difficult season nears its conclusion.

Saves like this have helped Howard, 36, forge an impressive Premier League career. The American goalkeeper now 123 shutouts in 367 games in England’s top flight — the 10th most in history.