Everton 3 Newcastle 0
Everton welcomed Newcastle to Goodison Park needing victory to try and climb out of the bottom three. Newcastle’s confidence was high after beating Man Utd at St James’ Park in their last match, hoping to reduce the gap to the top four.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors as Joelinton fed it into the path of Almiron. The Paraguayan seemed to have the ball stuck under his feet and as he managed to dig it out, his shot went straight at Jordan Pickford.
In-form Dwight McNeil got to the byline and clipped in a cross to the back post. He picked out Calvert-Lewin but his header was a simple save for Dubravka. For a striker so dominant in the air, he wastes a lot of aerial opportunities.
Harrison then found the striker in space in the box, he opted to take the chance on first time. Calvert-Lewin seemed to scuff his effort but Dubravka still had to make a smart save to deny him, getting down well to his right.
Credit: @Everton
McNeil then had the chance to break the deadlock after being set up by Harrison. He looked to place it in the bottom corner but his effort went the wrong side of the post. The home faithful were starting to worry that this would just not be their night.
Miley and Trippier combined well down the right flank and the England right-back managed to find Isak in the box. As he rose to head the ball, looking for the bottom corner, his effort flashed wide of the post.
Everton were to have the best chance of the half as a Pickford free-kick from the halfway line was controlled by Tarkowski in the box. He found Branthwaite who lifted the ball to Calvert Lewin, only a couple of yards out.
Somehow the striker blazed his effort over the crossbar when it seemed far easier to hit the target. If The Toffees are going to steer clear of relegation this season, they are going to need their striker to find some form, soon.
Calvert-Lewin had another headed chance from a corner but his wayward header ricocheted off Lascelles and almost wrong-footed Dubravka. Luckily for the visitors, he was able to adjust and stop the ball crossing the line as his defence helped clear their lines.
Tarkowski was caught dwelling on the ball by ex-Toffee Anthony Gordon, but with the goal at his mercy, he struck his shot straight at Pickford. It was a huge chance for Eddie Howe’s side to take the lead, but he was unable to punish his former employer.
Credit: @Everton
Trippier then gifted the ball to McNeil who ran towards goal before unleashing a shot into the top corner of the goal. Goodison Park erupted as the midfielder gave them a crucial lead with only eleven minutes of normal time remaining.
Newcastle’s normally dependable full back was having an evening that had turned into such a nightmare, he would have looked at home on Elm Street. He was dispossessed once again and the ball was slid into the path of Doucoure who made no mistakes and made it two-nil to Sean Dyche’s side.
Beto ran clear, deep into added time, and slotted the ball past Dubravka to make it a perfect night on Merseyside as the victory took them out of the bottom three. After this performance they will fancy their chances of not getting involved in another relegation battle.
After his second half performance, Kieran Trippier could easily have been named man of the match for Everton. Not that The Toffees will be complaining, they will take any help where they can get it right now. Dyche has now seen his team win three of their last four games.
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