by The old stand “We won’t be moved” has become even more challenging since Everton were sent into the relegation zone with the biggest sporting sanction in Premier League history. It was a fitting soundtrack to Everton’s thrashing at Goodison Park courtesy of a resounding victory over Newcastle.
Eddie Howe’s side suffered their biggest defeat of the season on a terrible night for Kieran Trippier but a reassuring one for Sean Dyche. Everton was in danger of being punished for another wasteful home display, with Newcastle finally growing into the competition, when the England international in the presence of Dwight McNeil took a decisive one in style. Trippier’s head was tucked in his shirt seven minutes later when Abdoulaye Doucouré found Everton’s second following a similar error.
After insisting his side just needed to add goals to a strong home performance, Dyche got the consolation of third when Beto registered his first Premier League goal in stoppage time. No prizes for guessing the hapless Newcastle defender who kept Everton’s summer signing just the other way around.
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“Kieran has been excellent since he signed for the football club, which is what has happened,” said the Newcastle manager. “Together, we were at our best tonight.”
Howe refused to use an extensive injury list as an excuse, although the visitors were lethargic in spells and had few answers in Everton’s penalty area. Howe added: “Last year our form away from home was really good but we’ve had no progress this season, apart from Sheffield United. It’s hard to understand.”
Dyche denied before and after the game that being out of the bottom three would be psychologically important to Everton. The crowd and perhaps his players may agree. The home side had determination and desire throughout. The relentless pressure on Newcastle continued until the final seconds as 38-year-old Ashley Young headed her man into the corner.
There was also a heated exchange between the excellent James Tarkowski and Joelinton after the final whistle, with coaching staff and Jordan Pickford taking part. “I have no idea what it was,” Howe said. “I think it was just emotions that were high after the game. We were definitely disappointed with our performance.”
The Park End was a sea of green at the start, and in the 10th minute, Everton fans held up cards with the Premier League logo between them and the message “Protect the few, not the many” as part of protests continuous per club. Deduction of 10 points for a financial breach. The home crowd were otherwise focused on pushing Dyche’s side towards their second home league win of the season, only to be broken by Anthony Gordon’s boo when he took the ball back to Goodison.
Dyche had to change his team at lunchtime due to James Garner being ill. The Everton manager responded by moving Doucouré into midfield and pushing Young to the right wing. Right-back Seamus Coleman is a doubt for his first appearance since undergoing surgery on a serious knee injury suffered at Leicester in May. The 35-year-old’s return means he has played for Everton for an impressive 15 seasons in a row. In financial terms, Coleman’s £60,000 transfer fee from Sligo Rovers is £4,000 per season in Everton colours.
Coleman and Young were at the forefront of Everton’s bright start which was only marred by carelessness with the final pass and their usual versatility in front of goal at Goodison this season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed a great chance to compensate for Everton’s pressure shortly before the interval. Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite hit the Newcastle defenders with Pickford’s free-kick. Calvert-Lewin, on the other hand, was unmarked and five yards in front of goal, but after neatly controlling his chest he turned and volleyed.
Newcastle’s front three of Gordon, Alexander Isak and Miguel Almirón were often isolated and were only threatened when the former Everton player switched wings with the Paraguayan international. It took 36 minutes for the visitors to create a real chance from open play. Isak should have done better when Trippier’s first-time cross was picked out at the back post than he steered a header wide.
Howe’s side improved after the break when Gordon missed two decent chances in a row. But then came the finale Trippier wanted to forget. With 11 minutes of normal time left the right back collected a pass from Jamaal Lascelles and went over the ball as they tried to turn. McNeil exploded in a flash. Taking possession, the winger raced from deep inside the Newcastle half to the edge of the area when he unleashed an unstoppable finish high into Martin Dubravka’s left-hand corner.
Everton’s wild celebrations were almost immediately silenced when Almiron cut Branthwaite’s clearance and ran clear. Not for the first time, Newcastle were fouled by Tarkowski’s Immaculate interception.
It was going to get worse for Trippier. The experienced defender made another error, giving possession to Jack Harrison not once but twice. The on-loan winger went down the left and, although McNeil missed his low cross, Doucouré dispatched it with determination.
Goodison cried foul with 10 minutes added on but it gave Beto time to open his Premier League account. Passed down the right by Nathan Patterson, the summer signing distracted Fabian Schär to beat the steady Newcastle keeper with another clinical finish.
“We’ve got a really legitimate group of players,” Dyche said. “That doesn’t mean we’re brilliant but it does mean we’ve got a group of players attached who are very interested and I think the Toffees appreciate that.”
