Everton 1-4 Newcastle (McNeil 80′ | Wilson 28′, 75′, Joelinton 72′, Murphy 81′)
Every now and then, a game pans out exactly how you expect it will.
There was no way Newcastle could pull off what they managed in their mauling of Tottenham, but the newly-prolific Magpies – with 13 goals in their previous four games – travelled to Everton licking their lips at the prospect of inflicting more woe on the beleaguered strugglers.
Everton’s goals for tally and wretched recent form suggested they would not cause the Premier League’s most resolute defence too many problems and would rely on sneaking a goal form a set piece of fortunate deflection. Should they concede, in a stadium whose mood can change at the flick of a switch, they could quite easily capitulate.
And so it transpired. Two teams going in very different directions performed how their recent form, and seeming destinations, said they would. It did not make it any easier to take on for the blue half of Merseyside, even if they saw it coming.
It was Everton fans’ ability to create a cauldron-like atmosphere, rather than Frank Lampard’s limited tactical acumen, that kept the Toffees up by the skin of their teeth last season, and once again, at the business end of another disappointing campaign, they knew what they had to do pre-match.
Still seething from Bill Kenwright’s ill-judged statement at the weekend in response to fan protests, Evertonians channeled their vitriol into making Goodison look an intimidating place to come, with flares greeting the team coaches and a pre-match fireworks display to test even the most serene players’ nerves.
Newcastle must have felt like gladiators entering the colosseum such was the volume as the game got underway. Goodison’s efforts worked wonders early on, as a deturbed Newcastle looked the anthesis of a side who plundered five goals in 21 first-half minutes against Spurs.
The problem the Goodison faithful have is their side are not very good, and as the crowd’s energy evaporated as attacking move after attacking move broke down, Newcastle grew into the game, and given his chance from the start, Callum Wilson poked Newcastle in front just before the half-hour mark.
Newcastle have had an uncanny ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the past, but despite Everton keeping plenty of pressure on, Nick Pope remained relatively untroubled into the second half.
Joe Willock, one of the many players Howe inherited and has transformed into a very different beast, was denied a stunning second by a superb Jordan Pickford stop, before the forward, who should be a shoo-in for the next England squad, crossed for Joelinton to put the game, if it was ever a contest, to bed.
Wilson’s inclusion from the start, in place of Newcastle’s ace in the pack Alexander Isak was intriguing. Modern technology has allowed managers to analyse each opponent to create intricate gameplans. Eddie Howe is no different, but still retains the willingness to keep things simple.
The opponents Wilson has the most career goals against – West Ham and Everton – are the only two games he has started since the beginning of March. Two minutes and 23 seconds after Joelinton’s header, Wilson had his fourth goal in those two starts to give Howe the ultimate vindication.
Dwight McNeil’s goal straight from a corner did little to lift the mood, with one angry supporter having to be restrained from entering the press box to question “where is Kenwright?” – something that again was entirely predictable, given who the Everton faithful blame for their malaise.
There was still time for one more for Newcastle, with substitute Isak sashaying past three defenders before squaring for Jacob Murphy, and then the final insult – former Everton prospect Anthony Gordon was brought on for the final few minutes.
There was no Luis Figo-esque pig’s head thrown on this late, however, that was halfway back down the East Lancs. Everton supporters, in more ways than one, had seen enough.
Newcastle fans, with the Champions League on the horizon, cannot get enough.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/r2C8Qh4
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