MATCH REPORT : EVERTON 2-2 NEWCASTLE UNITED

There’s a saying amongst Evertonians that sums up perfectly how things can transpire to go against you when it seems almost impossible to do so, it’s called “doing an Everton.” This game at Goodison Park encapsulated that saying perfectly.

Two goals up in the 94th minute and in complete control against a Newcastle team devoid of attacking ideas and somehow throw away three valuable points in a crazy end to what was a very good performance, thanks to two goals for the visitors in the final seconds of the game from defender Florian Lejeune.

Carlo Ancelotti stood on the Goodison Park touchline in sheer disbelief. He was not alone. Many fans had left the stadium a minute or so earlier, I don’t know why, assuming Everton had secured their third victory in as many home games under the Italian’s stewardship. Ancelotti will have been aware that he has inherited a team with a reputation for throwing points away, particularly late on in games, but this was a spectacular implosion even by their standards.

Everton started well in this game and had Newcastle on the back foot straight from the off with some slick interchanging play that the visitors struggled to cope with. What let Everton down was their final pass. Lucas Digne was chief culprit in the opening twenty-five minutes had worked himself into some good spaces he failed to find a Blue shirt on three separate occasions after some nice build up play.

Moise Kean started a second consecutive Premier League match for the first time as an Everton player and looked lively from the off working hard alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the continued absence of Richarlison. The young Italian stung the fingertips of Martin Dubravka with a drive from twenty-five yards.

However, a few minutes later the young Italian striker had his first goal in a Blue shirt since joning the club from Juventus last summer. The breakthrough for the teenager was carved out thanks to the ingenuity of Bernard. The Brazilian controlled the ball after Calvert-Lewin flicked on Djibril Sidibé’s long pass. Bernard clipped the ball over the Newcastle defence and released Kean, his first touch was not his best but he steadied himself and drove the ball under Dubravka to send Goodison Park into raptures. Kean understandably wheeled away in pure joy, sliding on his knees in front of the Gwladys Street, before perfoming his ‘whoa’ celebration.

Everton continued to dominate for the remainder of the half but could not add to Kean’s thirtieth minute strike and led one nil at the break.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first half ended with Everton doing all the pressing, Newcastle in contrast were poor. Almiron and Joelinton were almost non-existent and only the Longstaffe twins and Dubravka could feel like they contributed anything to their teams cause.

Everton deservedly doubled their lead and it was Calvert-Lewin provided that cushion. A move which again involved Bernard saw Lucas Digne thread a perfect pass into the stride of Calvert-Lewin, Jamaal Lascelles was unable to intercept at full stretch and the Everton striker swept his left foot finish inside the far post.

Everton wasted a few good chances for a third goal with Calvert-Lewin hitting the post, whilst Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate also went close to extending Everton’s lead.

The Blues were cruising towards a third win in three home Premier League games until a ridiculous finale which saw Everton give away a needless corner. That was then followed up by some weak goalkeeping from Jordan Pickford. The England goalkeeper failed to deal with a 94th-minute corner that ended in Lejeune scoring with an acrobatic overhead kick. It should have been no more than an impressive consolation.

Everton restarted but gave the ball away cheaply to Newcastle and then substitute Tom Davies conceded a free-kick on the halfway line. Nobody stood over the ball which allowed Newcastle ro gain yards and play an angled ball into the box, Schar then Isaac Hayden both threatened Pickford’s goal, before Lejeune forced the ball over the line. Newcastle had done the unthinkable and manager Steve Bruce celebrated by running onto the pitch, you couldn’t blame him as his team had been outplayed all night and somehow had grabbed a draw.

Ancelotti praised Everton’s overall performance which was much improved but he accepted the Blues should have seen the game out. He said :

“It is true we could have stayed more focused on set pieces and it’s true we could have been more focused in the last minutes but I think the team played a fantastic game for all 90 minutes.”

He was even philosophical about Everton blowing the two goal lead by saying :

“I lost the final of the Champions League after being 3-0 up, so it can happen sometimes.”

He will not want it to be a recurring them though and it’s up Everton’s players to ensure it doesn’t happen again or the Italian will replace them with players that can ensure it doesn’t.

Final Score : Everton 2-2 Newcastle United

How they lined up : 

Barry Cass