Two glaring errors from Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier allowed Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucoure to strike late on for Everton in a 3-0 win which lifts them out of the Premier League relegation zone.
Less than three weeks after being handed a 10-point deduction for financial issues which sent them into the bottom three, Everton are up to 17th and a point above Luton.
McNeil was the match-winner at Nottingham Forest on Saturday and he pounced on Trippier’s first mis-control before racing towards goal and finishing impressively past stand-in Newcastle stopper Martin Dubravka with 11 minutes left on the clock.
Jack Harrison then forced a similar mistake from the usually reliable Trippier before crossing for Doucoure to convert from close range and spark jubilant scenes among the home fans, who had again protested against the punishment handed down to their club, which has been appealed. There was more joy to come, with Beto beating the offside trap deep into injury time to score his first Premier League goal.
Those mistakes from Trippier and Beto’s long-awaited arrival on the scoresheet transformed the narrative of the night, which until that point had seen Everton again waste a series of chances at Goodison Park. Indeed, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first-half unmarked volley from four yards out was a miss-of-the-season contender.
The returning Anthony Gordon threatened to punish his former club but could not silence the boos with an accurate finish despite a number of attempts, including a big opening when he caught James Tarkowski in possession in the Everton box.
But this was a tired performance from injury-hit Newcastle, who have fielded the same outfield players for four games in a row now. Eddie Howe’s side have run out of steam. They stay seventh.
More to follow…
What’s next?
Everton are back at Goodson Park on Sunday as they host Chelsea in the Premier League, kick-off 2pm. They will then be live on Sky Sports on Saturday December 16, taking on Burnley on Saturday Night Football, kick-off 5.30pm.
Newcastle are back on Sky Sports on Super Sunday as they take on Tottenham in the Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm. They will then play their final Champions League group-stage game at home to AC Milan on Wednesday December 13.
Source : Sky Sports
