Everton 1-4 Newcastle: Match Report & Reaction | Blues fall to rampant Magpies

Two wins on the trot for the boys in blue and Newcastle arriving at Hill Dickinson Stadium on the back of a massive win over Manchester City. A Saturday tea time kickoff on the banks of the River Mersey with two teams who are on the up.

Team News

Gueye was out after seeing red for allowing the red mist to descend which allowe a chance for Iroegbunam to start. O’Brien was back in the starting lineup with Coleman back on the treatment table. Thierno Barry had another start which was showing for more confidence for the young striker. The big news for the bar codes was the first start for Aaron Ramsdale in goal.

Match Report

Newcastle were looking for their first away win of the season. With a win, Everton would be in 6th place as the lights dimmed and the air raid siren rang out around the ground. Z Cars was received with an incredible cheer as the two teams walked into the arena.

A quick break from Newcastle saw Elanga streaking past Mykoleko but his shot was parried wide by Pickford. The corner was headed in by Thiaw. The fastest goal of the season in less than a minute, 52 seconds to be exact. The Evertonians raised their voices and the boys in blue pushed forward.

It would have been two but for the block from Michael Keane on a shot from Harvey Barnes. Everton’s first real chance fell to Keane who needed a block from Linton to prevent the goal. The resulting corner was headed over the bar by Barry. Seconds later, a great ball from Garner to Grealish was put back to the midfielder but his shot sailed over the bar.

A great touch by Barry to link to Grealish who then put it into Dewsbury Hall but his shot was blocked. Everton were buzzing and when Linton went down you sensed that he was just trying to take the heat off. Everton had controlled the ball but it was Newcastle when Lewis Miley took the shot from a frantic buildup which ended up in the back of the Everton net. A rarity of an error for the Everton number one. Newcastle had only scored three goals away from home all season. That tally was now five.

A poor touch from Barry showed the frustration of the situation and when Ndiaye layed off the ball to a none existent Grealish it was the groan from the crowd that spoke volumes. Newcastle tried to put the game out of reach but a cross from Miley was slightly overhit and Everton were safe.

A period of extended possession by Everton was mostly impotent and the Newcastle response showed that Everton were always second to the ball. Ramsdale finally touched the ball at the 44th minute, he rolled the ball and when Elanga slid the all into the path of Wolemade, the big striker lobbed the ball over Pickford to make it three as two minutes of added time was announced.

The half ended with the Evertonians showing their displeasure. Everton had more of the ball, less of the shots and none on target. To say that the first half was disappointing would be an understatement. David Moyes needed something more and Charlie Alcaraz was in for Tim Iroegbunam to help Everton get something started.

It was absolutely imperative that Everton score the next goal. Newcastle had a minor chance and Everton’s first shot fell to Ndiaye but his effort was lacking any venom. Some nice defensive play by Garner set up Everton’s second corner. It was delivered by Garner and when the ball fell to Alcaraz, his shot almost broke the bar as it rattled it for several seconds.

Pickford did well when Barnes raced into the open but the resulting corner saw Thiaw head it into the corner of the Everton net to make it four. The Evertonians were heading for the exits before the hour mark. Did I mention that Newcastle had only scored three all season on the road?

The best moment in English football for Thierno Barry was taken away from him when VAR adjudged to have handled the ball before he put it into the back of the Newcastle net. It was that kind of day. However, a great diagonal ball from Tarkowski to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was controlled beautifully and slotted home with aplomb by the midfielder.

Everton pushed forward for a second and when Ndiaye was taken down and not given a foul, the Evertonians were incensed. Pickford made a good save on Ramsey and it was time for Grealish and Ndiaye to be withdrawn for Tyler Dibling and Dwight McNeil.

A corner for the Toffees then fell to Alcaraz who attempted a volley but his shot was well over the bar. The game petered away and only a curling effort by Dewsbury-Hall tried to change the inevitable final whistle which was barely noticed by the remaining Evertonians. The Geordies loved it all and stuck around for the necessary welcome to the corner of the ground by their beloved warriors.

Everton’s Man of the Match

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: In a dismal day, KDH was really the only Everton player who showed any quality. His goal was as good as last week’s winner at Old Trafford but it’s impact was a blip on the radar. He continues to benefit from the defensive focus on Grealish and Ndiaye.

Instant Reaction

Adversity is a great character builder and when it hits you tend to find what a team is made of. Today, Everton were down early and never really recovered. The big question will be how the team responds when they head to the south coast on Wednesday to face Bournemouth. Everton could have been in 6th with a win but end up in 14th with the loss.

Evertonians want Thierno Barry to succeed. Each touch by the young striker was supported and cheered. When he headed the ball down and volleyed the ball into the back of the Newcastle net, there was an incredible cheer even though Everton were still down by three goals. The VAR check stripped Barry of his first goal but you sense that there is more to come. You could see in his reaction when the ball went in that he had a huge weight lifted but it was all for nought. It will come. Let’s hope that happens on Tuesday.

After the first four games of the season with four assists recorded, Jack Grealish has been a marked man. His every move has been closely marked and his chances have dried up. This has given Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall some chances to take and he has done exactly that. He has real quality and his contributions to the team has to be acknowledged. My player of the season, so far.

Evertonians have experienced many negative days over the past few years. As we make strides forward, there seems to be more positive days, but we have to understand that there will be days like today. A fast start by Newcastle stunted the forward progress and we struggled to get a hold in the match. The