Newcastle continued with their quest for European Football next season with a comprehensive 4-1 victory Everton at Goodison Park on Thursday night. Callum Wilson grabbed a brace to continue his scoring run of late and there were goals from Joelinton and Jacob Murphy for the Magpies in a much improved second half performance. Dwight McNeil pulled one back for the hosts but it was no more than a mere consolation.
Sean Dyche made three changes to the side that drew against Crystal Palace at the weekend. Ben Godfrey replaced the suspended Mason Holgate at right back. James Garner & Demarai Grey were replaced in the starting line-up by Amadou Onana & Abdoulaye Doucoure. Eddie Howe also made three changes to his side that battered Tottenham on Sunday. Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron & Matt Targett all getting named in the starting eleven which meant that Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy and Dan Burn had to make do with a place on the bench.
The hosts had the first chance of the game with ten minutes on the clock when Longstaff fouled Gueye on the edge of the penalty area. The resulting free-kick was taken by Gueye but it sailed over the bar. So that’s what the term “up and over” means. Everton had a penalty appeal waved away after 20minutes played when Calvert-Lewin fell to the ground in a heap following a good challenge from Schar, the referee was in a prime position and allowed play to carry on. Pope was forced into a routine save a few minutes later when McNeil fired at goal from distance. The Magpies took the lead against the run of play just before the half hour mark. Joelinton led the charge forward before shooting at goal, Pickford saved the initial shot but could only parry it into the direction of Wilson who prodded home. Everton thought they levelled things up just before half time when Calvert-Lewin neatly finished passed Pope, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. Half Time Everton 0 Newcastle United 1.
Willock almost doubled the visitors lead just after half time when Tarkowski blocked his effort off the line after the young midfielder cut inside and beat a couple of Everton players. Pope made a big save to deny Calvert-Lewin after Iwobi played the striker in. Newcastle were denied a stone wall penalty ten minutes into the second half when Longstaff was hacked down by Tarkowski inside the penalty area. VAR deemed it not to be a foul but you can guarantee that anywhere else on the pitch it would have been a foul. Pickford pulled off a good save in the 70th minute to deny Willock’s well timed volley. Willock turned provider just two minutes later though when he set up Joelinton for Newcastle’s second. He picked up the ball , ran down the left at Godfrey, left him for dead and chipped across goal for the Brazilian sensation to head home. It was 3-0 two minutes later and it was that man Wilson who curled one past Pickford. Guimaraes ran at the Everton defence unchallenged, played it through to the in-form striker and well the rest is history. Everton pulled one back on 80minutes following a McNeil corner which beaten everyone including Pope in the Newcastle goal. Less than 30seconds after the hosts score, the Magpies had the ball in the back of the net again. This time is was Murphy with an easy tap in after some magic from Isak out wide. Just as the game entered its 90th minute, Schar completed the rout for Newcastle with a stunning strike from at least 25yards out…or so he thought. VAR did disallow it for offside but this time it was the correct decision. Murphy should have made it 5 for the visitors inside the final couple of minutes but he blazed over from close range. Full Time Everton 1 Newcastle United 4.
Sutty’s Full Time Thoughts: I don’t know what Eddie Howe said at half-time but it obviously worked. The first half was scrappy but the Magpies really turned up the heat right from the start of the second period. Callum Wilson has really silenced his critics in recent weeks (including me) and he is showing why he is such an important player for the team. Alexander Isak is just something else, his skill and speed for Murphy’s goal was astonishing. The result tonight means that Eddie Howe’s side have scored 10 goals in just two games and currently sit in third place two points ahead of Manchester United. With the Magpies eight points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth place, a Champions League spot for next season is Newcastle’s to loose right? Up next is another crucial tie against Southampton on Sunday at St James’ Park. My score prediction for Sunday, Newcastle United 3 Southampton 0. Howay the lads!.
What’s Next? The Magpies host Southampton at St James’ Park on Sunday 30th April in a 2pm KO. The Toffees travel to Leicester on Monday 1st May in a 8pm KO.
Everton Line Up: J Pickford ©, J Tarkowski, M Keane, V Mykolenko, B Godfrey, A Onana (73, N Maupay), A Doucoure, I Gueye (83, J Garner), D McNeil, D Calvert-Lewin (83, E Simms), A Iwobi.
Everton Bench: A Begovic, N Patterson, Y Mina, C Coady, T Davies, J Garner, D Grey, N Maupay, E Simms.
Newcastle United Line Up: N Pope, K Trippier ©, F Schar, S Botman, M Targett (68, D Burn), B Guimaraes, J Willock (68, E Anderson), S Longstaff (74, A Isak), M Almiron (68, J Murphy), C Wilson (86, A Gordon), Joelinton.
Newcastle United Bench: M Dubravka, J Lascelles, J Manquillo, D Burn, M Ritchie, J Murphy, E Anderson, A Gordon, A Isak.
Match Officials: Andre Marriner (Referee), Marc Perry & Nick Greenhalgh (Assistant’s), Graham Scott (Fourth Official), Chris Kavanagh(VAR), Asian Massey-Ellis (Assistant VAR).
@jsuttonwrites
28.04.2023