Everton 3 – 1 Newcastle Utd
Everton were too clinical for a very competitive Newcastle United in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup tonight, with a place in the quarter-finals at Fleetwood their reward.
Though the fourth-tier strugglers secured a giant-killing against Arsenal earlier this week, Fleetwood are the lowest-ranked side still in the competition. It’s increased the stakes, as the Blues look to end a long trophy drought this season.
David Moyes and his side will need to show more than they have in limp defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal in recent weeks.
Team News
David Moyes has handed opportunities to Tyler Dibling, Hayden Hackney, and Tyrique George from the start, in an encouraging selection. Jake O’Brien partners James Tarkowski in the absence of Jarrad Branthwaite, while Merlin Röhl continues at right-back. Jack Grealish is again unavailable — “due to a breach of club discipline”!
For Newcastle, there is one change. Joelinton drops to the bench for Jacob Ramsey, who starts for the first time since Newcastle’s third-round win over Millwall.
First Half
The Toffees got things goings with Garner back to Pickford, Everton looking to advance through Hackney who was blatantly pushed over — nothing given, but it helped pump up the atmosphere and Dewsbury-Hall had a long shot deflected for a corner, cleared for a throw-in, long from O’Brien. It fell to George but his connection was all wrong.
At the other end, a wild shot from Hall. Barry was next to go down when his shirt was tugged — nothing given. The early urgency faded a little as Dibling looked to advance but was pushed off the ball. Dewsbury-Hall trod on Schar’s ankle without sanction but a great ball to Barnes beats his marker Rohl, Pickford making a vital save at the expense of a corner that was just about kept out, Burn shooting over.
But Newcastle had done a strong job on unsettling Everton who were all at sixes and sevens but somehow they kept the ball out of their goal, with panic setting in all over the defence.
Branes slipped one through to Wilock who almost beat Pickford, O’Brien there to clear away his fumbled save. Schar then fired in a rocket that Pickford had to parry but he was very busy and not very happy. Newcastle were attacking at will, Barnes next with a weak ground shot.
Mykolenko did really well to get forward and lay a cross at Hackney’s feet but it bounced harmlessly off him to Hornicek. Dibling couldn’t get his cross over but won a corner. Dewsbury-Hall’s effort was cleared by Newcastle but Garner tried a shot blocked at source.
A better Blues attack saw George create a little bit of chaos at the other end, and a call for handball, but ultimately nothing clear. Hackney got the ball across to Dibling via Barry but the shot was awful. However, at least Everton were now getting forward.
But Osula got through thanks to a great pass from Willock and looked all set to score, only for an unbelievable block from Tarkowski. Osula really felt that one!
George was easily halted down the wing. Dewsbury-Hall andHackney tried to make something happen but were crowded out. But in the next attack, with George battling, a lose ball was smartly played across by Hackney and it opened up for James Garner (34′) who fired a great low shot into the far corner. 1 – 0!
The game had been really competitive, if fractious and scrappy — lots of turnovers and very little quality football. Newcastle came forward, Ramsey’s shot blocked, Barnes screwing his effort wide. But they were determined to level things up, bodies falling all over the Everton penalty area but nothing given. Barnes strode forward but his shot was deflected to Pickford.
Everton countered brilliantly, Dewsbury-Hall fouled, advantage played, Barryu rescuing the lost ball and crossing it beautifully for Hayden Hackney (45′) to clip in a superb finish. 2 – 0.
George almost released Barry before the whistle went on a frantic first half in which Everton had done the business, scoring two excellent goals.
Second Half
Three big changes for Newcastle at the break, Everton were set for a real battle to keep their half-time lead. Will David Moyes have them continue to play forward or lock down the lead?
Murphy tried to shoot from distance but it was weak. Wissa was then run down by Garner. Hall picked out Murphy at the far post but the ball careened back across goal, with Everton baclking off noticeablyrather than pressing. Wissa got behind O’Brien but Pickford was more than equal to his headed attempt.
A clearance came out to Dedic whose firm shot was defelected, ballooning over the Everton goal, and a similar fate befalling Newcastle’s corner. Another Dedic shot was blocked as Everton dropped back to crowd out their own penalty area under some extreme pressure. Dibling had to block.
Dewsbury-Hall did well to counter and appeared to pick out Barry but the cross was easily intercepted. However, an Everton free-kick 26 yards out was smacked poorly into the wall by Dewsbury-Hall. Hackney got booked for being too close to a Newcastle free kick.
Newcastle won a free-kick off Hackney that was headed behind by O’Brien for a corner. Pickfors smacked it away from the crowd and Elanga could not keep his effort down. A fantastic cross from Murphy was smartly headed behind by Mykolenko, a foul called on the corner. Armstrong replaced Hackney.
Newcastle kept pushing up to try and turn the game, with another change from Jaissle. But Everton put together the most sumpuus move started by Garner, with Dewsbury-Hall picking out Thierno Barry (69′) who controlled the ball before stroking it expertly past Hornicek. 3 – 0!!!
Hall strode forward and stung the gloves of Pickford with a decent shot. A stunning sequence somehow stopped Newcastel cscoring, Hall, Elanga. ANO. Two great saves by Pickford and a huge block.
Dewsbury-Hall was booked for his challenge on Wissa, who was then set up and sliced his shot to the corner flag. Two more changes from David Moyes. Alcarz made a decent run that won a rare second-half corner for Everton but it was cleared.
Toure coming around the back had to be blocked by Tarkowski for a corner, the next corner Newcastle called for a foul, and a right barney ensuing, Mykolenko and Schar getting yellow cards.
Rohl forced an Everton corner off Elanga, Hornicek not fielding the ball properly, as David Moyes made his final changes to disrupt any rearguard effort from the defleated visitors. A dangerous attack saw Pickford force the ball away but it eas crossed back in and Burn headed past Pickford, who stupidly blocked Burn from picking the ball out of the net, Tarkowski then throwing Joelinton, who had reacted, to the ground. All very silly. Yellow cards aplenty.
Necastle were given 3 minutes try and score two more goals but it was nver going to happen< the Blues securing a famous and hugely important win in a competition that Moyes has not taken seriously at times.
Team Lineups
Everton: Pickford, Röhl, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko [Y:81′] (86′ Maitland-Niles), Garner, Dewsbury-Hall [Y:74′] (86′ Nørgaard), Hackney [Y:60′] (65′ Armstrong), Dibling (76′ Johnson), George (76′ Alcaraz), Barry.
Subs not Used: Travers, King, Keane, Graham.
Newcastle United: Hornicek; Dedic, Schar [Y:81′], Burn (c), Hall; Gonzalez, Ramsey (46′ Joelinton); Murphy, Willock, Barnes (46′ Elanga); Osula (46′ Wissa).
Subs: Pope, Botman, Bamba, Thiaw, Steur, Toure.
Attendance: 51, 894
Match Officials
Referee: Farai Hallam
Assistants: James Mainwaring and Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth Official: Sam Barrott