Newcastle (A): Jekyll & Hyde

With the enforced absences of Fellaini and Cahill, the poor form and lack of product from Coleman and Bilyaletdinov, David Moyes has had to rethink... or more like revisit formations of old, with Hibbert getting a start after many weeks on the bench, and Neville playing in midfield alongside or more probably behind the increasingly disappointing Rodwell, whose development seems to be going backwards. Beckford starts upfront with Saha, as long he is is there on time...

No sign of contract traitor and Everton deserter, Dan Gosling in the ranks of the home side.  Since making his dream move to Newcastle last summer after Everton failed to offer him a written contract, he has played all of 1 minute for the first team, but that twat Nolan starts for the Barcodes, with Anichebe ? the plaintiff in a lawsuit settled out of court for a substantial sum this week for potential lost earnings resulting from injuries caused by the Newcastle player's disgusting tackle in this fixture two years ago ? is on the bench for Everton.   

Neville took a bad knock in the ribs in the first minute, but little to note other than injuries in the first 10 minutes, Saha getting an arm in his face.  A deep free-kick on the left was played wide right by Neville where Osman floated in an inviting cross that was too high for Rodwell. A great run and shot by Arteta forced a save and was a welcome sight of action after 17 mins and Osman should have done better from a superb corner by Baines(?).

Everton had a good sequence of attacking play, Saha crossing to Beckford, who deflected the cross away from Osman, and nothing came of it as Rodwell shot wide from outside the area.. But Newcastle's first real attack, Williamson getting the ball across the face of goal thanks to a poor parry by Howard that fell nicely for Best one yard out. A very poor goal to concede after a reasonably promising start.

Hibbert came through Gutierez from behind, clipping his ankle,  and earned himself a yellow card. Newcastle were now bouyed and looked to take control.  But inside 10 mins the tables were turned as Everton as first Osman equalized off an excellent return ball from Arteta, then less than 5 mins later, after Arteta was fouled, a nice ball in from a Baines free-kick (that perhaps the goalie should have claimed) was converted perfectly by Jagielka, to put the Blues 2-1 ahead at the break. 

Howard did well to hold on to an Amiobe shot after thee break but a few minutes later, Neville pulled up and went down clutching his thigh, clearly having done his hamstring.  Johnny Heitinga came on in his place. Beckford got close to goal thanks to good work by Arteta and Osman, his shot high enough from an acute angle to be palmed fractionally past the far post.

Arteta did really well to set up Saha for a golden chance with a header but Louis put it well over the bar as Everton were finding plenty of space to run at the Newcastle defence. For once, Howard rolled the ball out quickly from the next Newcastle attack and Rodwell fed the ball to Beckford but the lad sometimes looks simply hopeless with hold-up play, passing the ball directly to a Newcastle player.  Hibbert gave away a free kick that led to a period of pressure, Howard grasping the resulting corner confidently at the near post.

A nice move though saw Rodwell play up a nice balltat Saha headed down for Beckford but his snapshot was straight at  Harper with the entire goal at his mercy.  At the other end, Howard needed to save a long distance Tiote daisy-cutter. The next Newcastle attack looked destined to score until Hibbert intervened with a firm tackle on Gutierez while some handbags went on between Osman and Tiote off the ball, arguing about a throw-in.

It had become an open and lively game with a fair measure of feistiness to spice things up, as Moyes once again looked to the questionable figure of Victor Anichebe to secure the victory, to tremendous jeers, no doubt for daring to sue that astard Nolan.  He replaced Beckford.

Newcastke sliced through the Everton defence, only for Baines to clip the ball brilliantly off Nolan's toes, and the ball was soon up the other end for a weak Anichebe cross-cum-shot that Saha could have converted with ease if he had kept running.

Everton's lead looked increasingly fragile with each Newcastle attack, but a great break from Osman saw Arteta cross fractionally in front of Saha who could not convert the open gapping goal.  Anichebe and Nolan then went  at it after Anichebe needlessly bumped into the Newcastle player and he reacted, pushing Anichebe to the floor.  Both players went in onto Howard Webb's yellow card.

More increasingly desperate defending from Everton saw a vital interception by Distin save an almost certain goal, which seemed to come when Best headed home but he scored by pushing Jagielka down: good call by Webb, who gave the foul.

The Barcodes  were doing their best to get Hibbert sent off after a nothing collision with Gutierrez.  Anichebe got in a great cross to Saha, well placed, and he swung at his volley with what seemed to be perfect timing but it cannoned just wide of Harper's goal. 

10 mins left, and Everton holding on by their fingernails, despite numerous chances that could have easily made it 3-1, 4-1 or 5-1 to the Blues.  But Heitinga, of course, blocked Nolan needlessly, then Baines blocked Gutierrez right in the D and he got a yellow.  From this very dangerous position,  Best lashed it  through the wall but it got caught under Nolan's feet right in front of Howard and was incredibly cleared away.

With 5 mins left, Osman was replaced by Coleman, and Everton advanced again, waiting time on a throw-in then Anichebe winning a good free-kick out wide that Baines fired in but Heitinga was called for a foul. But Everton looked to push ahead again, with more good work from Anichebe , crossing for Coleman at the far post but Harper denied him. 

Gutierrez was reduced to a hobble as Everton clung on for dear life, seemingly determine not to score that third goal that would kill off these nasty Barcodes with 5 added minutes prolonging the fear and trepidation. It was backs to the wall but Anichebe relieved the pressure, only to harmlessly put the ball behind from a very dangerous position.  Another Anichebe chance should have led to that goal but Arteta's shot was blocked and then Coleman decide to waste time in the coner but again put the ball harmlessly behind for a goal kick that put Everton under yet more pressure.

From that. they broke again, the ball finally coming to Coleman in the right channel but he shot straight at Harper. Finally it was over, a great win form an entertaining end-to-end ding dong encounter, and a fantastic response to the dreadful Reading game, but Everton really, really need to score more goals!!!

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