Everton 0 – 0 Newcastle Utd
Doucouré had a goal ruled out for marginal offside before Goodison Park revelled in Anthony Gordon’s penalty miss in this stalemate against Newcastle United.
Jarrad Branthwaite is missing from Everton’s back line again this weekend after suffering a minor thigh problem in training. Vitalii Mykolenko is also out injured but no starting place for Roman Dixon as Sean Dyche bafflingly names two goalkeepers on the bench again.
Seamus Coleman is still ruled out, along with Broja and Chermiti, while Nathan Patterson continues his quest for improved match fitness after playing the full 90 minutes for Everton U21s in their 4-2 defeat at Wolves last night.
The Blues kicked off and were mounting an attack until Tonali stole a foul by cheating. Everton defended until Ndiaye was fouled, and Pickford’s free-kick cleared.
Keane almost put Pickford in trouble with a weak backheader. Calvert-Lewin was lively but offside. Newcastle’s first corner was somehow kept out by Ndiaye with an incredible backheel off the goalline!
Gordon went down very easily and was roundly booed. Calvert-Lewin got a chance to run the ball at Pope only to shoot weakly straight at him.
Then, out of nothing, a fantastic cross from Garner was headed in by Doucoure, only for it to be ruled out: offside. At the other end, Gordon spun Doucoure but his cutback was easily blocked.
Garner went down winded after a challenge on Barnes but was ignored until McNeil was fouled. Gordon evaded Keane but again his centre was defended well.
Everton tried to mount an attack but Harrison could not deliver the ball and when it did come in, Pope was out quickly to ensnare it.
A Newcastle corner was curled wide by Murphy as Tarkowski hurled Tonali to the ground. VAR deliberation and Pawson reviewing the monitor before the inevitable decision: Penalty to Newcastle — but Gordon denied brilliantly by Pickford!!! (Strangely no yellow card for Tarkowski.)
Everton had to defend the ensuing corner but everyone was now hyped up. Another Newcastle corner was punched out by Pickford, Joelinton volleying high and wide.
Calvert-Lewin laid the ball off nicely to McNeil but he didn’t have the pace to beat Burn. McNeil tried to stop Guimares, who dived to win the free-kick. Joelinton danced past Tarkowski only to be stopped by an excellent tackle from Keane.
Another run a goal was stopped this time by Young after Mangala had stuck with him. Ndiaye couldn’t beat three defenders. Gordon thankfully headed backwards when he looked likely to score.
Everton had done well to contain the Barcodes who attacked repeatedly in the first half but could not leverage their advantage. Only the disallowed goal showing any real threat in the other direction.
The relentless Newcastle attacks resumed after the break, Gordon crossing to the far post and Joelinton’s centre stopped by Doucoure. Everton had to work very hard all over the field, the press being of limited effect against Newcastle’s pace.
Joelinton danced past Mangala and it was put behind for a corner that Pickford came out for but missed. Ndiaye tried a run but was easily stopped by Trippier. McNeil tried his long-range shot; well off-target. Harrison put in a deep cross for Calvert-Lewin but it flew beyond him.
Another Gordon-inspired attack ended with Guimarães scoping his shot over, as Gana replaced Mangala. Everton tried to attack through Ndiaye but Calvert-Lewin surrendered the ball very cheaply. When they did finally get forward, it was time for Gana’s usually dreadful attempt on goal: high, wide and horrible.
Pickford wasted a free-kick, swung wide right and out of play on the bounce. Newcastle attacked again, this time a cross came off Keane and Pickford for a corner that was then cleared off the line.
A brilliant ball through to Calvert-Lewin should have been a goal but Calvert-Lewin’s shot was parried back by Pope, Burn clearly impeding Calvert-Lewin to stop him shooting in the rebound that was then blasted over by Gana… But incredibly no penalty, says VAR, with Calvert-Lewin deemed to have kicked the defender in the act of trying to shoot at goal.
McNeil again shot wide from distance. Then Almiron lashed his shoot into the side netting. The 10th Newcastle corner was headed well clear by Calvert-Lewin but Gana could not propel it forward.
Joelinton looked to sail past Garner whose sliding tackle was made superbly. Gordon got through yet again but he blazed his shot over the bar. At the other end, Doucoure put McNeil off and he completely mishit the volley.
Everton were getting more of the ball but their players were all wrong, Calvert-Lewin working space to cross to where he himself should have been!
There were more nervy moments at the back for Everton as Pockford had to parry a low cross, then Almiron messed up his shot. Joelinton fired another shot well wide as 4 minutes were added.
Schär saw yellow for bringing down Calvert-Lewin 25 yards out, a free-kick wastefully punted over the bar by Garner to end a largely disappointing encounter.
Everton: Pickford, Keane, Tarkowski, McNeil [Y:44′], Mangala (57′ Gana), Calvert-Lewin, Ndiaye, Harrison (68′ Iroegbunam), Doucoure, Young, Garner.
Subs not Used: Virginia, Begovic, Beto, O’Brien, Lindstrøm, Armstrong, Dixon.
Newcastle Utd: Pope, Hall [Y:84′] , Burn, Schär [Y:90+3′], Trippier (71′ Livramento), Joelinton, Guimarães, Tonali (71′ Longstaff), Barnes (62′ Almirón), Gordon, Murphy (69′ Willock).
Subs not Used: Kelly. Krafth , Osula, Ruddy, Vlachodimos.
Referee: Craig Pawson
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Attendance: 39,265