Newcastle Utd 0 - 1 Everton [L]

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Everton make the long trek to the North-East this afternoon to take on Newcastle United at St James's Park, Kick-off is at 3:00 pm GMT.

David Moyes rings the changes after last weekend's loss, Dwight McNeil, Beto, Jake O'Brien and Vitalii Mykolenko coming into the first XI, with Armstrong, Barry, Keane and Iroegbunam dropped to the bench.

McNeil makes his first start since the 1-1 home draw with Leeds United on 26 January, replacing Harrison Armstrong on the wing, while Beto is preferred to Thierno Barry in attack, but still no place for George or Dibling.

Jake O'Brien – available again after serving a one-match suspension – and Mykolenko will be the Blues' full-backs, as Jarrad Branthwaite returns to his more familiar centre-back role ahead of Michael Keane to partner captain James Tarkowski.

The rest of the personnel remains the same from Monday night's narrow 1-0 loss to Manchester United – Jordan Pickford in goal, James Garner switching back to defensive midfield alongside Idrissa Gana Gueye, while Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are the Toffees' other attackers. Charly Alcaraz is still out injured

First Half

The All-Blues kicked off in the new Dewsbury-Hall up-and-under, leading to some long throws from Jake O'Brien, but Newcastle cleared and Ramsey surged down the right. 

McNeil did well to steal the ball back but Everton were just too slow and poor in their build-up play that went nowhere. McNeil drew a foul, but it was mostly sideways and backwads until it went all the way back to Pickford, his hoof upfield losing possession. 

Beto tried to block Pope's clearance and was blown for it. But The Toon were as bad with the ball as Everton had been. But Everton forced a turnover and Ndiaye advanced into space, powering a shot 2 feet over Pope's bar. 

A poor pass gave the ball back to Everton who worked it around until McNeil decided he would try the up-and-under -- just an utterly bizarre 'shot' on goal.

Newcastle mounted their first attack but were kept well away from Everton's goal. But they came back around and Joelinton scooped this shot high and wide. 

From an advanced Newcastle throw, Ndiaye dribbled manfully all the way to the opposition penalty area, failing to lay it off with a terrible pass for Dewsbury-Hall, who had incredibly run himself offside. 

Garner was lucky nothing bad transpired when his hospital pass was pounced upon. Tarkowski cleared the ball up to Beto and Ndiaye drove forward again but should have shot instead of trying to play in Beto; still, it won a corner.

This time, no loose ruck in the 6-yard area, instead a brilliant flat curler for Jarrad Branthwaite to glance in off the post to give Everton a brilliant opening goal. Who said we don't do corners right???

Newcastle Utd: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Ramsey, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon; Woltemade.

Subs: Ramsdale, Botman, Wissa, Barnes, Osula, J Murphy, Willock, A Murphy, Shahar.

Everton: Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gana, Garner, McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Beto.

Subs: Travers, Patterson, Keane, Barry, George, Dibling, Röhl, Iroegbunam, Armstrong.

 

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