Wild challenge saw Magpies come unstuck against Toffees
| Published date | 04 April 2024 |
| Publication title | Evening Chronicle |
Here are five things we learned from the game.
MOMENT OF MADNESS PROVES COSTLY This was an old-fashioned scrap as physical Everton repeatedly launched the ball forward. You won't be surprised to learn no other side have played more balls into the mixer in the Premier League this season.
Yet Newcastle coped in the first half, limiting Everton to just one shot on target, and, even then, Abdoulaye Doucoure's effort was comfortably saved by Martin Dubravka just before half-time.
The longer it stayed 1-0, however, the nervier it got as Newcastle dropped off and Everton wrestled back control after the hosts failed to grab a crucial second goal.
Substitute James Garner struck the inside of the post midway through the second half; Martin Dubravka made an important save to deny Ashley Young; Fabian Schar slid in just as Vitaliy Mykolenko was about to pull the trigger in the box; and Dan Burn made a similarly important tackle to prevent Calvert-Lewin getting a shot away.
In saying that, it looked like Newcastle were going to get over the line after defending manfully only for substitute Paul Dummett to wrestle Ashley Young to the turf late on.
Tony Harrington may have played on initially, but Dummett could have no complaints about the subsequent decision after the referee consulted his pitchside monitor and saw the Geordie with his arm around Young's neck as they fell to the floor.
Harvey
Up stepped Calvert-Lewin - who had not scored since October - and although Martin Dubravka got a hand to the Everton striker's penalty, there was no stopping that spot-kick.
It was a hammer blow for Newcastle.
EVERTON'S BENCH MAKES IMPACT
Relegation-threatened Everton were on the verge of setting a club record after not winning a single Premier League game since December 16.
Sean Dyche's team had only scored twice in their previous seven away matches in all competitions.
As inconsistent as Newcastle have been - even losing the reverse fixture 3-0 back in December - there was only going to be one winner. Surely?
However, Newcastle's incredible comeback at the weekend came at a significant cost.
Not only were Newcastle without the suspended Anthony Gordon - Jamaal Lascelles, Tino Livramento and Miguel Almiron also hobbled off to take their seats in a crowded treatment room.
Remarkably, Newcastle nearly had as many senior players out...
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