everton
Football

Newcastle United FC narrowly beats Everton FC 1-0 at St James Park

Everton excelled at times but couldn’t get the goal their play deserved in a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

For the entirety of the second half, Frank Lampard’s side dominated possession but failed to create a clear-cut chance to challenge Magpies keeper Nick Pope.

And shortly after the half-hour mark, Miguel Almiron curled a left-foot effort past Jordan Pickford from the edge of the penalty area to secure the win.

Lampard made two changes from the weekend’s game against Tottenham, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin making his first start after recovering from a knee injury sustained in training on the eve of the season.

Anthony Gordon was also reinstated after serving a one-game suspension after collecting five bookings.

Calvert-first Lewin’s serious involvement came in the sixth minute, when he received a yellow card from referee Tony Harrington for a late charge on Bruno Guimares, who had previously flashed a 25-yard shot over the bar.

Another long-range attempt, this time from Jacob Murphy, was also off target, and Jordan Pickford comfortably held on to a feeble header from Callum Wilson as Newcastle took the initiative.

Everton’s first – and best – chance of the first half came on 26 minutes, when Calvert-Lewin headed a Demarai Gray corner barely over the bar and into the Gallowgate Stand.

The Blues had held out well against Newcastle’s early pressure, but on the half-hour mark, Almiron checked inside and bent a left-foot curler into the far corner from 16 yards out.

Guimares then went close again in quick succession, just missing the goal with two attempts as Newcastle sought to increase their lead.

Despite this, Everton had a strong penalty appeal turned down on the stroke of halftime when Gordon fell to the ground inside the area after an apparent nudge in the back from defender Dan Burn.

A scuffle erupted, involving many players from both squad, which concluded with referee Harrington taking Gordon and Fabian Schar’s names.

The Blues needed to pick up the pace after the half, and it didn’t take long for Lampard’s players to prove their worth.

Gray outpaced Kieran Tripper on the halfway line before sprinting down the left channel and into the penalty box, only for his cutback to be inches beyond of Iwobi’s reach three minutes later.

A second later, the Blues raced forward again, forcing Pope into a save despite the offside flag being waved.

The visitors’ midfield three of Gana, Iwobi, and Onana coordinated before the latter sent a wonderful defense-splitting ball for Calvert-Lewin that the Newcastle defence just managed to block.

By the hour mark, Everton had had 90 percent possession in the preceding five minutes, demonstrating Lampard’s continued progress, as seen by the travelling Blues belting out Spirit of the Blues at St James’ Park.

A goal was required as a reward, and it was almost delivered on 64 minutes when Gordon’s excellent ball found Gray in the penalty box. Gray chose to take a touch rather than shoot first time, driving the forward wide and giving Newcastle the opportunity to clear.

Everton were in command at this time, but it was the hosts who threatened next, as a sweeping counter-attack saw Wilson glide into space for a shot, only to be denied by another superb Tarkowski stop.

Calvert-Lewin did well to endure 73 minutes before being replaced by Neal Maupay, with James Garner also coming off the bench for the third match in a row to replace Iwobi.

As the game beckoned for Everton to lift the ante in the dying moments, it was Newcastle who appeared more likely to score again, as Joe Willock headed over from close range with four minutes remaining.

Six minutes of extra time were signalled, but the Blues were unable to muster one last hurrah as a performance that produced positives once again failed to produce points.

Kajal S

Kajal S

kajal

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