Everton miss another huge opportunity at Goodison Park and are summarily beaten by Newcastle United.
Everton hosted Newcastle under the lights at Goodison Park on Thursday night with aspirations of climbing out of the relegation zone with the Premier League season dwindling. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Amadou Onana were back into the starting eleven to complete one of the strongest starting elevens Everton can field. Questionably, Sean Dyche chose to stick with Ben Godfrey at right back, favoring him over young Scottish International Nathan Patterson.
Following a coach welcome and sirens, Goodison was the bear pit supporters know and love as Everton poured forward early in the match. With good control on the ball and good movement off it, Everton held serve for the first 25 minutes of the match firing the ball into the box early and often. It was a usual tale for the league’s lowest low scorers, with the final ball lacking and Calvert-Lewin receiving very little in the way of concrete chances from his wingers and full backs.
Despite the good start from the hosts, it took only one quick counter attack from Eddie Howe’s men to find the lead as a good phase of play saw Joelinton break down the wing. He sent Godfrey to the shops before forcing Pickford to make a save, however the rebound would fall only to Callum Wilson who would fire into the net to give the visitors a lead. The goal was similar to a balloon popping, with the energy on and off the field deflating for the toffees. Everton would find the back of the net just before halftime, as Dwight McNeil spun well to play a lovely through ball to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The striker composed himself well to chip and beat Nick Pope to level the match. However, VAR would determine the #9 was offside and the goal would be summarily wiped out. Another gut punch for the blues, who would go into the half down 0-1.
Everton would come out of the half well, responding to a quick wave of Newcastle pressure to create some half chances for the likes of Calvert-Lewin. Sean Dyche’s men did decent enough to see off the pressure before a double change in the 68th minute would pay dividends for Newcastle only 4 minutes later, as Godfrey was once again summarily beaten this time by Willock, who found an unmarked Joelinton who slammed in a header to put the visitors up 0-2.
The match would not get any better for the blues, with 2 rather poor conceded goals sandwiching a Dwight McNeil goal, as the match finished 1-4 in favor of Newcastle. It was a difficult day for Everton, who were clearly outclassed and lacked the final touch to make their moments of momentum count. Ben Godfrey struggled at right back once again, with the backline looking shaky at best in big moments. It could be time for Sean Dyche to make a decision regarding his backline continuity, with the biggest chance to take advantage of favorable results this weekend coming tomorrow at Leicester. Everton are running out of chances and time, and will eventually have to make the hard decisions if they are going to survive the second relegation battle in as many years.
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