Anthony Elanga screamed in frustration during a torrid first half at St James' Park as another ball flew over his head and was easily intercepted by Everton. Both Elanga and William Osula, two of Newcastle's biggest attacking threats, were starved of action in the final third as Matthias Jaissle's team went in without a single shot on target in the first half.
Long balls and aerial dominance
The lack of attacking threat had already been flagged up by Alan Shearer after the previous home game against Aston Villa. Newcastle had little purpose with their passing and played 54 long balls in total against an Everton side who had the likes of 6ft 5in Jarrad Branthwaite and 6ft 1in James Tarkowski to head clear time after time.
In total, Branthwaite and Tarkowski won 14 aerial challenges between them as the likes of Elanga and Osula, who clearly wanted the ball to feet, boiled over and Elanga waved his arms and screamed at his team-mates.
Jaissle's warning
Afterwards, Jaissle stood up the fact the team had not been instructed to lump it forward in a remarkable admission. He then threatened to wield the axe, saying: "It is always about finding the balance, as a coach right? Especially when there's a bit of a lack of confidence. If you change after one bad performance, where should they get belief? It is a balance you need to manage. But of course if other players are knocking on my door - due to training performances - then it is getting easier to make changes."
Just days after losing 3-1 to Everton in the Carabao Cup, the hope had been that Newcastle would be up for the fight against the Toffees. But that battling spirit didn't come and on a damp night, the atmosphere - with nothing to feed off - quickly fizzled out.
Fans turn on the team
As Newcastle went through the motions in the first half an hour, the crowd were teetering on the brink of frustration. Those half-time boos were inevitable and after the break it was all eyes on Newcastle players like the game against Crystal Palace when they managed to spark themselves into life.
But this time they would implode in front of their own fans as Thierno Barry was allowed to tap home from close range after Lucas Hornicek. What came after that was a little better as Elanga hit the post with the ball rolling across the line while Yoane Wissa managed a couple of attempts and Fabian Schar missed a header.
Yet it was no surprise that Everton held on to their precious lead and won at St James' Park for the third time in a row. Jacob Ramsey's red card for a second booking added a lack of discipline to the list of negatives.
The reaction from fans was a fierce one as the players were booed off for the second game in a row. And even the lap of appreciation received a negative reaction from those left in the ground.
Newcastle head to Fulham at the weekend looking to show they are up for the fight this season. But they won't do it like this. Jaissle has made it clear Newcastle need to be cleaner in both boxes, but that message seems to be going in one ear and out the other right now.
