Everton taunted Newcastle United players twice after their 3-1 Carabao Cup win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, raising the stakes for Monday night's Premier League clash at St James' Park.
The home club played a fan rendition of the Jordan Pickford song over the tannoy before the match, delighting the Wearsider. Shortly after Pickford refused to release the ball when Dan Burn scored a late header, the PA announcer played the song again with tempers still high.
Fracas in the goalmouth
Joelinton was thrown to the floor by James Tarkowski, and Burn tried to push England team-mate Pickford away, sparking a mini fracas that required Lukas Hornicek to sprint from the other end of the field to cool things down.
The song, deemed a bit of fun by Everton, was not appreciated by Newcastle fans. The lyrics read: "He's a Mackem, he's a Blue, he's a Toffee through and through, He hates Newcastle, he hates the ----- (aimed at Liverpool FC), Jordan Pickford is dynamite."
Joelinton hurled his shirt into the remaining Newcastle fans after the whistle, looking like a man pumped up for revenge.
Proud record goes up in smoke
The Carabao Cup exit is Newcastle's earliest in five years, the last knockout before the quarter-finals coming under Mike Ashley's ownership. That was under Steve Bruce when Newcastle lost at home on penalties in round two. Eddie Howe had reached at least the last eight in all his seasons on Tyneside.
Last year's run to the semi-finals against Man City was arguably in sight had Newcastle beaten Everton, with a tie at League Two Fleetwood on offer. With no Europe, it is Premier League fixtures all the way and no excuses for the Magpies between now and FA Cup third round weekend in early January.
Prime Minister in the mixed zone
As Newcastle players left the Hill Dickinson, the Prime Minister, a huge Everton fan, was heading for his transport after the win. The jubilant PM stopped to speak to waiting Everton fans and pose for pictures amid the euphoria of the Carabao Cup win.
It made for a bizarre setting as Newcastle players walked past to get on the bus with a mix of boos and delight outside the stadium. The one positive for travelling United fans is that the majority of Magpies stars looked angry after the defeat and should need no team talk for Monday night.
