Thierno Barry's second-half goal secured Everton their first Premier League away win of the season on Monday night, with the Blues beating Newcastle United 1-0 at St James' Park.
Barry's strike four minutes into the second half was the difference between the two sides, just four days after they met in the League Cup at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Everton deserved all three points, although Jordan Pickford produced a fine save to deny substitute Yoane Wisa in the closing stages. The Magpies finished the game with 10 men after Jacob Ramsey was dismissed for two yellow cards in quick succession at the death.
Jack Grealish was again not named in Everton's squad for the game, although this time it was due to a fitness issue.
National media react to Everton's win
Writing in the Guardian, Miles Starforth said: "Jack Grealish will do well to get back into the Everton starting lineup when he returns to the squad – as David Moyes's side are doing just fine without him."
Starforth added: "Newcastle were condemned to a second defeat in five days by Moyes' young team, with a second-half goal from Thierno Barry giving Everton victory against 10 men at St James' Park after the substitute Jacob Ramsey's late red card."
He also noted: "Newcastle fans had made their feelings about the 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat away to Everton last Thursday clear to Jaissle, who has found himself under pressure early in his tenure. By the time he had gone on to the pitch at Hill Dickinson Stadium to acknowledge their backing, most of the 7,732 travelling supporters had headed for the exits, and St James' Park emptied just as quickly after the home loss."
Grealish's absence proves of little consequence
In The Times, Martin Hardy wrote: "Even Jack Grealish might have struggled to find a Tyneside bar in party mood on Monday night, and it is said there are 147 of them within a one-mile radius of St James' Park."
Hardy continued: "His continued absence, this time to recover the fitness lost after being dropped for an unauthorised absence from training, proved to be of as little consequence as when he had been dropped for the corresponding fixture between the teams last week."
He added: "Even without him, Everton enjoyed another comfortable night and a comfortable win." Hardy also reported that David Moyes was not particularly convincing when asked if there is a way back for Grealish at Everton, initially saying only: "He is not available at the moment." When pressed if the situation is repairable, he added: "Of course, yeah."
Hardy concluded: "Newcastle's problems — and they are stacking up at an alarming rate — are about errant players. Plural. Moyes has a problematic player. Matthias Jaissle has a problematic squad."
Newcastle's struggles continue
Luke Edwards, writing for the Daily Telegraph, said: "Everton, just as they had in their Carabao Cup win last week, looked comfortable. Recognising how easy it was to nullify Newcastle's game plan, they offered an attacking threat of their own."
Edwards described: "A rising shot from Merlin Röhl briefly had goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek worried. A free-kick into the Newcastle box caused panic. James Tarkowski won the first header, but Thierno Barry swung and missed with his left foot."
He added: "The groans began to turn into boos and whistles. Jaissle's side could barely string more than two passes together. It felt precarious."
Finally, Craig Hope, on duty for the Daily Mail at St James' Park, wrote: "Jack Grealish was pictured enjoying a cracking night out in Newcastle last year. Here, his Everton team-mates had just as good a time, albeit in a far more sober state."
Hope noted: "The Manchester City loanee was left at home after last week's 'breach of club discipline'. At least, home is where the club hoped he would be." He added: "And, if he was, Grealish would have watched Everton record a deserved win. He might even have raised a toast, so accomplished an away performance was this."
Hope concluded: "It is the Toon Army, rather, in need of a bender right now. They really aren't very good - no shots on target before injury-time - and it is remarkable to think they would have gone seventh with victory. That position is now occupied by Everton, who were more skilful and more savvy from start to finish and won thanks to Thierno Barry's goal just after the break. The scoreline was not a reflection of their superiority."
