Newcastle's Home Misery Deepens with Defeat to Everton
When Jacob Ramsey was sick on the pitch before the start of the second half, it captured the essence of Newcastle United's afternoon at St James' Park. This was a nauseating performance regurgitated, just when supporters thought a cure had been found following recent away wins.
A Third Straight Home Defeat
This marked a third consecutive Premier League defeat on home soil for the Magpies. Last time out against Brentford three weeks ago, there were boos from the home crowd and a dressing-room inquest. Newcastle responded with three victories on the road, leading to optimistic talk of a corner being turned. Here, they stumbled back down a dark alley of disappointment.
Just when it felt like a glimmer of light had appeared at the death, with Sandro Tonali's thunderous volley headed for the back of the Gallowgate End net in what would have been a salvaged point, Jordan Pickford intervened. The former Sunderland goalkeeper, cast as the pantomime villain by the home supporters, produced an extraordinary save to somehow flick the ball onto the crossbar.
Pickford's Heroics and Everton's Deserved Victory
The home fans applauded in recognition of Tonali's effort, but the appreciation could easily have been for the save itself. Pickford's intervention preserved what was a deserved win for David Moyes' Everton side, who took the lead in the 20th minute when Jarrad Branthwaite headed in from a corner. Branthwaite was outstanding at both ends of the pitch throughout the match.
Jacob Ramsey equalized for Newcastle on 33 minutes, but within 60 seconds, Beto punished a Nick Pope spill to restore Everton's lead at 2-1. There was another equalizer in the 82nd minute, with Jacob Murphy's volley taking a deflection beyond Pickford, but again parity proved fleeting.
Anthony Gordon lost possession in midfield seconds after the restart, and substitute Thierno Barry slid in at the far post to convert from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's low cross, securing Everton's winning goal.
Newcastle's Concerning League Position
This defeat means Newcastle will have to win all 10 of their remaining matches to equal last season's points tally of 66, when they finished fifth. If they are to qualify for next season's Champions League through league position, their current form makes that increasingly unlikely. Their focus may now shift to European competition, where they would need to beat Barcelona in the last 16 and progress all the way to the final in Budapest.
Newcastle's league form - five defeats in their last six matches - means they are justifiably closer to the bottom three than they are to the top five in the Premier League table.
Howe's Tactical Challenges and Woltemade's Struggles
This was an afternoon with many shortcomings for manager Eddie Howe, but the Nick Woltemade midfield experiment is surely reaching its expiry date. The German started as a No. 8 for the fifth straight game but after half an hour was moved back to No. 9, where he did not fare any better.
Low on confidence and lacking the physicality to compete effectively in the Premier League, Woltemade represents a conundrum who needs time on the training ground. The football pitch is proving an unforgiving environment of late for the young player.
He was substituted after 56 minutes, and his statistics did not make for good reading. Of just 14 touches, none were in the penalty area. He also lost all three of his midfield duels, which prompted Howe's first-half tactical change.
Midfield Reshuffle and Defensive Fragility
Joelinton had started on the left wing to accommodate Woltemade in midfield, and the Brazilian looked like a heavyweight boxer confined to a ringside seat. He clearly wanted to be the other side of the ropes in the midfield battle, and as Everton ran through Newcastle's midfield at will, it was evident that was where his team needed him most.
Within three minutes of the reshuffle that saw Gordon moved to left wing and Joelinton shifted into the midfield canvas, Newcastle were level when Tonali fizzed a pass into Ramsey, whose shot deflected off Branthwaite and into the net.
The Toon Army were still celebrating the relief of that goal when Dwight McNeil's shot was fumbled by Pope and Beto pounced. Likewise, St James' Park was still noisy in exultation of Murphy's strike when Everton scored their winner moments later.
Howe looked sick at full-time, a recurring theme for Newcastle at home of late as their season continues to unravel in concerning fashion.
