Newcastle 3-1 Everton: Trippier & Targett shine as Toon make it two wins on the trot!
What a night at St James' Park and what a huge win!
A brilliant atmosphere, a Kieran Trippier masterclass, a superb debut from Matt Target and finally back-to-back wins for Eddie Howe's Newcastle United.
It was not only a huge victory on a night where Watford lost at West Ham and Burnley only managed a point against a poor Man Utd, but one that takes us to within a single point of Everton.
The results takes us out of the bottom three, up to 18 points and two clear of safety after 22 games, giving us a huge boost ahead of Sunday's clash with Aston Villa.
Eddie Howe has made one change from our win at Elland Road, replacing the injured Paul Dummett with Aston Villa loanee Matt Targett.
Surprisingly, Bruno Guimaraes was only named on the bench - a decision that didn't go down well with Toon fans on social media before the game - but one that was justified in the end based on the result!
The game started with us boxing Everton in with some good pressing, however we were never really able to control the game in that first half. Whether it was disjointed attacks via hopeful balls to Wood or a lack of cohesion in midfield, we weren't quite clicking against a side who looked there for the taking.
Typically, it was them who struck first. A horrible goal to concede in more ways than one, with two deflections working in their favour before the ball cannoned in off Jamaal Lascelles.
Thankfully, the skipper made up for that unfortunate own goals just one minute later, as he rose highest from a Trippier corner and saw his header go in off Mason Holgate after the ball came back off the crossbar.
So, two own goals, but the momentum was back with us and the atmosphere inside St James' Park picked up a few notches.
We should've been in the lead at the break, with Wood heading straight at Pickford, Joelinton losing his footing when the ball was cut back by Saint-Maximin and Fraser's header blocked after a brilliant ball in from Targett.
The second half arrived and we started with a purpose about our play. We were getting higher up the pitch, upping the intensity, putting Everton on the back foot in front of the Gallowgate - and we were rewarded soon after on 56 minutes as Fraser bundled in from a Saint-Maximin cross!
The wind was in our sails and it felt like a third was coming. Everton just about hung on, then enjoyed periods of possession without ever causing us much trouble, but the win was sealed with 10 minutes on the clock.
After Fraser was chopped down after cutting inside, Kieran Trippier stepped up and curled a right-footed free kick past Pickford's little arms and into the bottom corner. Scenes of sheer jubilation followed all around St James' Park and it felt like we'd not only secured the win, but turned a corner.
No nervy end to the game with backs against the wall and finger nails in bits, but a comfortable end to the game that also saw Bruno Guimaraes come on to a huge reception for his first appearance in black and white.
We could've made it four in the end - Murphy hit the post and Saint-Maximin was unlucky not to score after some brilliant work from Guimaraes in the build up - however we came away comfortable 3-1 winners in a night full of positives on Tyneside.
STARTING 11: Dubravka – Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Targett – Shelvey, Willock, Joelinton – Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
SUBS: Darlow, Burn, Krafth, Manquillo, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Murphy, Almiron, Gayle
Next up, Aston Villa on Sunday!
HOWAY THE LADS.
