Toon self destruct in damaging home defeat - Newcastle 2-3 Everton

The nightmare result for Newcastle United in our failing mission to get back into the European race, as Everton left St James’ Park with all three points on Saturday afternoon.

Whether it was Eddie Howe playing square pegs in round holes from the off, our toothless attacking, sloppy passing, lack of energy or the awful goals we conceded right after equalising (twice), it was a woeful display and damaging result.

Defeat sees us drop to 12th in the table, 12 behind 5th place Liverpool, seven behind 7th place Brentford after their 4-3 wjn at Burnley and even four behind Everton, who move up to 8th after today’s win.

That’s now five defeats in our last six league games and three Premier League losses in a row at St James’ Park: a first under Howe. Sadly, today’s latest setback sums up our struggle for consistency after we entered the match with four wins from five in all competitions.

Newcastle XI: Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Ramsey, Tonali, Woltemade - Elanga, Gordon, Joelinton. 

Subs: Ramsdale, Botman, Wissa, Barnes, Osula, J.Murphy, Willock, A.Murphy, Shahar

Everton: Pickford – O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko – Gana, Garner – McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye – Beto

Howe made six changes from Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Qarabag, seeing Pope, Thiaw, Hall, Ramsey, Elanga and Gordon replace Ramsdale, Botman, Barnes and two Murphy’s.

The first half was a complete mess, featuring some turgid attacking play, more cheap goals conceded and the manager getting his tactics badly wrong. Joelinton on the left wing against a 6ft 4” right-back? We missed his physicality in midfield and Gordon was crowded out on his own up top, with Woltemade playing too deep to impact the game.

Branthwaite’s opener was too easy from an Everton corner, and our equaliser only came after Howe moved Gordon wide, Woltemade up front and Joelinton in midfield. Tonali’s pass into Ramsey was incisive and the finish came via a big deflection, but we were pegged back almost immediately thanks to Pope’s latest error, and perhaps his worst yet.

McNeil's shot should’ve been a routine save, yet he spilt it straight to Beto for the easiest goal he’ll score all season. 2-1 and that’s how it stayed in a flat, slow and sloppy first half where the only players even close to being ‘at it’ were Ramsey and Tonali.

A huge second half was needed, attacking the Gallowgate end, and we came up short once again. After struggling for so much of it to break down Everton’s low block, Jacob Murphy drew us level with a low volley…for a few minutes at least.

Straight from the kick off, Gordon lost the ball in an awful area, Everton pounced and Barry scored. 3-2 down, another awful goal conceded moments after we’d equalised and that was that, with a miserable afternoon ending with Jordan Pickford pulling off one of the saves of the season in stoppage time to stop Tonali’s thunderous volley.

Next up, a Premier League home clash with Man Utd next Wednesday, before we welcome Man City to St James' Park in a week's time for our FA Cup last 16 tie.

Keep the faith. Howay the lads.