Everton secured a massive 3-points as they edged past Newcastle United to eighth in the Premier League table.
St James’ Park has rarely seen an afternoon quite like this. Everton travelled to Newcastle knowing they needed a response after two consecutive home defeats, and they delivered a performance that will live long in the memory of every supporter who made the trip north.
David Moyes’ side showed resilience in abundance, taking the lead three times and surviving a stoppage-time thunderbolt that Jordan Pickford turned onto the crossbar with one of the saves of the season. The 3-2 victory lifts Everton into eighth place, five points off the top six with 11 games remaining.
Branthwaite and Beto strike before the break
Everton started brightly at a rain-soaked St James’ Park. Iliman Ndiaye tested the waters with a 25-yard effort that cleared the crossbar, but the breakthrough came from an unlikely source in the 19th minute. Jarrad Branthwaite rose highest to meet James Garner’s inswinging corner, glancing his header across Nick Pope and in off the far post. It was the centre-back’s first goal of the season and exactly the start Moyes would have wanted.
Newcastle responded through Jacob Ramsey, whose deflected shot looped over Pickford to level matters 13 minutes before the break. But Everton’s response was immediate. Dwight McNeil let fly from the edge of the box, Pope could only parry into a dangerous area, and Beto was on hand to prod home from close range. Two minutes after conceding, the Toffees were back in front.
The stats from the first half told a remarkable story. Everton had just three touches in the Newcastle penalty area but had scored twice. Clinical does not begin to cover it.
Barry’s instant response secures the points
The second half was a different proposition entirely. Newcastle dominated possession, pushing forward in waves as they searched for a second equaliser. Jordan Pickford was called into action regularly, parrying Anthony Gordon’s low shot and watching Branthwaite clear the rebound before Malick Thiaw could pounce.
Beto should have extended Everton’s lead with 25 minutes remaining. He muscled Thiaw off the ball and ran clean through on goal, but under pressure from Sandro Tonali, his shot clipped the crossbar. The groans from the away end suggested they feared it might prove costly.
With eight minutes remaining, Jacob Murphy volleyed home Joelinton’s lofted centre to make it 2-2. St James’ Park erupted, sensing a winner. But within seconds, the game swung again. Anthony Gordon dallied on the ball deep in his own half, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall seized possession, drove to the byline and cut back for substitute Thierno Barry to bundle home at the far post.
Then came the moment that will be replayed for weeks. Deep into stoppage time, Tonali met a clearance on the volley from 20 yards. The ball arrowed towards the top corner, destined for the net, until Pickford flung himself full stretch to tip it onto the crossbar. It was, as Sky Sports’ Keith Downie put it, “one of the saves of the season.”
The final whistle sparked wild celebrations. Everton had shown grit, quality and no small amount of drama to secure a victory that keeps their European dreams very much alive.
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