Defensive mishaps again plague Newcastle United as Everton claim unlikely victory on Tyneside
The Magpies allowed their visitors to score three times, despite dominating possession and, for the most part, being the side looking to threaten.
Newcastle United have showcased their best performances of the season in recent weeks in a number of competitions. With the season heading into the business end, Newcastle have looked as if they were coming to the boil at just the right time, to salvage a season that has been incredibly up and down, both physically and emotionally.
Ahead of what is to be a season-defining month of March when the fixture list is viewed, Newcastle will have undoubtedly viewed their home tie against Everton as a great opportunity to continue momentum, and provide the foundations to be successful in the month to come.
However, such has been the consistently inconsistent form of Eddie Howe’s side during this campaign, it became another opportunity missed, thanks to the defensive frailties of the Magpies being very much highlighted.
Most frustratingly for Newcastle in the 2-3 loss on this occasion (and during others) was the fact that Everton did not create many chances at all, and yet scored three goals. Teams are coming against Newcastle and not having to play brilliantly to score against them. “It’s something we’ve tried to address, but we haven’t addressed it well enough”, Howe said at full time.
“It’s something we’re going to have to focus on now”, he added, alluding to the fact that he knew full well that the individual errors and sloppiness in defence were becoming increasingly common and indefensible.
Howe made clear that early on in the season, Newcastle had been very watertight at the back, but conceded that something has changed in their ability to keep the ball out of the net. Defensive injuries have not helped them this season, but despite that, such an issue cannot go on if this season is somehow still able to be salvaged.
Both sides made plenty of early running, although it was Everton who looked slightly more threatening. After a couple of instances where they probably should have done better, the visitors took the lead just after the quarter hour, when Jarrad Branthwaite’s near post header from a corner flew over everyone in the six yard box, and went in off the post.
Going behind seemed to kick Newcastle into gear, and they were able to draw level thanks to a deflected effort from Jacob Ramsey. Once again, a match at St. James’ Park had the feel that it was going to be a goal-fest, but who would be on the correct end by the final whistle?
Everton have had a strange season, and have actually been more successful away from home, and the reason why became immediately evident after Newcastle had levelled. Straight from the kick off they looked to attack Newcastle again. Within just two minutes of the restart, Dwight McNeil aimed what appeared to be a relatively tame effort at Nick Pope from range, but Pope somehow, in his attempt to gather the ball in, saw it spin away from him, and into the path of Beto who scored an easy tap in.
Not for the first time has Pope made a high profile blunder this season, and each time it has cost Newcastle points, either domestically or in Europe. Naturally, it frustrated the crowd and the Magpies knew they again had a mountain to climb in the second half.
That second period started in poor fashion for Newcastle, as Jacob Ramsey, despite reemerging, was suddenly taken off after appearing to be feeling sick. That was a bitter blow for Newcastle, given that Ramsey had been their best player in the first half, and had scored their goal.
Joe Willock came on and Newcastle attempted to rescue something after again being behind at the interval. David Moyes and Everton, hoping to hold onto their lead, sat deep and tried to frustrate Newcastle, perhaps in the knowledge that the Magpies tend to struggle against sides who employ such a tactic. Newcastle applied plenty of pressure, but they failed to really test Jordan Pickford during this period, barring one shot from Anthony Gordon.
Then came a strange moment where the ball appeared to have been shepherded out of play for a throw by Malick Thiaw, before Beto prodded the ball forward and ran through on goal. The majority inside St. James’ Park were furious, but Beto proceeded, only for the Everton forward to cannon his shot off the crossbar.
This felt like it could be pivotal, and it appeared to be when finally, Newcastle managed to get a meaningful shot on goal. It came from Jacob Murphy, and took a small nick which was enough to beat Jordan Pickford. Given the way the game had progressed through the second half, it seemed obvious that Newcastle would go on to win the match, but to the frustration of most inside St. James’ Park, the opposite occurred.
As they had in the first half, Newcastle imploded upon drawing level. Within moments of Everton restarting the match, they fumbled the ball over the line thanks to Thierno Barry. It was a catastrophe for Newcastle.
After what had appeared to be a turning point in their season after the loss at home against Brentford, here were the Magpies again making the same mistakes on the same pitch. What should have been a pivotal win for Newcastle turned into another agonising loss, which leaves them once again questioning which direction to go next.
Are Newcastle a cup team? It is a prudent question given that Newcastle have seemingly raised their game in for such occasions. They may have to continue with that, because at present, as difficult as winning a cup may be, it actually seems like their best chance of getting back into Europe.