A Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty was enough to rescue a draw for Sean Dyche’s relegation-threatened Toffees, after Alexander Isak had given the Magpies a deserved lead.
But what were the main talking points from the encounter? Here we take a look at how the 1-1 played out at St James’ Park.
Tale of two halves?
It very much felt like Newcastle needed the second. And so it proved. This was a story told and told again for the Magpies this campaign.
In the opening 45 they seemed to have Everton’s number, dominating possession and creating chances galore. While the chances still presented themselves in the second period, Newcastle’s control waned.
Options limited – but what’s new?
As that control drifted, what Newcastle needed was an option in midfield, someone to wrestle back influence. Put simply, they don’t have that right now. It’s tough to remember a time when they did have it.
Joe Willock brought legs but lacked the physicality of Elliot Anderson and wasn’t the profile of player needed to turn the dial in the middle. However, Eddie Howe can only play the cards he’s been dealt.
Youthful influence felt – positives in the result gloom
Lewis Hall and Anderson’s emergence in the team has been one of the real positives of an up and down week. And while the result was not what the doctor ordered, a fit again Anderson and fired up Hall gives hope for optimism.
Anderson is the closest thing Newcastle have to Joelinton in the squad and his physicality and challenges was a real feature of the first 45. Expectedly so, he tired after the break.
And Hall looks more than ready to impact things at Premier League level now, having struggled to do so in black and white until recently. And thankfully for Howe, he was taken off with fatigue and nothing more, so should be fine to replace Paul Dummett, especially after his error cost Newcastle dear, down at Fulham.
