A Goalless Draw But A Hectic Occasion!
- Spirit of The News
- Oct 5, 2024
- 3 min read
Both the Toffees and Geordies held each other to a goalless draw. Even though that may seem boring, this wasn’t the case as a box office game of football was put on display, including penalty claims, a penalty miss, and a VAR controversy!
Lineups:
Everton:
Pickford
Young
Tarkoswki
Keane
Garner
Mangala
Doucoure
Ndiaye
McNeil
Harrison
Calvert-Lewin
Newcastle:
Pope
Trippier
Schär
Hall
Burn
Guimares
Joelinton
Tonali
Barnes
Gordon
Murphy
A hostile Goodison Park was roared up and prepared to be the twelfth man during this fixture as a not-so-warm welcome for ex-Everton and now Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon meant the majority of Evertonians booed at any opportunity they could.
Anthony Gordon Newcastle Stats:
Appearances: 72
Goals: 15
Assists: 11
Yellow Cards: 13
Red Cards: 1
However, Newcastle came extremely close to silencing the crowd with a shot from Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimares that was heading in. A moment of luck combined with flair left Iliman Ndiaye as the last man standing, providing a clearance with the inside of his ankle, margins off giving the Toon Army the lead inside the opening ten minutes.
From the corner conceded, Everton were able to retrieve the ball and begin their own possession of play towards the Park End. Only seven minutes after the close call on the line, James Garner picked up the ball on the right-hand side, sending a whipped cross straight into the path of Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was towering over the Newcastle defence completely unmarked. A no-look flick on header looped into the top left corner of Nick Pope’s net, supposedly to give Everton the advantage. Although, correctly, the goal was disallowed after a short check by VAR.
Abdoulaye Doucoure Everton Stats:
Appearances: 136
Goals: 18
Assists: 12
Yellow Cards: 26
Red Cards: 1
In the 32nd minute of action at Goodison Park, Newcastle received a corner; a short ball to Murphy, who crossed it into the zone of both Everton and Newcastle players, flew past everyone, with no complaints from anyone as it seemed a failed piece of play. However, as it was crossed in, it appeared that James Tarkoswki pulled Sandro Tonali quite wrecklessly by his shirt, forcing him down into the turf. A check by VAR meant referee Craig Pawson was directed to go to the monitor pitch side, normally meaning a penalty was soon to be given, and it was.
None other than Anthony Gordon put the ball down on the spot, and a patient wait after the referee had blown his whistle to signal that he was allowed to take the shot occurred. Gordon stepped up, shooting it into the bottom left corner, but Jordan Pickford came down at the right time and was able to get it out, which I’m sure he would’ve enjoyed as a Sunderland fan!
An extremely entertaining first half soon enough came to a close.
Jordan Pickford Everton Stats:
Appearances: 286
Clean Sheets: 77
Yellow Cards: 18
The second half came, and there were a couple real-cut chances; perhaps Anthony Gordon should’ve had another but blazed it above the crossbar, but the focus point was Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Everton wanted a penalty of their own after the Englishman was initially thought to be brought down in the box by Dan Burn while about to score. It fell to Idrissa Gana Gueye, who skied the rebound, which would have put the Blues ahead. However, there was complete focus on the "foul." From post-match analysis and replays, it is clear that Calvert-Lewin kicked Burn in the back of the leg, although there is still a split of opinion on whether it should have been given.
Everton, though, would be happy with the draw if the start of the season is anything to go by. Newcastle, on the other hand, wouldn’t be, with Eddie Howe speaking in a post-match interview and agreeing that it was a “frustrating evening.”.
Next Fixtures:
Ipswich vs Everton - Sat 19th October @ 15:00
Newcastle vs Brighton - Sat 19th October @ 15:00
Premier League Gameweek 7:
Saturday 5th October:
Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool
Arsenal 3-1 Southampton
Brentford 5-3 Wolves
Leicester 1-0 Bournemouth
Manchester City 3-2 Fulham
West Ham 4-1 Ipswich
Everton 0-0 Newcastle
Sunday 6th October:
Aston Villa 14:00 Manchester United
Chelsea 14:00 Nottingham Forest
Brighton 16:30 Tottenham Hotspur
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