The real slap in the face is on the way for Everton
**_Everton 1-4 Newcastle_** _(Dewsbury-Hall 69′ | Thiaw 1′, 58′, Miley 25′, Woltemade 45’)_
Well at least the staggered exit of Everton supporters eased the traffic flow away from the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton’s second defeat at this ground was comfortably their worst display so far at their new home, with Newcastle easing to a first Premier League away win of the season.
Newcastle’s four goals scored despite an xG of 1.17 was partly down to Nick Woltemade’s beautiful lob and Jordan Pickford’s ugly error when parrying Lewis Miley’s strike through his own legs.
But just as crucial a factor was Everton’s hapless defence and missing midfield. Woltemade was inexplicably open for Newcastle’s third, suggesting Michael Keane may still have been feeling the effects of Monday’s slap.
Everton had been quick to make light of Idrissa Gueye’s ridiculous red card at Old Trafford, carrying the joy of a hard-fought win over Manchester United with 10 men into the week when Keane and Gueye donned boxing gloves during a training session to suggest all was forgiven.
There was nothing wrong with poking fun at the altercation, which of course was easier done after a victory, but the sting of this slap looks set to linger after Everton’s glimpse of life without Gueye against Newcastle.
A midfield all too easily overpowered was addressed by David Moyes at half-time when the Everton manager hauled off Gueye’s replacement in the starting XI, Tim Iroegbunam.
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Carlos Alcaraz came on and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall dropped deeper alongside James Garner, and this could be Moyes’ midfield three of choice at Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Moyes may find he has few options otherwise, while he must find a solution without Gueye, who is suspended for their next two games as well before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Gueye’s compatriot Iliman Ndiaye is also set to represent Senegal at Afcon, and losing a creative outlet could be just as damaging with Everton utterly short on ideas going forward.
Their endeavour felt almost futile against Newcastle due to their lack of end product, with Thierno Barry’s disallowed strike ensuring his painful wait for a first Everton goal goes on.
Once Ndiaye and Gueye depart, the scorers for 43 per cent of Everton’s Premier League goals so far this season will be on the plane. The former is their top scorer with four, while only Keane and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall join the pair in having scored more than one goal in the league.
Glaring, glaring problems, and the onus will be on Dewsbury-Hall – albeit from a deeper role – and Jack Grealish to ensure the absence of Ndiaye is not too keenly felt.
But after the one step forward in victory at Manchester United, this felt like two steps back that led to a glance back down the table.
They are seven points above the relegation zone, and closer in fact to the European places, but they will need to upset Bournemouth, Chelsea and Arsenal in three of their next four games to remain in touch with the top half.
[Without a striker](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/everton-striker-targets-january-3966161?ico=in-line_link), that does not seem possible, and without Gueye, that becomes even harder. He may yet return just before he flies off to Afcon, but the best part of two months away could result in the midfielder returning to a very different mood in camp.