An overview of how Everton's defeat to Newcastle United was covered in the national media
Jordan Pickford reacts during the Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Jordan Pickford reacts during the Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
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Jordan Pickford and Idrissa Gueye took the brunt of the criticism after Everton’s humiliation at the hands of Newcastle United. David Moyes conceded the visitors had been comfortably the better side, a reality reflected in the wider coverage of the 4-1 loss.
But within the pieces that flowed from the press room at Hill Dickinson Stadium there was consternation over Pickford’s involvement in Newcastle’s second goal and the trouble Gueye’s foolish red card has left his team-mates in.
Paul Joyce wrote in the Times: “Everton were trampled underfoot from the moment Malick Thiaw scored inside the opening seconds and might have suffered an even heavier beating as they were outplayed and outclassed.
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“Having seen his players come to blows at Manchester United at the start of the week, Everton manager David Moyes must have felt like throttling some of his starters who were fortunate that the overwhelming majority of home supporters had departed Hill Dickinson stadium long before the end and so were spared a barrage of boos.”
In the Telegraph, Luke Edwards wrote that Everton “crumbled in front of their own fans and were playing in front of an angry, half-empty stadium after the fourth goal went in”.
He added: “There were two goals from centre back Malick Thiaw - his first for the club since a summer move from AC Milan - an outrageous third from Nick Woltemade and the ultimate humiliation for Jordan Pickford, when Lewis Miley scored Newcastle’s second.
“The former Sunderland goalkeeper, who was tormented throughout by the travelling support, flapped at a shot and let it through his legs. It captured the zeitgeist of a perfect Geordie evening.”
In the Guardian, Andy Hunter wrote of the same goal: “Quite what England’s No 1 was thinking as he tried to pat the ball down, succeeding only in knocking it through his legs, is anyone’s guess.
“The away fans relished that slip by the Sunderland fan they love to bait.”
In the Mail, meanwhile, it was Gueye whose antics drew focus from Luke Power. He wrote: “Everton made light of Gueye's slappy sending-off against Manchester United by setting him up for a mock boxing match with Michael Keane in midweek. They won't be joking now.
"David Moyes missed his midfield destroyer here. Big time.
"Everton were exposed on the counter-attack and as soft as a paper bag through the middle. His replacement, (Tim) Iroegbunam, started brightly enough but quickly faded.
"He failed to clear the ball for the second goal - as others did - and was too easily outgunned by (Anthony) Elanga moments before the third."
In the ECHO, there was clear acknowledgement this was Everton’s worst night in their new home - and a performance that raises clear concerns about what Moyes can do to fix the problems ahead of games against Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, both of which will be played without Gueye : “It was a torrid, brutal horror show that exposed the lack of depth in the squad and the stupidity of Gueye’s actions towards Michael Keane.
“That there is no obvious, easy-fix heading to Bournemouth in midweek only added to the pain. Moyes has a lot of work to do if he is to prevent a bad night from turning into a terrible week."