Tyrique George playing for Everton, with David Moyes in a circular frame inset
Tyrique George playing for Everton, with David Moyes in a circular frame inset
Everton went into half-time of Monday's Premier League clash with Newcastle locked at 0-0 at St James' Park.
David Moyes made a couple of changes to the Everton side that beat the same opponents 3-1 in the Carabao Cup last Thursday.
George was one of the nine players to retain his place in the side, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Harrison Armstrong returning elsewhere.
Everton were the better of the two sides in a rather cagey and low-quality first half, leading to the home fans getting restless.
George tried to make something happen, but Dean Ashton could not help ripping into the winger over one moment in particular.
Tyrique George sums things up for Everton
'Scrappy' is the best way to describe the opening 45 minutes in the North-East.
Newcastle's players looked completely out of sync, while Everton did at least seem to have a little more about them.
George had some promising moments and space opened up for him after around 25 minutes to get a shot away.
The effort was dreadful, however, as he fired the ball high over the crossbar from range.
Reacting to that shot from the former Chelsea player, Ashton said live on talkSPORT: "It's an awful effort in the end.
"He's looked lively but that's just an awful effort. He's slashed right across it."
That pretty much summed things up for Everton, as they had glimpses of goal but could no truly make the most of it.
Who was Everton's best performer in first half vs Newcastle?
Everton will feel they should have had a goal to show for their first-half efforts, with Thierno Barry wasting a good chance and Armstrong an even better one right at the end of the half.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall bossed the midfield in the first half at St James' Park, though in fairness it was almost as though Newcastle were not playing with anybody in that area.
George was the best of Everton's pure attacking players, but his only shot was that aforementioned wayward one.
More of the same in the second half and Everton should come away with three points.
If they do not, Moyes will point towards the poor finishing from his players, rather than his own tactics.