Everton’s remarkable affinity for life on the road continued at St. James’ Park as they beat Newcastle United 3-2 in a in a five-goal thriller. Despite Newcastle clawing their way back into the game twice, a bizarre 83rd-minute winner from Thierno Barry ensured David Moyes’ men took all three points back to Merseyside.
The First Half: Mistakes and Momentum
Everton started the brighter of the two sides, looking sharper and more hungry from the whistle. Their pressure paid off in the 19th minute when Jarrad Branthwaite rose to meet a James Garner corner, glancing a header off the post and into the net to make it 1-0.
Newcastle struggled to find their rhythm, but a moment of individual effort from Jacob Ramsey in the 32nd minute brought them level. His shot took a wicked deflection off Branthwaite – the man who had just scored for Everton – looping over Jordan Pickford to send the Gallowgate End into a frenzy.
The joy was short-lived, however. Just two minutes later, Beto restored the Toffees’ lead. It was a moment Nick Pope will want to forget; the goalkeeper spilled a shot from Dwight McNeil, and Beto was the fastest to react, tapping into an empty net to make it 2-1 at the break.
The Second Half: The Seesaw Battle
The second half was a nervy affair. Everton nearly put the game to bed in the 64th minute when Beto broke clear of Malick Thiaw, rounded Pope, but somehow rattled his effort off the crossbar. Newcastle used that lifeline to push forward, throwing everything at an Everton defence that was “throwing themselves at every single attempt” to protect the lead.
The pressure finally told in the 82nd minute. Jacob Murphy found space in the box and finished with precision to make it 2-2. It looked for all the world like Newcastle had snatched a point.
The Decider: Barry’s “Backside” Winner
Parity lasted barely sixty seconds. Straight from the kick-off, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall-who had been a thorn in Newcastle’s side all day despite a yellow card-drove down the left flank. His low square ball across the six-yard box hit Thierno Barry, who was being tripped as he arrived; the ball deflected off his backside and past a helpless Pope.
Newcastle refused to go quietly, and the stadium held its breath deep into stoppage time. Sandro Tonali caught a powerful strike late on that seemed destined for the top corner, but Jordan Pickford produced a world-class save to ensure Everton took all three points from Newcastle.
Newcastle United Everton
Goals Ramsey (32′), Murphy (82′) Branthwaite (19′), Beto (34′), Barry (83′)