Eddie Howe did not even wait until the hour mark to haul off £124m worth of talent as Nick Woltemade and Anthony Elanga paid the price for poor shows
Jordan Pickford of Everton celebrates
Jordan Pickford of Everton celebrates (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Newcastle United's European bid via the Premier League lies in tatters after this horrendous 3-2 defeat to Everton.
The Champions League places are now 12 points away for the Magpies, but more worryingly, even a Europa Conference League spot is slipping away with just 10 matches left. On a day in which shambolic defending was on show in both halves, United also had an inability to maintain their focus, twice going behind after scoring equalisers through Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.
The Magpies lined up with Nick Woltemade remaining in his midfield role while Anthony Gordon led the line against his old club. Joelinton and Anthony Elanga provided the support out wide for the Scouse star.
But it was a day in which United were forced to chop and change, with Woltemade not making an impact in midfield and Howe calling Joelinton back into his old enforcer role. As Howe switched things around, he made ruthless calls to haul off Woltemade before the hour mark and Anthony Elanga was also subbed.
It was the visitors - who won here on the final day of last season to poop the party as Newcastle stumbled into the Champions League last May - that made the more positive start at St James' Park. After bossing possession in the first 10 minutes, the ball then dropped for Iliman Ndiaye who fired just over Nick Pope's crossbar at the Gallowgate End.
Moments later, with 11 minutes on the clock, Dwight McNeil tried to curl an effort at Pope, but again it drifted beyond the target. United worked the ball into the box two minutes later but Joelinton steered the ball high over the top of Jordan Pickford's goal after being slipped in by Anthony Gordon.
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But on 20 minutes, after Dan Burn conceded a corner, James Garner curled in the set-piece with Jarrad Branthwaite luring Sandro Tonali across the six-yard box before a flicked header clipped the post and handed Everton the lead.
Branthwaite ghosted to the near post with Sandro Tonali only realising too late what the ploy was before the Cumbrian sent a header in the other direction, by which time Burn had vacated his position on the back post. As the Newcastle defence stood still, there was a sense of disbelief in the penalty area as Everton players celebrated wildly.
In response, Joelinton and Elanga warmed the gloves of Pickford either side of the half-hour mark. And Newcastle then conjured up an equaliser on 32 minutes after Sandro Tonali's pass across the face of the box fell for Jacob Ramsey who sent a deflected effort past Pickford.
It was the moment that should have lit the touch paper for Newcastle, but instead they lost focus and conceded within two minutes. Dwight McNeil packed a punch with his shot form 25-yards with Pope pushing the ball straight into the path of Beto.
And it was harder to miss for the ex-Udinese man who tapped home gratefully and accepted the gift from Pope with both hands. The second half started in bizarre circumstances as Jacob Ramsey was hooked after vomiting on the pitch and being ordered off by the club doctor and replaced by Joe Willock.
In the 49th minute, Lewis Hall survived a VAR check after he tangled with Beto in the box, but Stuart Attwell indicated to play on. Howe then got ruthless and hauled off Nick Woltemade and Anthony Elanga on 56 minutes with neither star making an impact.
Having started the game in midfield before being shunted back into a striker position, Woltemade managed just 14 touches all game.
Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes were sent on to try to save the day for the Magpies. However, the Toffees came close to extending their lead on 64 minutes as Beto shrugged off Malick Thiaw on the left too easily and bundled towards goal.
With only Pope to beat, though, he fired against the crossbar and Newcastle survived a major scare. Barnes and Willock sent efforts over but Newcastle went into the final 20 minutes searching for a second equaliser.
Everton goalscorer Beto went off on 74 minutes and was replaced by Thierno Barry, while United introduced Yoane Wissa for Trippier.
But with eight minutes to go, and the rain pouring down, Newcastle did haul themselves level again after a good move down the left. Hall rolled it to Joelinton before he cut inside and played it across the box before Jacob Murphy's deflected effort beat Pickford.
That should have been the cue to go on and win it? Instead, Newcastle managed to slip behind once again. A minute later, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall crossed for Barry, who poked home from close range to put Everton back ahead after Gordon had initially lost the ball.
It was the cue for some fans to head for the exits while Howe replaced Gordon with William Osula for the last few minutes - prompting boos around St James' Park. But they almost missed what would have been an outrageous equaliser from Tonali, who cracked an effort at Pickford, with the England stopper tipping it on the bar.
The Magpies were booed off after their fifth defeat in six matches in the Premier League. Newcastle are still in the Champions League and FA Cup but face Barcelona and Man City.
At the moment, the cups are a sticking plaster over what has been a shocking Premier League campaign. As the players left the field Wearside Pickford milked the attention and applause from the Everton fans and smirked as he left the field.
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton)
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