When Jacob Ramsey was sick on the pitch before the start of the second half, it captured what had gone before and what was to follow for Newcastle – a nauseating performance regurgitated, just when they thought a cure had been found.
This was a third straight defeat in the Premier League at St James’ Park. Last time, against Brentford three weeks ago, there were home boos and a dressing-room inquest.
They responded with three wins on the road, leading to talk of a corner turned. Here, they stumbled back down a dark alley.
Just when it felt like a glimmer of light had appeared at the death, and with Sandro Tonali’s thunderous volley headed for the back of the Gallowgate End net in salvation of a point, Jordan Pickford was there to somehow flick the ball onto the crossbar.
The home fans applauded in recognition of Tonali’s effort, but the appreciation could easily have been for the save, had it not been former Sunderland goalkeeper Pickford, the pantomime villain who was Everton’s hero.
His intervention preserved what was a deserved win for David Moyes’ side, who led in the 20th minute when Jarrad Branthwaite headed in from a corner. He was outstanding at the other end, too.
Jacob Ramsey was sick on the pitch and it was a nauseating Newcastle performance
Jordan Pickford made an extraordinary save late in the game to deny Sandro Tonali
It was a deserved victory for Everton and the Magpies are now closer to the bottom three than the top five in the Premier League
Jacob Ramsey equalised on 33 minutes but, within 60 seconds, Beto punished a Nick Pope spill for 2-1 to the visitors. There was another equaliser in the 82nd minute, Jacob Murphy’s volley taking a nick beyond Pickford, but again parity was fleeting.
Anthony Gordon lost the ball in midfield seconds after the restart and substitute Thierno Barry slid in at the far post to convert from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s low centre.
It is a defeat that means Newcastle will have to win all 10 remaining matches to equal last season’s points tally of 66, when they finished fifth. If they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League, then, they’ll have to do it by beating Barcelona in the last 16 and going all the way to Budapest for the final.
Newcastle’s league form, five defeats in six, means they are justifiably closer to the bottom three than they are the top five.
This was an afternoon with many shortcomings for Eddie Howe, but the Nick Woltemade midfield experiment is surely reaching expiry. He started as a No.8 for the fifth straight game but after half an hour was moved back to No. 9, where he did not fare any better.
Low on confidence and short of the physicality to compete in the Premier League, the German is a conundrum who needs time on the training ground. The football ground is proving an unforgiving environment of late.
He was substituted after 56 minutes and the numbers did not make for good reading. Of just 14 touches, none were in the penalty area. He also lost his three midfield duels, which prompted Howe’s first-half tactical change.
Joelinton had started on the left wing to accommodate Woltemade in midfield and the Brazilian looked like a heavyweight in a ringside seat.
Jarrad Branthwaite scored twice for the Toffees on a brilliant away day for them
Eddie Howe and Co look downcast after full time having lost another game at home
He wanted to be the other side of the ropes and, as Everton ran through Newcastle’s midfield at will, it was clear that was where his team needed him.
Within three minutes of the reshuffle that saw Gordon moved to left wing and Joelinton shifted to the canvas in the middle, Newcastle were level when Tonali fizzed into Ramsey and his shot deflected off Branthwaite and in.
The Toon Army were still celebrating the relief of that goal when Dwight McNeil’s shot was fumbled by Pope and Beto pounced. Likewise St James’ was still noisy in exultation of Murphy’s strike when Everton scored their winner.
Howe looked sick on full-time, a recurring theme for Newcastle at home of late.
