Key events
45+4 mins: Joelinton dribbles towards the edge of the box and goes down under pressure but it is certainly not a free-kick. Everton look happy to get to the break with the score goalless. Newcastle have had almost 90% in the past 10 minutes.
45+2 mins: Ndiaye does well to win the ball in his own defence third but then tries to dribble it up the pitch and loses possession. Gordon receives it in the box but is outnumbered and Tarkowski eventually whacks clear to end the attack.
45 mins: Six minutes added on. Cheers VAR.
44 mins: Another way to get the Everton fans going is to foul Gordon. Keane is the latest man to do it and everyone in blue moans at the referee.
McNeil is booked for a crude challenge on Guimaraes.
42 mins: Everton survive another corner as Pickford punches clear and Tarkowski does not wrestle anyone to the ground.
40 mins: Newcastle have, overall, been the better team here but have not looked like scoring from open play. They could do with an actual striker.
38 mins: The disallowed goal and penalty save has riled up the Everton fans. It might help give the hosts an extra edge.
36 mins: Goodison erupted when Pickford saved it. Tarkowski will be very very relieved.
Everton then survive a couple of corners as they look to find calm.
PENALTY SAVED! Everton 0-0 Newcastle
35 mins: Pickford dives to his left to repel former Toffee Gordon.
33 mins: PENALTY! I have no idea what Tarkowski was doing – there was no threat. Pawson awards it after looking at the screen.
32 mins: There is a penalty check for Tarkowski chucking Tonali to the ground. It is very much a foul and incredibly pointless from the Everton skipper. Pawson wanders to the screen.
30 mins: Barnes has a lot of space on the left and he is able to chip the ball to the back post. Young heads it behind for a corner, which concludes with Murphy curling a shot wide from the edge of the box.
28 mins: Gordon does well again, this time on the right and he crosses into a dangerous area but Everton scramble clear. One problem for Newcastle is there is not a central striker to finish those sorts of chances.
26 mins: Tarkowski chips the ball forward to Calvert-Lewin who chests it down on the edge of the box but he is forced backwards.
24 mins: A bit of a delay while the medics see to Garner who does get up and wanders off to the side. Looks like he took a knock to the head but seems fine.
22 mins: Gordon breezes past Doucoure in the box and moves into space but his pull-back is a poor one and Mangala intercepts.
A mildly bizarre moment as Barnes and Garner clash. Both end up on the ground and wait for a foul to be given but Craig Pawson does not think an offence has been committed and eventually Barnes gets up to dribble forward. Garner waits on the ground and requires treatment.
20 mins: What a deflating moment for Goodison Park. They were in raptures until the intervention of the lads at Stockley Park. Will it be extra-motivation or bring frustration?
NO GOAL! Everton 0-0 Newcastle
Garner whips in the cross and Doucoure wins the header, sending it over Pope but VAR sees he is half a yard offside.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Newcastle (Doucoure, 18)
The midfielder flicks home the opener.
17 mins: Murphy fails to control a cross from the left when in a good position but then gets another go but his low shot is easy for Pickford.
“What a pity Newcastle’s famous black/white kit clashed with Everton’s that it forced them into wear the colours of Saudi Arabia,” says Gary.
Very much a non-existent clash.
16 mins: Calvert-Lewin receives a long pass around 25 yards from goal. He drives at the Newcastle centre-backs and shoots from the edge of the box but it is straight at Pope.
14 mins: Gordon spins inside the Everton half but is clipped. He gets up holding his hamstring but I assume it’s just an impact injury.
12 mins: It should also be said that on the previous set-piece Young was marking Burn, which sounds like a bad idea.
10 mins: OFF THE LINE! A Newcastle corner is flicked to the back post where Guimaraes is waiting. His volley beats Pickford but Ndiaye somehow blocks the shot on the line.
9 mins: Calvert-Lewin collects a long ball, takes a couple of touches and shoots wide but is then penalised for a high boot, which is a bit harsh considering Trippier is dipping his head down.
8 mins: Everton have a clear plan to be quite direct and take Newcastle by surprise with long balls out wide.
6 mins: Barnes gets the better of makeshift right-back Garner but his cross is blocked at the front post. There could be fun to be had for Newcastle wingers against Garner and Young.
4 mins: Pickford trots forward to take a free-kick from the halfway line. He lumps it into the box, Tarkowski wins the initial header but Pope comes out to punch clear.
2 mins: Tonali lifts the ball over Keane who takes him down inside the Newcastle half. There is, admittedly, next to no contact.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
The players are in the tunnel. Tarkowski gets a police escort before being greeted by former Burnley teammate Nick Pope.
Arsenal had to come from behind against Southampton.
“Staying awake while Daylight Savings officially starts – literally as I type and send this email – means I am effectively losing an hour of sleep as the local clock passes 2:00am and becomes 3:00am,” emails Chris Paraskevas.
“In order to counter sleep deprivation I’ve just had a second dinner (slightly undercooked cheeseburger) to ‘keep the motor going’. I just hope the players are as dedicated as I am to the cause.
“Our inconsistency collectively and individually this season has been infuriating: more than capable at our best and probably the competition’s most tedious at our worst.
“Time for Anthony Gordon to properly kick start his season with a star performance. (sorry, Mary Waltz!)”
I am sure this energetic fixture will focus the mind.
Leicester are up and running.
Pass the time by reading my work from this week.
Mary Waltz emails: “Greetings Will. Now that we are out of the relegation position I have decided to abandon my normal pessimism and dream of the coming sunlit uplands. New owner, new stadium coming, sure we are only a point out of the dumpster and injuries have taken out our promising youngster for today’s tussle with Newcastle I am going embrace a positive attitude (or denial if you want to get all technical about it.) “
Anthony Gordon is back at Goodison Park.
It is a blow that Branthwaite is missing once more after recently returning from injury. The Everton defence is miles better with him next to Tarkowski.
Pre-match reading.
Isak is missing again for Newcastle, leaving Gordon to lead the line. He will quite fancy upsetting his former employers, I am sure.
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Garner, Keane, Tarkowski, Young; Mangala, Doucoure; Harrison, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Virginia, Begovic, Beto, O’Brien, Gueye, Lindstrom, Iroegbunam, Armstrong, Dixon
Newcastle (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Gordon, Barnes
Subs: Odysseas, Ruddy, Krafth, Osula, Livramento, Almiron, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff
Preamble
There is some positivity back at Goodison Park after securing their first Premier League win over the season last time out. Furthermore, the end of their takeover saga is in sight. Sean Dyche is still not particularly popular with the Everton fanbase but is key strength is putting a run of results together and a second victory will give him a boost.
Newcastle have had a funny season of not playing particularly well but picking up results. Last weekend’s draw against Manchester City was well-earned point and they certainly have the firepower to cause teams problems and they will fancy their chances on Merseyside. A win would put them into the top four for 24 hours, which is a big incentive.
Let’s hope for a cracker.
Kick-off: 5.3opm BST
