Skip to main content

Everton 3 Newcastle 2: Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley on target as Toffees continue hot streak

Mike Wilton reports from Goodison Park as Roberto Martinez's men win to go fourth in the table

Romelu Lukaku had a home debut to remember as he scored twice and set up youngster Ross Barkley as Everton continued their six-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, despite a valiant comeback effort by visitors Newcastle.

Lukaku put Everton ahead on five minutes after Kevin Mirallas was left to run free down the wing. Tim Krul in the Newcastle goal should have done better with Lukaku’s shot from six yards, but, despite a heavy hand on the ball, he couldn’t deny the Belgian his first Goodison goal.

Krul’s embarrassment almost increased further on 18 minutes when his stray throw was pounced on by James McCarthy, who forced the visiting keeper to save and then rely on his defence to scramble the ball clear.

Lukaku showed himself to be the missing ingredient from David Moyes’s former squad, when he sent clear 19-year-old Barkley, who was allowed to pick his spot after getting in between the Newcastle defence to double the Toffees' lead after 25 minutes.

Everton keeper Tim Howard then got an unlikely assist with eight minutes remaining before the break. His long ball was collected by Lukaku, who beat the onrushing Krul, before outfoxing Magpies centre-back Fabricio Coloccini for an easy finish.

Newcastle’s first meaningful strike came in stoppage-time at the end of the first half, with Hatem Ben Arfa forcing Howard to parry his shot from 20 yards.

A better chance for the visitors came straight after the interval, but Yoan Gouffran watched agonisingly as the ball seemed to travel in slow motion towards the Everton goal, after the Newcastle forward chipped over Howard, before hitting the inside of the post.

But Everton's luck ran out as they witnessed a first away goal since March. Substitute Yohan Cabaye struck an absolute peach from 25 yards to give the Magpies hope of an unlikely recovery.

Lukaku, now looking to become the first Everton home debutant to score a hat-trick since Tony Cottee in 1988, also against Newcastle, was fed by Seamus Coleman midway through the second half but he couldn’t convert, firing over Krul’s goal from just inside the box.

Newcastle’s hopes of a remarkable comeback were raised when Loic Remy added a second just before the 90 minutes were up, causing a tense finale, but Everton held firm to remain the only unbeaten side in the Premier League and climb to fourth in the table.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez insisted that Newcastle’s near comeback was "normal."

“We were very, very good in the first half,” said the Spaniard. “(But) sometimes you can score too many goals.”

“They have nothing to lose and we have something to lose ... it is normal,” added Martinez.

A second consecutive 3-2 defeat for Newcastle leaves the north-east club just two places above the drop zone, albeit with the same points tally as Manchester United in 12th.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today