Newcastle United v Everton
Battling Everton were forced to settle for a point at Newcastle despite playing over half the game against 10 men.
The hosts had Kevin Nolan dismissed for a reckless challenge on Victor Anichebe but, while they saw plenty of the ball, David Moyes' men were denied a way through.
Moyes, who was looking to close the gap on fifth-placed Arsenal to two points with his first Premier League victory at St James' Park, came away with two more injury headaches.
With Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman already consigned to the sidelines, the Scot would have been concerned to see Mikel Arteta stretchered off four minutes in after falling awkwardly.
The Spaniard was immediately sent back to Liverpool for a scan on his knee. Anichebe, meanwhile, hobbled off minutes after the tackle which earned Nolan his marching orders.
Phil Neville battles with Jose Enrique
Joseph Yobo came in for the suspended Tony Hibbert to make his first start since December, while Jo replaced Tim Cahill, who, like Hibbert, was serving a one-match ban.
Moyes opted to start with Phil Jagielka at right back, Yobo partnering Joleon Lescott in the centre.
Everton made a bright start, the eager Dan Gosling firing narrowly wide within a minute, as Newcastle's Fabricio Coloccini allowed him the space to do so.
But then came the early blow, Arteta making way for Segundo Castillo.
The injury initially disrupted Everton's rhythm, while Newcastle, too, struggled for cohesion.
But the Blues soon reclaimed the initiative. From a Leighton Baines corner Yobo escaped his marker, darted to near post and headed goalwards, only for Harper to make a sharp save. Sebastien Bassong cleared from the goalmouth.
Kevin Nolan receives his marching orders from Lee Mason.
Baines then crossed for Jagielka, who snuck in at the back post, but thrashed his volley wide.
Moyes' men had the upper hand at set pieces and from Gosling's corner, Jack Rodwell saw his volley blocked on the line, the youngester inches from celebrating his new long-term contract with a second goal in eight days.
On the half-hour mark Shola Ameobi fed Nolan, whose clever flick left Peter Lovenkrands baring down on goal. But to the amazement of the St James' faithful, the Dane directed the ball wide to Tim Howard's right.
Ryan Taylor also went close with a freekick after Lescott handled on the edge of the box, his effort dipping over the crossbar.
The former Tranmere and Wigan man then delivered a freekick which Ameobi bundled across the line, but the striker was adjudged to have fouled Howard in the process.
Everton gained the numerical advantage three minutes before the regulation 45 - though Arteta's injury meant seven minutes of added time were played.
Nolan went in for a challenge with Anichebe, coming down hard on the Nigerian's shin. A straight red card was the verdict from referee Lee Mason, and replays showed the Liverpool-born midfielder had little grounds for complaint.
Victor Anichebe lies on the ground after a tackle from Kevin Nolan.
Yobo flashed over early in the second half as Everton quicky found momentum again. But, despite the lion's share of the possession, clear-cut chances were proving tough to come by.
The hosts threw on Obafemi Martins, but the going remained with the Toffees, Steven Taylor nipping in ahead of Jo at the back post as the Brazilian rose to head.
Newcastle almost capitalised on a rare mistake from Lescott when Martins latched onto the defender's weak header to send fellow substitute Jonas Gutierrez through. Fortunately, Yobo did enough to force the Argentine wide and his eventual effort was high and wide.
Moyes turned to Louis Saha with 15 minutes remaining, the Frenchman back after missing almost three months with a hamstring problem.
The striker delivered a reminder of his capabilities, cutting in on his right and thundering narrowly off target from the edge of the box.
Before that Jo headed straight at Harper and Jagielka blasted wide, but it wasn't to be Everton's day. The gap between the Blues and fifth spot remains at four points.
0
55