Barry Sees Blues Beat Newcastle Again

Thierno Barry's eighth goal of the season proved enough for Everton to beat Newcastle for the second time in the space of four days in a 1-0 win at St James' Park.

Having triumphed 3-1 in the Carabao Cup at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Blues left the North East with three Premier League points this time around.

Following a dominant first-half display, Everton got their reward four minutes after the restart when keeper Lukas Hornicek spilled Tyrique George's low shot, allowing Barry to tap home from a yard out.

That proved decisive to continue the Toffees' fine recent record at St James' Park, as David Moyes' men moved up to seventh in the Premier League table.

Moyes made two changes from the team that beat the Magpies 3-1 in the Carabao Cup at Hill Dickinson Stadium four days earlier – Jarrad Branthwaite returning from a concussion protocol and Harrison Armstrong preferred to Hayden Hackney in central midfield.

Branthwaite partnering James Tarkowski in central defence saw Jake O'Brien switch to right-back, with Merlin Röhl getting the nod ahead of Tyler Dibling to play in front of the Irishman.

Buoyed by their success over Matthias Jaissle's team on Merseyside last week, the Blues made an excellent start and did not look back in a dominant first half that had everything but a deserved opener.

Röhl was the first to threaten when he collected a pass from Thierno Barry and drove a rising first-time angled shot narrowly over the bar, before Barry failed to get a clean connection from seven yards out after Jarrad Branthwaite headed down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's free-kick into the striker's path.

Everton then had two more opportunities to edge ahead in two minutes of first-half added-time. Dewsbury-Hall's glorious curling cross from the left edge of the area narrowly evaded O'Brien lurking at the back post. And the Toffees' No.8 turned provider again seconds later, getting the freedom down the left flank to cut back to Armstrong, who screwed his first-time finish wide when well placed from 12 yards out. 

 

 

Thankfully, the Toffees did not have to wait long to find the back of the net after the restart. Four minutes into the second half, James Garner slid George in through the left channel and, when the winger's shot squeezed through the hands of Hornicek, Barry was left with the simple task of tucking home from a yard out.

With the wind in their sails, Everton went close to a second as Branthwaite's header was turned over the bar by Hornicek, before the Newcastle keeper did the same with Dewsbury-Hall's whipped shot from 25 yards out.

And from the resulting corner, Garner picked out O'Brien at the back post to nod down a goalbound header which Hornicek did well to turn behind.

Having done little to worry Jordan Pickford up until the hour mark, the hosts when so close to levelling when substitute Yoane Wissa nodded into Anthony Elanga at the back post who squeezed a finish under the England No.1 but, thankfully, the ball rolled along the line before being booted clear by Tarkowski.

As the inevitable Newcastle pressure grew trying to find a leveller, substitute Jacob Ramsey hit a volley from the edge of the area with 11 minutes remaining that crept inches past the left-hand post.

Then, as eight minutes of injury-time approached, Wissa looked to apply a finish from close range only to be denied by the legs of Pickford.

And that was to prove crucial as Everton saw out the closing stages, Ramsey being given his marching orders with seconds remaining after picking up two quick yellow cards for late tackles of substitute Hackney and Armstrong.