Newcastle 3-2 Everton
by Harry De Cosemo
at St James’ Park

NEWCASTLE UNITED recorded their fifth-straight home victory in remarkable fashion on Saturday, recovering from 2-0 down at half time to beat Everton 3-2 at St James’ Park and closing the gap between the sides to just three points.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison’s first-half goals sandwiched Matt Ritchie’s missed penalty, but the atmosphere completely changed after the break as the hosts rallied to victory thanks to Salomon Rondon’s strike and a double from Ayoze Perez.

It was a particularly tough day for Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, a former Sunderland player who appeared to get caught up in the emotion as he was goaded by home supporters throughout.

He was lucky to stay on the pitch for his role in the penalty incident and was culpable for at least two of Newcastle’s three goals.

Benitez believed his side were hard done by in the first half, but praised the fans for the atmosphere.

“I will say I don’t think we would have deserved to be 2-0 down the way were playing,” he said. 

“We made some mistakes, created some chances. Then we miss a penalty, and a minute later we concede a goal.



“Things were going against us. At half-time, we said ‘keep going, one goal, and get back into it’.



“It was important for the players to feel the support of the fans. Also for the fans to see the players working so hard.”

The visitors took the lead on 18 minutes. A lapse in concentration from the Newcastle defence allowed Calvert-Lewin to nod Lucas Digne’s near-post cross.

Referee Lee Mason somehow failed to send Pickford off after he hauled down Rondon for the penalty, but the England stopper made a smart save from Ritchie’s kick before Richarlison doubled Everton’s lead at the other end from close range just a minute later.

Newcastle’s best chance came and went with half time on the horizon. Perez released himself with a superb first touch, but Pickford stood tall again to deny his low shot.

Chasing the game in the second half, Benitez changed system by replacing captain Jamaal Lascelles, on a booking and complaining of a knee issue, with Paul Dummett, and it really made a difference as they were able to match Everton in midfield. 

The hosts again missed a golden opportunity when Rondon bulled his way through to lob Pickford, only to see his effort fall the wrong side of the post.

He made up for it five minutes past the hour, though, with a brilliant volley after a swift move. He was played in by Perez, but it all started with a back-heel tackle by Ritchie on the half-way line.

Newcastle made two final changes, replacing Ritchie with Kenedy and Ki Sung Yueng with Jonjo Shelvey, and they found their leveller nine minutes from time when Pickford spilled Almiron’s ferocious shot into Perez’s path.

St James’ Park erupted as the Spaniard completed the stunning comeback three minutes later, slamming home from Rondon’s layoff.

Everton, who had completely fallen apart, failed to clear Shelvey’s corner, though it did look to be offside and Marco Silva was clearly incensed.

“The third goal is a big mistake from the assistant, there is nothing more to say,” Silva said.

“It is clearly offside. It is not just one or two players in an offside position, it is five players in an offside position.”