News--Squad--Results--Fixtures--Opinion--Standings--Links--Club
Info
Reek
of the Week--Guestbook--Multimedia--Noarlunga
United--Interview
Match Report
Sticky Encounter at Goodison
News--Squad--Results--Fixtures--Opinion--Standings--Links--Club
Info
Reek
of the Week--Guestbook--Multimedia--Noarlunga
United--Interview
Match Report
Sticky Encounter at Goodison
Everton
0
Newcastle United
2
Hughes '79
Dyer '88
DUNCAN FERGUSON returned to Everton to a hero's
welcome - but it was youngsters Aaron Hughes and
Kieron Dyer who stole the headlines.
Northern Ireland defender Hughes and England winger
Dyer condemned Everton to their first home league
defeat since April last year as they struck within eight
minutes of each other to secure all three points for the
Magpies.
Everton-Newcastle clashes have traditionally yielded few
goals in recent years and this one looked no different for
the majority of the match. The goals were the only two
shots on target in the 90 minutes on a day when
defences held sway in a sometimes bruising and rarely
pretty encounter. The win lifted Newcastle to 11th in the
Premiership table - their highest position of the season -
and just two points behind arch-rivals Sunderland.
Everton brought back defender David Unsworth in place
of Richard Dunne following the 1-0 defeat at Coventry in
midweek as veteran striker Mark Hughes made his home
debut for his latest club.
Former Toffees favourite Ferguson was named in an
unchanged Newcastle line-up and was warmly welcomed
onto the pitch by the home fans, who were left furious by
his shock sale to United in November 1998. Dyer had to
make do with a seat on the bench after missing last
weekend's 1-0 win over Watford with flu and he was
joined by French defender Alain Goma, who had been out
through injury since October 12.
Newcastle, who had not been at their best in recent
weeks, started confidently with another former Evertonian
Gary Speed to the fore despite another hostile welcome
from the home fans. Abel Xavier and David Weir both
had to intercept crosses inside their own penalty area as
Nolberto Solano and Kevin Gallacher exploited the space
on the flanks.
Richard Gough, as expected, found himself having to
deal with the dual threat of Ferguson and Alan Shearer at
regular intervals. But the former Scotland defender found
himself inside the Newcastle box on 12 minutes to get
his head to Xavier's cross and Shay Given was called
upon to intervene for what proved to be one of the few
occasions on which either keeper was needed before the
break.
Rob Lee's fine pass put Solano in space on the right
three minutes later and although Gough headed away
the initial cross the home defence struggled to clear their
lines as the Newcastle support arrived in force. But the
Merseysiders began to warm to their task and it took a
vital tackle by Steve Howey to deny Joe-Max Moore a
clear run at goal on 20 minutes after John Collins and
Mark Pembridge carved a path through the United
rearguard.
As the tempo increased, referee Graham Barber found
himself increasingly involved and Speed and Ferguson
both went into the book for late tackles. Nikos Dabizas
kept his side level eight minutes from the break when he
slid in to dispossess Stephen Hughes inside the penalty
area. But it was Speed who came closest to breaking the
deadlock four minutes before the break when he
powered a header just over from Solano's corner.
Solano wasted a good opportunity in injury time when
David Unsworth misjudged Gallacher's pass to allow the
Peruvian a sight of goal, but he dragged his shot well
wide. Both sides continued to battle for the advantage
after the break but again chances were few and far
between.
Warren Barton had to get in a good block to keep out
Mark Hughes on 50 minutes as the striker ran on to
Collins' fine ball over the top, but Xavier had to be just
as alert seconds later and Solano linked with Ferguson
from a Barton throw.
Solano was guilty of wasting two good opportunities when
he failed to hit his men with free-kicks in promising
positions, but it was Everton who carved out the better
openings. Collins found Barmby down the right on 56
minutes and he sent a deep cross towards Stephen
Hughes, but Lee got there first to head away.
Unsworth crossed deep towards Barmby two minutes later
and as the Newcastle defence slept momentarily it was
Given who had to come to the rescue as the midfielder
turned the ball back across the face of goal. Ferguson
got his first real sniff at goal with 68 minutes gone as he
met Solano's corner, but he could not direct his effort at
goal.
Both managers opted for change as they attempted to
break the stalemate, Walter Smith replacing Moore with
the pacy Danny Cadamarteri and Didier Domi and Dyer
coming on for Gallacher and Solano respectively - but the
breakthrough came from an unlikely source.
The pace of Domi and Dyer caused panic in the Everton
defence with 79 minutes gone but Weir looked to have
things under control. Hughes, though, appeared from
nowhere to rob him on the edge of the six-yard box and
poke the ball past Paul Gerrard with the outside of his
right foot to give his side a precious lead. It was 2-0
three minutes from time when Dyer surged away from
the cover in the middle of the field and drew Gerrard
before expertly lifting the ball over him.
TEAMS
Everton: Gerrard, Unsworth, Weir, Gough, Xavier,
Pembridge, S. Hughes, Collins, Barmby, M. Hughes,
Moore. Subs: Myhre, Ball, Gemmill, Dunne, Cadamarteri.
Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Dabizas, Howey, Barton,
Gallacher, Speed, Lee, Solano, Ferguson, Shearer. Subs:
Domi, Goma, Dyer, Harper, Ketsbaia.
Referee: G Barber (Tring, Herts)