IN A ROLLERCOASTER BUSINES
WAYNE ROONEY loves causing misery on Tyneside.
The Everton midfielder has scored more goals against Newcastle – a magnificent 15 – than any other team in his career.
And it might just be one of the more damaging strikes of his collection – this defeat intensifying relegation worries at St James’ Park.
United’s season hit a further low as Jonjo Shelvey was sent off in injury time (above) for scything down Idrissa Gueye.
Rooney was the subject of an ambitious bid from Newcastle in 2004 before moving from Goodison Park to Manchester United. And he has been cashing in against the Geordies ever since.
The evergreen former England skipper is on a rich vein of scoring form this season.
His simple prod home after 27 minutes was his seventh goal in eight games and ninth of the season. Rooney was quickest to react when Dominic Calvertlewin put in a cross and Aaron Lennon outjumped the defence to head goalward.
Keeper Karl Darlow, recalled for the last four games, spilled a simple catch and laid the goal on a plate.
It is the kind of individual sloppiness that has severely punished Newcastle and sent them ever nearer the relegation zone.
Even playing reasonably well, Newcastle lost – and look like a team heading back to the Championship.
Seven defeats in eight games, with Arsenal next, mean they need more than the prospect of Mike Ashley selling up to lift them.
Boss Benitez has never been on a losing streak like this in his career. He has tried all combinations of players and switched formations during this run.
But nothing is working. They were solid, but threw the points away, once again, through individual error. They stay one point and two places ahead of the bottom three and confidence is ebbing away.
St James’ Park was flat. Even news of a £300million change in ownership to Amanda Staveley was punctured by the result.
Everton had not won a league game on the road for 16 games and with the Geordies so fragile it was the perfect time to visit.
Sam Allardyce has got them organised, patient and attacking in efficient bursts.
He is unbeaten since taking over and Everton could yet push for a return to Europe next season.
Newcastle were not terrible. They bossed possession and hit the woodwork twice in the first half.
First, Matt Ritchie smashed the bar with a rasping shot so hard it rebounded 25 yards.
Then Mikel Merino pinged a beauty from 30 yards that had Jordan Pickford beaten. It rattled the inside of the post.
Such bad luck for Benitez’s men, who had started brightly and with purpose.
Allardyce was the boss Mike Ashley inherited 10 years ago and the first he sacked.
But Big Sam insisted there are no grudges with the St James’ Park regime.
Everton conceded territory early on and United dominated the ball.
Ritchie had Pickford at full stretch, smashing a loose ball on target.
Rooney’s opener was Everton’s only threat, but they controlled the game expertly.
Benitez welcomed back Jamaal Lascelles after missing five games through injury in which his side conceded 15.
His presence added leadership, but the defence was still rusty.
On the ball, United deserved a goal. Merino’s goal-bound shot was blocked by Mason Holgate and Florian Lejeune’s follow-up header was wide.
But when your luck is down and wily opponents are armed with Rooney’s poaching instincts, there is only one result. THIRTY years ago Amanda Staveley’s dad built one of the best rollercoasters in Europe.
Little did her father Robert, founder of Lightwater Valley, a major Yorkshire tourist attraction, know it would be perfect preparation for his daughter’s biggest sporting deal. Ms Staveley will soon find that owning Newcastle will provide more ups and downs than the most thrilling rollercoaster.
With the 10-year reign of Mike Ashley (left) coming to an end, Staveley will need all of her business acumen to turn Newcastle into a force.
Many questions need to be