DOM & DUMMER
Calvert-lewin rescues priceless point from spot after Dummett’s brainless foul in box
It’s 109 days and 13 games since everton last won in the Premier League and sean Dyche’s side now face a defining week.
Dominic Calvert-lewin rescued a hard-earned draw at the death, smashing home an 88th-minute penalty to silence St James’ Park.
The last-gasp goal was celebrated with relish by the away fans who know it could be a key moment to build on ahead of a home clash with Burnley and possible further points deduction imminent.
It was a smash-and-grab raid with Newcastle comfortable and heading for victory after Alexander
Isak’s early strike, and a series of missed chances. But Paul Dummett hauled down Ashley Young, grabbing him by the neck in the box, and the game yielded a point for the visitors.
It was a bitter blow for Eddie Howe’s side, who were minutes away from securing seventh place with back-to-back wins.
The Geordies are chaotic, inconsistent and injury ravaged at the moment.
Isak grabbed his 19th of the campaign to embarrass Everton’s defence with his dribbling skills.
Harvey Barnes hooked a ball over the top to release the Sweden international, who ran at England call-up Jarrad Branthwaite, a potential summer target for the Geordies. But the Everton youngster ended up on his backside unable to make a tackle and Isak skipped inside and curled past Jordan Pickford.
Before kick-off Eddie Howe insisted “no-one” at Newcastle is prepared to sell Isak, the club record £58million signing, in the summer despite interest from Arsenal and around Europe.
He is showing why. His goals haul is the highest for United in the top flight since Alan Shearer’s 18 in 2005.
Everton remain deep in relegation trouble and on an awful winless run. They were desperately poor here for long periods, ineffective up
front and leaving space for the home side to attack.
It’s now 13 games without a win, since they beat Burnley 2-0 on December 16. If they fail to beat Burnley at home at the weekend, it will equal their worst winless run in the top flight since 1957.
But at least it wasn’t a defeat, and they showed some spirit.
Newcastle reinvigorated their season with their comeback against West Ham but are ravaged by injuries and Howe had to make changes. On-loan Chelsea full-back Lewis Hall came in at left-back, and Elliot Anderson started after his positive impact at the weekend.
England keeper and Sunderland fan Pickford was given a rough ride by Newcastle fans, including two dressing up in T-rex costumes – with short arms.
But he made a great save from Barnes in the second minute after Isak’s shot had been partially blocked.
At the other end Abdoulaye Doucoure was freed in the box by Dwight Mcneil but blazed over.
Everton started well for 10 minutes, and had a second chance to go ahead, but James Tarkowski nodded Mcneil’s free-kick over.
Newcastle had chances to make the game safe but Pickford performed well, saving from Jacob Murphy and Isak also had a shot deflected over.
Dan Burn thought he had scored a tap-in but VAR ruled Isak offside before he crossed.
Everton sub James Garner livened up their midfield with Andre Gomes and hit the inside of the post. Anderson teed up Isak with a simple chance but Vitaliy Mykolenko blocked on the line.
Hall was the latest casualty in black and white limping off with hamstring trouble.
NEWCASTLE: Dubravka 6, Krafth 6, Schar 6, Burn 6, Hall 6 (Dummett 79), Longstaff 6, Bruno Guimaraes 8, Anderson 7 (Willock 70, 7) Murphy 6, Isak 8, Barnes 6
EVERTON: Pickford 8, Godfrey 6, Tarkowski 6, Branthwaite 5, Mykolenko 6, Young 6, Gueye 5 (Chermiti 82), Onana 5 (Coleman 60, 6), Mcneil 6, Doucoure 5 (Andre Gomes 60, 7), Beto 4 (Calvert-lewin 61, 7)