Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SCORE Callum’s double delight quickly turns to frustration as he is subbed before end
CALLUM WILSON dismantled Carlo Ancelotti’s bid to return to the Premier League summit – and on this evidence, Everton will fall further.
The Newcastle striker’s double took his tally to six in seven league games, but he left the pitch fuming with five minutes to go, because he wanted a hat-trick.
The Merseysiders, missing key players including James Rodriguez, let their blistering early-season standards slip. Everton were slow on the ball, and lacked punch in creating clear chances, against a home side who were equally sluggish for the first 50 minutes.
It is a setback for Ancelotti and there’s a bigger test against Manchester United ahead next week. More will then be known of their top f o u r, o r top six, credentials.
And the Toffees boss admitted: “It was not a good performance.”
A rainbow appeared over St
James’ Park just as
Wilson struck gold again for Steve Br u c e w it h h i s o p e n e r. He converted a penalty in the 56th minute to break the deadlock in a pedestrian game that Toon took charge of late on.
He has a cool head in front of goal, but the 28-year-old is also a pest around defenders and won the spot-kick himself.
Showing tenacious movement, Wilson nipped in front of Andre Gomes as he took a swing at Sean Longstaff ’s underhit near-post corner. The Everton man smashed Wilson’s calf and the home side had their opening (scoring, top left).
Wilson said: “We worked on getting across the near post. As I saw him swing his leg, I got clever and let him kick me. There was a delay, I thought about changing things, but I kept my cool.”
Yerry Mina tried to put him off but as Bruce said: “That nonsense goes on. The biggest b way to say ‘up yours’ is to score, which he did.”
In hi s f inal 30 games for Bournem o u t h , Wi l s o n scored just five g o a l s . B u t h e’s beaten that tally in only seven matches at his new club and looks a bargain at £20million.
Wilson’s second came with six minutes to go, sealing the points. Sub Ryan Fraser injected pace down the left side of the box, fired in a cross that took a def lection off Mina, and looped to the back post.
Wilson was on the spot to tap in his easiest finish of the season (above). He was denied his bid for a hat-trick when substituted, and was shaking his head, still hungry for more, as he marched off.
He added: “It was nice to get another. I was just disappointed to come off with five minutes to go with a hat-trick pending.
“We’ve looked quite solid and we can build on that platform. Scoring at home is nice, but you want to be celebrating with the fans.”
Wilson has now equalled Jonjo Shelvey’s haul that led the goal charts for Toon last season.
With six minutes of injury time shown,
Everton grabbed a c ons o l ation and some late hope. Alex
Iwob i whipped in a great cross from the right wing, and the in-form
Dominic Calvert-lewin nipped in for his eighth of the season in the Premier League.
It made for a nervous finish, the visitors frantically pushing for the equaliser. However, Bruce added: “It wasn’t much of a spectacle in the first half but, all in all, it is a good day’s work for us.”