SUPER CALLUM HITS PULLS OFF ANOTHER
STEVE BRUCE came searching for another Goodison Park miracle and Callumwilson provided it. No wonder the Newcastle boss danced a jig of delight on the pitch after Wilson’s brilliant double brought the club’s first win in 12 games.
Last season Bruce’s side had snatched an unlikely 2-2 draw here with two goals in added time but before this trip to Merseyside they had collected only two points from a possible 27.
When new coach Graeme Jones arrived from Bournemouth last week the Tyneside rumour mill suggested he was a caretaker manager in waiting.
Instead, he proved to be a lucky charm – and received a friendly slap on the head from a grinning Bruce at the end.
There is no doubt this was Newcastle’s day. It was Wilson’s day as well, with two clinically taken goals, though he admitted: “I should have had three goals for sure.’’
He added: “This win has been a long time coming.we needed to pull our fingers out to be honest.we’ve shown glimpses but today everything came together.”
Delighted Bruce said: “It’s been a tough few weeks but today we had some really big players.we haven’t turned it around yet.this is just one game but you need your big players fit and healthy.
“When you’re on a bad run it’s difficult whether you are Mikel Arteta or Frank Lampard.today we were at it and we have produced a great result.”
Newcastle started the game on the front foot, having dispensed with their five-man rearguard.
It clearly surprised Everton, who would have gone behind in the 29th minute but for Jordan Pickford brilliantly tipping a fierce Wilson header from Ryan Fraser’s corner on to the bar.
Wilson should have scored just after the break but he could only steer Fraser’s super cross past the post – much to Pickford’s relief.
But there was no escape for the England keeper with 17 minutes to go aswilson met Jonjo Shelvey’s corner with a brilliantly angled header which arrowed past him in a blur.
Cue the frenzied celebrations of
Bruce and company.and the former Bournemouth striker hit the jackpot again in the 90th minute after he displayed composure and finishing power as Newcastle once again surged forward on the break.
Jamal Lewis supplied the killing pass for Wilson to round Pickford and steer the ball into the empty net.
Earlier he had also hit the post as he ran Everton ragged, the home side being reduced to the odd chance.
Karl Darlow, the Premier League’s most overworked keeper, was just forced into routine saves to deny James Rodriguez and Richarlison as Newcastle recorded their first win since December 12th, which was against West Brom.
For Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti and his team this was a real slap in the face. Dreams of Europe were dismantled in 90 subdued minutes for them.
He admitted: “I thought they showed more fight and spirit on the pitch. More concentration and more motivation.we forgot all this. This was not about tactics or a physical thing – it was a mental attitude. We were lazy and too slow.”