REAL WILPOWER

VERDICT FROM GOODISON PARK Battling Toon shows guts and determination, but Ancelotti has bigger problems at home that need sorting... and fast

THERE was a moment, some 15 minutes from time, that provided the perfect snapshot to events on the pitch.

Steve Bruce was animated, bellowing and clapping encouragement with real energy. Beside him, Carlo Ancelotti stood motionless as he stared into space.

He remained frozen there for what seemed like an age, save for the furrowing across his eyes. It was as though he could barely believe what he was seeing.

And no wonder. Everton had entered the game with the chance to move level on points with their bitter rivals Liverpool just above them in the table and still with a game in hand.

They were facing a side with the single worst record in the division since Christmas, a Newcastle side who had sunk perilously close to the relegation zone after a run of 11 games without a win. It was a moment to confirm their top-four credentials.

Ancelotti though, had spoken at the start of last week of discovering more about his team in the two games against Leicester and then Newcastle.

Only then would he be able to say if they were genuine contenders for the

Champions League.

Games at Goodison have been an Achilles heel to undermine their European hopes. This defeat means they have won just four of 10 games here. In that moment it was hard not to conclude that Ancelotti realised his side are not yet ready to mix it with the so-called big clubs above them.

Against Leicester, they were uninspired but determined, their defensive resilience earning a point that could so easily have been a supremely valuable three, but for Jordan Pickford’s error. But here, their lack of creativity seemed to undermine their one constant, their defensive excellence. As the game progressed, as Newcastle realised they were the better team and the game was there for the taking, Everton folded. There was a visible collapse of confidence and then belief. They have lost to Newcastle twice now, and this defeat spoke volumes about that missing

SHOUT OF ORDER Ancelotti’s not happy ingredient. They sat too deep, they were too lethargic, they rarely pulled a surprisingly-organised Newcastle team out of their compact shape, and threatened little.

Everton have games coming up against Spurs, Manchester United and Liverpool, and their deeplying defensive tactics will be ably employed and perhaps bring some success. But it’s the matches like these where they need to impose a much more attacking mindset.

Newcastle deserved this win. Their shape was disciplined, their threat on the break far more impressive than the home team and in two-goal Callum Wilson a striker who was given service.

Everton have a striker more clinical than Wilson in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and he looks sharp enough after an injury break… he just didn’t have anywhere near the service his talent deserves.

That was the message written across Ancelotti’s face.

His tactics can take this team only so far and now they need to discover how to take the next – and biggest – step.

STAY TOONED Callum Wilson celebrates his second goal at Everton