SMILES BETTER FOR SAL
SALOMON RONDON was all smiles on his return to Goodison Park after a nightmare last time out.
He earned Newcastle a point last night after leaving the pitch in tears on his last visit to Goodison in January when his challenge on James McCarthy left the midfielder with a broken leg.
The Colombia forward, who was playing for West Brom, was left distraught by McCarthy’s horrific injury and the Republic of Ireland international has still not returned for Everton nearly a year later.
But Rondon was all smiles last night as his predatory strike ended Newcastle’s five-match losing streak against the Blues.
Rafa Benitez always enjoys a positive result against Everton from his time across Stanley Park at Liverpool and four previous league games at Goodison, disappointed in the second half and not even the mercurial Andre Gomes could inspire them.
Thankfully for the Toffees, Richarlison remains on song and the Brazil striker cancelled out Rondon’s opener with his seventh Premier League goal.
Jordan Pickford received a welcome boost following his derby howler and the home fans gave him a huge cheer when his name was read out before kick-off.
Everton were determined to bounce back after Sunday’s last-gasp loss but just as they were settling into a rhythm they went to sleep, allowing Newcastle to score on the break in the 19th minute.
Jacob Murphy sent a ball across the six-yard box to the back post where the unmarked Rondon stuck out his right leg to score past Pickford against the run of play.
Richarlison then hit a right-foot shot, which was pushed away by Dubravka.
But from the corner, Everton equalised on 38 minutes when Newcastle failed to deal with Gylfi Sigurdsson’s ball in and the ball deflected off Jamaal Lascelles for Richarlison to score at the back post.
But despite almost constant pressure, Marco Silva’s side could not find a winner and the frustrated groans which rang round Goodison at the end summed up their night.
Pickford; Coleman, Zouma, Mina, Digne; Gueye, Gomes; Lookman (Calvert-Lewin 78), Sigurdsson (Walcott 70), Richarlison; Tosun (Bernard 69). Subs: Stekelenburg, Keane, Baines, Davies.
Dubravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Schar, Manquillo; Murphy (Perez 64), Ki, Diame, Atsu; Rondon (Joselu 74). Subs: Woodman, Longstaff, Clark, Shelvey, Muto.
Lee Mason.