Everton 3 vs Newcastle United 1 – Match Report

Alright Mike, can you see it now how could be United team make any progress next season without significant changes? I don’t think so. With both Oba and Vid gets injured, Keegan is forced to recall dull player like Alan Smith and Damien Duff replacing Joey Barton.

This game also become the first senior appearance for Toon January signing Ben Tozer on the bench. Peter Ramage, Cacapa and Kazenga Lua-Lua also name among the substitutes with Andy Carroll starts in front.

It’s clear enough that we are definetely can’t do much in the early minutes of the first half, with the Evertonians keep attacking us. Yakubu gets past the challenge of Butt in the first 10 minutes with Duff come to covering but only loses out to the Nigerian, poor defending from Newcastle.

Another comedy in our defence happens in 20 minutes of play when Fernandes delivers a whipped free-kick with Harper tries to fist clear, the ball rushing into the path of Osman who turns the ball with his back off the target. You wouldn’t believe how we defending his effort. Faye felt to the ground after a collision with Harper! Luckily, Osman’ hooked effort bounces wide off the target.

It was a matter of time before Toffees finally breaking through and scores. In the half an hour mark, Pienaar deliver his free-kick into United penalty area and it’s the same scenario happening again like the Chelsea match where this time it’s the unmarked Yakubu who climbs highest to head beyond Harper. Oh dear…

In this first period, only N’Zogbia who looks decent and have couple of teasing cross where none of Toon target men was even near to accept the invitations. We also have a bit of luck not to get two goals behid after an offside decision canceling Yakubu seconds.

In the second half, we have another lucky gift when Peter Walton gave us a penalty two minutes from the restart and Owen convert it well under Tim Howard.

But, it was just that. The home side taking the command back soon after that. It takes a combination of Harper, Carroll and Butt to clear the danger that coming from Portugal midfielder Manuel Fernandes free-kick. We have not much chance but have to park the bus once again.

I can hardly believe how poor we are today and keep conceding from set pieces. Their second goal coming from another Toffee’s free-kick, and it’s Fernandes delivering to the far post where Taylor wasn’t able to get enough of it to leave Joleon Lescott turns home for his 10th of the season. Oh dear…OH DEAR…

To make it quick as I’m not really in the good mod today to make a long match report, we are flattened by their third goal 8 minutes from final whistle from a penalty spot. Yakubu nets his second this time. Triple OH DEAR…

So that’s it, the end of our 2007-2008 season which is another season to forget…forever.

TEAMS

Everton FC:
Tim Howard, Joseph Yobo, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville (c), Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman, Yakubu, Manuel Fernandes, Lee Carsley, Victor Anichebe
Subs: Leighton Baines, Thomas Gravesen, Daniel Gosling, Stefan Wessels, Jack Rodwell

Newcastle United FC:
Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Steve Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye, Nicky Butt, Charles N’Zogbia, Damien Duff, Alan Smith, Michael Owen (c), Alan Smith, Andy Carroll
Subs: Fraser Forster, Claudio Cacapa, Peter Ramage, Ben Tozer, Kazenga LuaLua

Referee: Peter Walton