Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s first penalty save in almost 18 months ensured Anthony Gordon endured a miserable return to Goodison Park with current club Newcastle.
Gordon was booed throughout the goalless draw following his acrimonious departure in January 2023 but had the chance to make his point 10 minutes before half-time, only to be denied by his England team-mate’s first spot-kick save in nine attempts.
It was celebrated like a last-minute winner as a first Premier League clean sheet of the season earned Everton a fifth point from the last three games, after taking none from the first four, while the joy was heightened by the identity of the taker, whose links with a summer move to Liverpool only intensified the reaction.
Gordon had scored from the spot in last weekend’s draw against Manchester City but he missed the first of his career at arguably the one place he would have been desperate to find the target, having scored just once in his 15 previous appearances on the ground playing for both clubs.
His miss – and Pickford’s first save since denying James Maddison at Leicester in May 2023 – took the attention away from captain James Tarkowski, whose ridiculous decision to wrestle Sandro Tonali to the ground was only ever going to result in one outcome.
But while Everton’s momentum is gradually growing, Newcastle’s is stalling with a third match without a win following their best start to a Premier League campaign in 13 years.
The pattern was set early on after Bruno Guimaraes’ shot was blocked on the line by Iliman Ndiaye, although the midfielder knew little about it with the ball ricocheting off the inside of his leg and wide of the post.
Everton’s chances were rare but Abdoulaye Doucoure thought he had taken the lead after starting the move which ended with him heading James Garner’s cross past Nick Pope, only for VAR to rule he was offside.
Midfielder Garner was one of two changes in the back four, with Jarrad Branthwaite missing with a minor injury after his first start of the season.
Tarkowski could not even use the excuse of the absence of his commanding centre-back partner for his brain fade in conceding the penalty, as he was alongside him last weekend and still committed an ill-advised tackle on Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta in the same penalty area for which he escaped punishment.
But this one was on another level of bravado as the experienced centre-back, seeking to exert his authority at a corner, grabbed Tonali’s shirt and hauled him to the ground.
VAR deemed it a “non-footballing action” and Tarkowski’s guilt was only spared by Pickford.
The defender’s confidence was shaken as Joelinton then easily skipped past him – requiring partner Michael Keane to snuff out the danger – and then just lifted his arms as the midfielder ran past him as he attacked the penalty area.
Only Gordon was having a worse day, with his decision to head down for Joelinton instead of at goal from six yards equally baffling.
Half-time came with Everton hanging on, but the interval allowed a refocusing of minds and Tarkowski was quick to block Tonali’s shot soon after the restart.
Newcastle’s lack of striker options – Alexander Isak and Calum Wilson are injured – meant Harvey Barnes briefly swapped with Gordon, but he soon returned to the middle when Miguel Almiron replaced Barnes.
Substitute Idrissa Gueye blocked Tonali before Everton’s big chance of the half fell to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, played in by Dwight McNeil, but he scuffed his shot with only Pope to beat and had penalty claims turned down after kicking the back of Dan Burn attempting to fire home the rebound.
The visitors’ woes continued with Kieran Trippier’s hamstring injury as Goodison Park loudly celebrated their England number one.
Dundee boss Tony Docherty admitted his side were “massively affected” by Mo Sylla’s sending off in their 3-2 defeat to Kilmarnock.The Dark Blues took a two-goal lead against Kilmarnock with Ziyad Larkeche and Seun Adewumi on the mark but the visitors stormed back through Bruce Anderson and a Matty Kennedy double – with the winner coming deep into stoppage time.French midfie...
Kilmarnock secured a dramatic last-gasp victory in a William Hill Premiership five-goal thriller against Dundee at Dens Park.The Dark Blues took the lead through Ziyad Larkeche but had Mo Sylla sent off before half-time.Despite that, the home side increased their lead thanks to sub Oluwaseun Adewumi.However Killie pulled one back through Matty Kennedy before Bruce Anderson equalised with Kennedy s...
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe praised Anthony Gordon for the way he handled another return to Goodison Park despite his penalty miss costing them the chance of victory against Everton.The England international, whose departure from the Toffees in January 2023 was somewhat acrimonious, was denied by former club-mate Jordan Pickford in the 35th minute, with the match finishing goalless.Gordon was ...
Lenell John-Lewis continued his fine goalscoring form as a substitute to earn a 1-1 draw for York away at Woking.The 35-year-old notched his fifth goal of the season – all coming from the bench – with eight minutes remaining when he slotted home a penalty after Dan Batty’s cross struck a Woking hand in the area.The Minstermen were trailing in the 55th minute after Raheem Conte&rs...
Chris Wilder said Sheffield United are ready for a “big month” after goals from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi gave his side an assured 2-0 victory over struggling Luton at Bramall Lane.A goal in each half from the Crystal Palace loanee, who was also celebrating his 22nd birthday, gave the Blades a comfortable win over the Hatters who offered little on the day.Sheffield United drew level on points ...
Harrogate boss Simon Weaver was delighted with the way his team bounced back after their midweek mauling to pick up a valuable point in a 0-0 draw at Swindon.He said his side dug in after the 5-1 home defeat to MK Dons to prove their grit.Following a game of few chances at the County Ground, he said: “I am pleased with the point. It could have been three but we showed good resolve and it was...
Gary O’Neil said he was “devastated” by the “worst performance” of his Wolves tenure after a 5-3 defeat at Brentford left them winless at the foot of the Premier League.A wild first half at the Gtech Stadium brought six goals, four of them for Brentford who fell agonisingly short of scoring in the first minute for the fourth game running.Nathan Collins’ header a...
Mansfield first team coach Andy Garner felt the club could not ask any more from their players as they produced a stunning fifth win in a row by beating Blackpool 2-0.Promoted Stags are sitting in third place in League One after five straight wins at this level for the first time since April 1976 thanks to a first-half brace from Will Evans.“It was another absolutely fantastic performance,&r...
Swansea manager Luke Williams is becoming frustrated at his side’s inability to finish their chances after playing out a goalless draw against Stoke.The Swans extended their unbeaten home run in the Sky Bet Championship this season to five matches but three of those fixtures have been stalemates.Williams feels the changes he has tried to implement in a bid to score more goals have yet to be ...
Chesterfield assistant manager Danny Webb was pleased to secure a 2-2 draw against a tough Walsall side, to continue their impressive undefeated home streak.Nathan Lowe twice gave Walsall the lead but first Darren Oldaker and then Dilan Markanday equalised for the hosts.Webb said: “We’re pleased with the overall outcome; we could have done things differently as a team but to get that l...
- 1 Narcis Pelach delighted with four-goal Tom Cannon’s response to weekend chat
- 2 Marti Cifuentes rues missed opportunities in QPR’s loss to Hull
- 3 Potter on Man Utd and England jobs
- 4 Jhon Duran is Aston Villa’s super sub once again as his goal sinks Bayern Munich
- 5 'Kyle Walker and Annie Kilner's marriage is a s**tshow
- 6 Francesco Totti's cheating row with 'betrayed' ex-wife
- 7 Man Utd boss Ten Hag doesn't fear losing job
- 8 Mourinho rages at referee in 'hall of fame' protest
- 9 Pop legend makes shock appearance at Stamford Bridge
- 10 Chesterfield hit back twice to deny Walsall