Everton 3 - 1 Newcastle United

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Sunday May 11 2008 03:00

Everton recorded a well deserved 3-1 win over a poor Newcastle United side and secured their place in Europe for a second successive season.

Everton welcomed Kevin Keegan's Toon Army to Merseyside needing a point to guarantee safe passage into next season's UEFA Cup competition. With Newcastle having nothing to play for, but having only lost once in their last eight games, David Moyes knew the Goodison Park crowd were in for a jittery afternoon.

Newcastle brought the game to the Toffees in the early exchanges, but Everton were far from over-awed and the game was shaping up to be a nice change from the usual drab end-of-season affair fans often endure.

The home side should have taken the lead on ten minutes when Leon Osman fed Yakubu, enjoying a fine game, who turned and jinked on the edge of Stephen Harper's area before shooting wide across the face of goal, with Manuel Fernandes just failing to direct the loose ball home as he slid in.

Everton were beginning to turn the screw by midway through the first half and both Jagielka and Fernandes spurned half chances. At the other end, Michael Owen was causing problems along with Andrew Carroll, without ever invoking real concern.

Everton were truly in the ascendancy though and it was no shock when Yakubu rose highest to bury a fantastic Fernandes free-kick to break the deadlock on 28 minutes after Damien Duff had bear-hugged Steven Pienaar off the ball.

Yakubu had the ball in the back of the net again minutes later, but Joleon Lescott was marginally offside when he headed on for the striker to guide his effort past Harper.

Everton continued to completely dominate the rest of the half with Newcastle looking exposed time and again as the home side went for a second.

Seconds after the restart, disaster struck for the Blues as Joseph Yobo brought down Charles N'Zogbia for Owen to level the scores with a cool penalty. It was terrible luck for Everton, who had been far the better side for the majority of the game.

Fernandes struck two free-kicks in quick succession which could have restored the Toffees' lead and Yobo headed over from a corner and Jagielka from a free-kick as Everton recovered well from the earlier setback.

The game started to turn slightly as the rain came down and Newcastle finally decided to start playing some football.

However, it was still Everton with the real chances. Victor Anichebe missed a golden chance to win it when he chased down a Pienaar ball and escaped his marker, but fired wide from 15 yards.

On 69 minutes Lescott cemented his hero reputation around Goodison as he read Steven Taylor's headed clearance from Fernandes' cross and slid the ball past Harper with his left peg.

After that, it was all over for Keegan's men and when Taylor brought down Leon Osman in the area after a smart run, Yakubu's penalty conversion sealed a coveted UEFA Cup spot.

Live Commentary

90
Everton come away comfortable winners thanks to goals from Lescott and Yakubu. Everton finish fifth and will be playing in next seasons Uefa cup.

90
Lee Carsley replaced by Jack Rodwell for Everton and Peter Ramage replaces Steven Taylor for Newcastle

89
Everton playing keep ball here as they look to just wind the clock down.

87
Stinging shot by Lee Carsley but its saved by Steve Harper (Newcastle).

85
It looks like its been wrapped up here, Everton have been far the better side and look almost certain to be playing in next seasons UEFA cup.

85
Thomas Gravesen and Leighton Baines replace Joseph Yobo and Victor Anichebe respectively for Everton

82
Yakubu calmly slots the ball past Harper from the spot with the 'keeper going the wrong way.

82
Everton penalty, a Taylor brings down Osman in the Newcastle penalty area. Its Evertons first of the season.

76
Jose Sanchez Enrique replaced by Kazenga LuaLua. Looks like N'Zogbia will drop into left back with LuaLua on the left side of midfield.

75
Newcastle free kick, its disputed and could and perhaps should have been Evertons. N'Zogbia to take but it goes out for an Everton goal kick.

73
Corner taken by Fernandes but cleared by Newcastle.

73
Yakubu threads the ball to Anichebe, his shot is excellently saved by Harper for a corner.

72
Corner delivered, cleared easily by Everton to Yakubu.

72
Alan Smith crosses into the box, its cleared for a Newcastle corner.

70
Joleon Lescott sidefoots the ball into the net from another Fernandes free kick. Newcastle will be dissapointed conceeding both goals in this game from free kicks.

68
Lescott puts in a cross to Anichebe but the Nigerian forward just can't reach it.

67
Anichebe hits a cross come shot and Yakubu is steaming in but he doesn't throw himself at it and Newcastle have got away with it.

65
Alan Smith (Newcastle)

64
The games here to be won, both teams looking like they could score here.

61
Leon Osman tries to lift the ball over the top of the Newcastle defence to Pienaar but its too long and runs out for a Newcastle goal kick.

58
Everton free kick, taken by Fernandes and Phil Jagielka just heads it over the Newcastle bar.

57
Ugly challenge by Andy Carroll (Newcastle) on Lee Carsley. Free kick which Fernandes will take. Nicky Butt clears for an Everton attacking throw.

54
Another Corner to Everton, Fernandes takes and Harper comes but gets no where near it. Luckily for Newcastle no Everton players can get to it either.

52
Fernandes hits a wicked shot which Harper clears for a corner. he swings in the corner himself but its cleared.

51
Everton free kick, Fernandes has a crack at goal. Steve Harper can only parry it and the Newcastle defence clear the ball for him.

50
The flood lights are on at Goodison! It was bright sunshine in the first half but the skies have darkened and a storm is coming. Is the storm coming for Everton after they wasted a multitude of chances in the first half...

48
Everton corner, Fernandes swings it in but its too long for everyone.

47
Owen puts away the penalty. Howard went the right way but the ball slipped under his body.

47
Newcastle penalty straight away as Yobo Clumsily takes down N'Zogbia.

45
Everton get the second half underway here. Newcastle need to change something here if they want to get anything here after an abismal first half. Everton playing well and willbe dissapointed not to be further ahead.

45
Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye replaced by Claudio Cacapa for Newcastle, Faye may still be injured following his clash with Harper in the first half.

45
Its been all Everton in the first half and they should be further in front. Newcastle don't look interested and Kevin Keegan is going to have to do something at half time to lift their performance.

44
As half time approaches here Newcastle might have to think about changing things. Everton have been far the more dominant side and a couple of Newcastle players (Alan Smith in particular) just don't look interested.

43
Neville tries to tee up Yakubu but Newcastle manage to clear the ball.

40
Only one team in it here. N'Zogbia seems to be about the only Newcastle player trying out here today. Everton should be more the one up and Keegan wont be happy with his teams perfromance so far.

38
Osman goes on on one with Harper. The Newcastle stopper makes a brilliant one handed reaction save. Newcastle under the kosh here.

37
Neville really should have scored for Everton but his shot it wide.

37
Fernandes corner taken short to Neville, he plays it back to Fernandes but his final cross is poor.

36
Anichebes shot is spilled by Steve Harper, it goes out for a corner. Could have been very embaressing for the Newcastle stopper.

35
Fernandes shot is saved by Harper, he was set up by a lovely back heel from Anichebe.

33
Goal dissallowed. Joleon Lescott caught offside as he heads the ball into the Newcastle goal.

31
Newcastle nearly with an instant reply. N'Zogbia hits a wicked free kick just over the bar, he had no right to shoot really it was 40 yards out!

28
Yakubu heads into the Newcastle goal following a good free kick from Mauel Fernandes.

27
Damien Duff, cynical challenge on Fernandes after the Everton man had got past him.

26
N'Zogbia turns Fernandes inside out and swings a ball into the Everton box. The cross rips across the 6 yard box but neither Owen or Carroll are close enough to have a dive at it.

25
Everton just about the better side here. No real clear cut chances yet and it could easily go either way.

23
Fernandes gets past Enrique far to easily and tries to play in Yakubu, the balls cut out and cleared though.

22
Everton throw in on the left just in the Newcastle half. Newcastle holding a deep line as Everton have the most possession.

20
Everon free kick about 30 yards out. Abdoulaye Faye and Steve Harper go for the same ball and the big senegalese man almost heads it out of his keepers hands, he takes a whack on the way though and the physio is on to look at Faye.

17
Fernandes launches a cross into the Newcastle box following good work from Yakubu, its a poor ball though and it goes over the bar.

15
Newcastle free kick, a good 40 yards out of goal. N'Zogbia clips it into the box but Osman clears for Everton.

14
Steve Harper hits a massive goal kick, almost box to box. Andy Carroll gets the flick on but Jagielka clears for Everton.

13
Everton attacking throw in level with 18 yard box on the right side. Neville takes but Enrique eventually clears for Newcastle.

12
Some good midfield play from Newcastle but they can't find a way through, Everton quite contempt to sit back and soak the pressure at the moment.

8
Yakubu hits a left footed shot wide of the left post, it was good work from the Nigerian who started the build up and there was good interplay between him and Pienaar for Everton.

6
N'Zogbia (Newcastle) sets up Andy Carroll for a shot, he forces the save out of Tim Howard but it wasn't the best effort. Hes looked lively in the opening minuites has Carroll.

5
Lee Carsley hits a ball out to Lescott who is in space for Everton. Carsley just asking too much of Lescott and it runs for Newcastle goal kick.

4
Everton offensive throw, Phil Neville to take.

2
Fernandes shoots for Everton. Its the toffee's first attack but the shot is high and wide.

1
N'Zogbia (Newcastle) puts a cross into the Everton box following a good ball from Enrique. Howard spills but Jagielka clears for Everton.

1
Everton defensive throw in, Phil Neville to take.

0
Newcastle get us underway on a glorious day here at Goodison park. Everton need just a point to guarantee a places in next seasons UEFA cup, Newcastle with little to play for except their place in the team next season.

Statistics

Everton

Shots on target	12
Shots off target	9
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	11
Offsides	1
Corners	6

Newcastle United

Shots on target	3
Shots off target	1
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	13
Offsides	2
Corners	2

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