Everton vs Newcastle United. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance36,061.
Thursday 4 February 2016 06:52, UK
Everton claimed their first league victory at Goodison Park since November with an assured 3-0 win over Newcastle on Wednesday night.
Aaron Lennon broke the deadlock midway through the first half before two penalties from Ross Barkley - making his 100th Premier League appearance - wrapped up the points for Roberto Martinez's side.
Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles was sent off after bringing down Barkley for the second penalty.
Andros Townsend made his Newcastle debut but he was an isolated figure as Steve McClaren's new-look side struggled to put Everton under sustained pressure.
In fairness, Newcastle had goalkeeper Rob Elliot to thank for keeping them in the game as a string of fine saves in the second half prevented Everton from running amok.
The result, and only a fifth clean sheet of the season, was the perfect tonic for the Toffees, who climb to 11th in the table, while Newcastle remain 18th, firmly in the relegation mire.
It was a night for new faces on Merseyside as both teams unveiled January recruits, with Townsend handed his first start for Newcastle after moving from Tottenham, while Everton's Deadline Day signing Oumar Niasse carried out a watching brief from the stands.
Tom Cleverley came close to an early breakthrough but Elliot was on hand to paw his fifth-minute strike out, before Romelu Lukaku, having beaten the Toon stopper, sent a free-kick agonisingly over the target on 22 minutes.
Everton's early dominance, and patience, soon told as Lennon's quick swivel and shot wrong-footed Elliot and trickled in to give the hosts a deserved lead.
Seamus Coleman's neat cut back just before half-time looked to have set up Lennon for his second, but Chancel Mbemba's last-ditch intervention ensured the Magpies entered the interval trailing by just the single goal.
It proved to be Mbemba's last contribution as he left the field having picked up an injury, while Lukaku came off at half-time for Arouna Kone with a suspected back problem.
However, despite losing their leading striker, Everton continued to bombard the Newcastle goal, with Lennon again presented with a chance to double his tally, only for Elliot to deny him with his feet on 51 minutes, before Kone spurned the rebound.
Elliot was in inspired form, singlehandedly keeping Everton at bay. First he produced a fine save to tip Barkley's goal-bound effort onto the crossbar and then prevented Jonjo Shelvey's header from looping in shortly before the hour.
Cleverley's near-post free-kick was then turned onto the post by Elliot and Newcastle looked to punish the hosts' profligacy when substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic failed to turn Moussa Sissoko's cross home on 66 minutes.
Everton soon wrestled back control and looked set to see out the game until Barkley made the result safe with an 88th-minute penalty after substitute Rolando Aarons brought down Lennon.
He then capped his landmark day in style with a cheeky chip from the spot after Newcastle substitute Lascelles was sent off for bringing him down.
Player ratings
Everton: Robles (7), Coleman (8), Jagielka (7), Funes Mori (7), Oviedo (7), Cleverley (8), Barry (7), Lennon (8), Barkley (9), McCarthy (7), Lukaku (6).
Used subs: Kone (6).
Newcastle: Elliot (9), Janmaat (7), Mbemba (6), Coloccini (6), Dummett (6), Saivet (6), Shelvey (5), Sissoko (5), Wijnaldum (5), Townsend (6), Perez (5).
Used subs: Lascelles (4), Aarons (4), Mitrovic (5).
Man of the Match: Ross Barkley.
