Back To Basics Never Felt So GoodEverton kept it simple and made life anything but for Newcastle.
Back to basics never felt so good and to go with it, a run of the mill win to send us into the utopia of a Monday morning with no Everton hangover.
All is not forgotten but any inquest should now be put aside until the summer. Newcastle came to Goodison and we badly needed three points after Burnley had upped the diarrhea levels by beating Man City twenty-four hours earlier.
In a season submerged in negativity it was great to have a performance, and a result, were the visitors could have few complaints. The blues finally recording a first home win since December. As Mr Brown shoes would say; it was incredible.
Newcastle may have been down to ten men as Everton sealed victory with a sight for sore eyes moment of composure from Ross Barkley, but a dominant Everton were in control of the game long before Coloccini was sent off for a lunge on Lennon on the hour mark.
No Europa hangover here. Just a much more balanced looking blues side recording a much-needed victory over a half-baked Newcastle.
It was nice to see supporters and the team together in unison after last weeks public falling out. The blues desire and determination to put things right on the pitch was refreshing. Suddenly we look a team with a plan.
Let’s hope this convincing display can put us back into our Premier League groove so we can end the season domestic season positively.
With Kiev coming up next Thursday, and a great chance for us to progress, who knows, maybe the most trying of seasons can end with the ultimate #Evertonthat…. a trophy in Warsaw?
I may clearly be getting carried away but with my face having been longer than Kenwright’s search for investment this season, I’ll take a rare opportunity to be optimistic. It certainly feels a corner has been turned here.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Everton without some form of panic and with bums barely on seats McCarthy blocked Williamson’s follow-up effort after Howard had saved from Obertan.
The Irishman suspiciously looking like he’d handled it o the line but thankfully ref’ Martin Atkinson wasn’t convinced and the threat of a penalty was erased.
The blues looked to hit back and pretty much instantly reached a level of control that barely ceased throughout the remainder of the match. Lukaku, on a Arsenal 3-0 esq run, cutting in past Coloccini to fire straight at Krul.
Lukaku and Kone linked barely a moment later, following some great tenacity from our fast becoming Belgian talisman, before the forwards played a one-two only to see Lukaku’s low drive once more saved by Krul.
This was much more like it from the blues with Aaron Lennon providing width and looking menacing down the right all afternoon.
All in all, Lennon had his best game so far for Everton. He never stopped threatening Newcastle and his commitment to the more boring defensive side of the game was just as impressive. Long may it continue.
Everton’s confidence was returning and the quick incisive play of last year was back as the blues pressed for an opener. Darron Gibson’s great looking through ball just evaded the run of Kone who would have been clean through had he brought the ball down, but again, much more like it from the blues.
Football is a simple game and there was no better example than Everton’s opener. How to carve a team open in two passes: Jagielka’s long raking ball found Lukaku, the Belgians impressive lay off found the on rushing James McCarthy who fired past Krul.
Admittedly the Dutch keeper, who looked like he’d been receiving positioning advice from Tim Howard, was all over the shop but who cares? The blues had a deserved lead.
The game entered something of a lull from this point with Newcastle offering very little outside of set pieces. The blues came close to doubling the lead as Alcaraz’ goal-bound header from Baines excellent corner was blocked with Big Rom unable to seize on the loose ball.
Half time was reached with the all too familiar feeling that we needed another goal – despite our relative comfort – however, in all honesty, the blues were excellent.
The second half started and the half time wishes of an early second goal to put a lackluster Newcastle side to bed, along with Evertonian nerves, were granted as the excellent Lennon drew a foul from Gouffran in the box. The stonewall penalty reward for some excellent work from Lennon.
Lukaku showed his confidence with a cool finish into the bottom right hand corner, sending Krul the wrong way for his 17th goal of the season.
He is quite simply getting better and better each week.
With Everton dominating proceedings the writing was permanently marked on the wall for the Geordies as Coloccini was sent off for a reckless challenge on Lennon. The winger’s pace caused the barcodes all kinds of scanning problems and they just couldn’t get to grips with him from the first minute to the last.
A truly great moment arrived in the 62nd minute – no goal or great play to talk about – but the sight of Jonas Gutierrez coming on as sub for the visitors. It was simply brilliant to see him back playing after beating cancer. The rapturous ovation from all corners of the ground was fitting and richly deserved.
The blues continued to press for more goals, Gibson’s inventive ball found Baines on the edge of the box and the returning left back controlled well before coming inside to feed Kone. His powerful 20 yard drive was beaten away by Krul.
Soon after Lukaku was replaced by Ross Barkley and the young Belgian received a terrific ovation from the fans.
When we’ve needed it most Big Rom has stepped up and his improvement and maturity is growing by the minute. Lukaku is clearly taking responsibility on the pitch and it’s been great to see him step up the way he has. Let’s hope it continues as we look to end the season positively.
The blues pressure continued and Osman’s intricate through ball for the ever menacing Lennon saw the winger find Barkley whose goal-bound shot looked in for all the world until a great goal line clearance from Ryan Taylor denied the blues a third.
Newcastle briefly threatened through Sissoko whose curling effort drew a great one handed save from Howard, with the blues clearing the resulting corner.
Alcaraz showed his quality with a superbly timed tackle just as Cabella was about to pull the trigger. There would be no last-minute nerves for once at Goodison. Heady days indeed.
The blues continued to threaten through Kone whose pace got him in on goal. With the Gwladys Street ready to celebrate his first Goodison goal, Krul stuck manfully to the task taking advantage of Kone’s lack of decisiveness to smother the chance.
Everton were not to be denied a deserved third and one of my favorite moments of the season arrived in injury time.
Christian Atsu, on for the uber impressive Aaron Lennon, broke at pace and slid Barkley in. The youngster showed a welcome level of confidence and composure to round Krul before slotting the ball into the empty Gwladys Street net.
It was a goal worthy of rounding off an excellent days work for the blues.
It was a great to see Barkley and the fans celebrate the goal. I’m a huge fan of Barkley who has had a lousy season in all honesty. Let’s hope this moment can inspire him to get back to his best as we enter the home straight of our season.
Full time arrived and I was so happy to be positive for once. Credit to Martinez; I have to be fickle sadly having wanted him gone after the nightmare on Stoke Street but he recognised we needed to change things and started with two strikers.
The team looked balanced and more at ease, the presence and experience of Osman was also a welcome addition to the side and we were well worth the victory. Hopefully we can really push on, continuing in Kiev on Thursday.
It was an excellent team performance with honourable mentions for Jags and Alcaraz who I thought formed a decent partnership at the back.
Lukaku’s rising confidence is making a real difference for us but the standout performer was Aaron Lennon. He was magnificent today and it is a shame he can’t play in the Kiev tie on Thursday.
There is no reason why we can’t progress past Kiev this week. Their home record demands respect but we showed on more than one occasion last week that we can hurt them when we get Lukaku et al attacking them. Fingers crossed the all too foreign happy feeling of back-to-back wins can be replicated on Thursday.
The Europa League quarter finals are firmly in sight.
It was a joy to witness the blues win in this style. It certainly eased the pain of the Monday morning alarm clock.
A safe journey to all those travelling over to Kiev. It seems Everton are ready to start writing a few wrongs.
“We want to perform as we did today in all of our final nine games.” Roberto Martinez
If we can match the manager’s wishes then mid-table mediocrity and Warsaw glory could well be on the horizon.
No one ever said supporting the blues would be easy!
Sin Miedo
Mark Ellis