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Everton secure seventh in style

Everton 3 - 1 Newcastle United

Match Summary

A gorgeous sunny day and a packed Goodison Park, with a really big game to end the season. Newcastle United looking for a win to retain faint hopes of the Champions League, while Everton need he money that comes from 7th place rather than 8th or 9th... Rodwell and Anichebe are injured but Gibson, Baines and Neville all return; however, Distin is dropped to the bench, perhaps carrying a knock?

From an early Newcastle free-kick superbly taken, Ba almost scored, forcing a goalline save by Howard. Everton got into it, some hopeful forward moves, one where Osman overplayed what could have been a brilliant forward pass for Jelavic. Meanwhile, Ba tried to grab glory and skied a half-chance.

It was developing well as a competitive feast, when Heitinga made a bizarre two-footed lunge that won the ball cleanly but was awarded with a yellow card by ref, who then called Fellaini for a foul when the defender slipped and Fellaini avoided yellow for card. Tiote then came in heavily on Fellaini from behind and he rightly got a yellow card.

Fellaini came close with a difficult header driven in from deep by Neville that the Belgian tried to loop over Krul, but just wide of the angle, a good move as the slow build-up and wing play had not been making much progress against a well-disciplined Magpies defence.

Form a Howard clearance, Fellaini got space off an excellent piece of work by Osman, and ran forward playing across to Pienaar who saw his chance and struck it well but a nice deflection of Williamson's arse gave the ball a nice trajectory away from Krul and into the top corner for an excellent opening goal in the 16th minute.

A superb free-kick by Baines was played across the goal area by Osman at the far post, and Pienaar running in smacked his shot against the post. Everton's first corner was delivered straight to Krul by Osman. Cabaye then got a talking to for needlessly shoving a ballboy to get the ball for a throw-in.

A hoofball from the back gave Jelavic a fantastic opportunity as he beat Colucini controlled the bouncing ball on his chest and slightly with his left arm then lashed an Exocet at Krul, who saved magnificently, but the parry back to Jelavic was coolly lobbed over the Newcastle keeper and into the net for a superb second goal.

After Gibson had driven wide with a rare shot, Gutierrez at the other end looked to extract revenge but his shot was hopelessly wide in a very rare foray forward, such had been Everton's dominance. Osman went on a great run and really should have scored but pulled his shot just wide. Fellaini damaged an ankle but it didn't stop some fantastic play with Pienaar down the left and a beautiful move that ended with a powerful shot from Gibson, but straight at Krul.

Cisse came close with a snapshot that set up nicely for him but it was driven wide. Newcastle's half was summed when they won a lucky free-kick very softly off Fellaini, that Ben Afra smacked well wide. Everton had played some scintillating stuff but risked a response from visitors in the second-half, Pardew hauling off both full backs after the break, and Cisse getting an easy chance that scuffed wide with Howard beaten.

Newcastle won their first corner but it came to nothing; however, they continued to play in Everton's half, Taylor firing in a free-kick that Howard held comfortably, but still Everton laboured to get going properly again, poor defending setting up another Newcastle shot that was blocked.

The Blues did get another long ball forward to Jelavic and he did really well to control and turn but was off-balance and drove his shot wide. But the game was very different until Cabaye fouled Pienaar, setting up an excellent free-kick opportunity that Gibson got over the wall well and tested Krul at the near post.

Howard was struggling in the Everton gaol after over-stretching on an earlier goalkick, but refused to come off despite having Jagielka take them which he did rather well.

Everton should have had a clear penalty when Williamson dragged him down in a headlock, while Howard made a great stop off Cisse. Then a free-kick won out wide right of the Newcastle area by Jelavic was swung in well by Gibson and Player of the Season Johnny Heitinga was all on his own when he powered the ball home through Krull with an unstoppable header. 3 - 0!!!

Johnny Heitinga came off to a great round of applause, to be replaced by Sylvain Distin for the final 20 minutes, Cabaye taking a potshot from distance that Howard could only parry for a corner. Hibbert, then scored a great headed goal... but in the wrong net, as Howard came off his line to collect a simple ball. Neville then came off, giving Tim Cahill a chance for a runout.

Howard made a great one-handed save right under the bar to deny Cisse as Everton sat back on their two-goal lead and tried to play out the final 15 mins, continuously giving the ball away until Pienaar saw some space and played in Jelavic for a great forward run but the Croat delayed to shoot or pass to Fellaini in a good position and the chance was lost.

Krul made a double save off a great Gibsoin strike that he pushed straight at Cahill who could only return it to him rather than putting it around him into the gaping goal. Nikica Jelavic then came off to give Denis Stracqualursi a cameo that could be his last in a Blue shirt.

Everton looked at sixes and sevens at times with what passed for defensive football but still Newcastle could not score as the time ticked away on the 2011-12 season. Finally they got forward again, and Gibson struck another drive just wide. Then Baines and Pienaar created more magic down the left that was worthy of a goal but was blocked out for a corner.

Then from a throw-in, Osman almost ot the fourth, smacking his shot off the foot of the post after some lovely footwork had created the space. Osman got another chance that he smacked straight at Krul. And it was all over, bar the shouting, as Cahill was sent off!!! He somehow got into a fight with Cabaye just after the final whistle, that left a really strange taste in the mouth.

Everton: Howard; Hibbert, Baines, Heitinga (70' Distin), Jagielka; Osman, Gibson, Neville (74' Cahill), Pienaar, Fellaini, Jelavic (83' Stracqualursi).
Subs: Mucha, Coleman, Gueye, Barkley.

Newcastle: Krul, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye, Tiote, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Cisse, Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Gosling, Ryan Taylor, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan, Ferguson.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Report Page

• Match Report

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