An indescribable night of utter madness sees Everton finally win

Sure we need height but Holgate is awful on the ground these days.

However, no matter what the starting eleven is, they need to have confidence and play tightly as a unit, particularly in midfield, where we have been vulnerable in many games this season and not getting a grip when it matters.

Many of us may argue that with the current squad to pick from; we just don't have the quality to compete with other teams in midfield.

Or maybe delirium has set in with extreme nerves.

Saint-Maximin is on their bench.

Assuming Pickford is an injury/illness rather than a Newcastle/Sunderland thing.

Enough attackers on the pitch. But if we play as we have, with Richarlison ploughing a lone furrow then its business as usual. Which typically results in one shot a game.

We have to score goals to get out of trouble.

Need bravery and ambition on and off the ball. Failure to stand up and be counted tonight will ultimately be unforgivable.

Reasonable team. Certainly more sensible than last outting.. subject to omissions.

This rampant atheist will be praying to anyone who'll listen.. even satan.

I was convinced, if we lost to Wolves we were fucked, forever the Evertonian in me has me thinking if we can win tonight, it just might give the players a lift.

Newcastle will try and bully us all over the park – they will be up for it, make no mistake, we simply have got to match them.

Lampard looks a nervous wreck.
COYB for fuck sake.

Loads of effort. No bravery. Newcastle repeatedly have players in our box - something will fall for them eventually. It's inevitable.

Whereas we are playing in our own half. Nothing forward. Doucoure just another defender doing his best impersonation of a rebound net.

We're completely reliant on Holgate and Keane creating something for our wide players because our midfield never carry the ball forward.

One shot on target, so we've doubled our recent output. But nothing for 35 minutes is completely business as usual.

Nothing in the final third. Iwobi fannying about then just passing it across the pitch and out sums our forward play up. Godfrey running the length of the pitch and giving it away also indicative.

Fair play to the crowd.

And Gordon looks like he wants a yellow card. But Pawson seems keen to let the game flow. All to play for, put Calvert-Lewin on now.

Sums us up quite nicely.

Enjoy watching our most talented attacker bumping into two big centre halves again.

During which time we have had 5 attempts.

And we're still doing exactly the same things. This is madness.

Referee was right next to it. Then judges it in slow motion.

Ok, I'll leave and come back so someone else can get it. I could use a change of underpants.

So that's what we bought Iwobi for !!

10 beat 12 not 11. Maybe 13 if you include the tosser on VAR.

I would still question the VAR /REF decisions in this game. Something wasn't right. We are on the wrong end of far too many dodgy decisions these days for my liking.

Some difficult, painful and emotional games to come and I still fear for our chances. Tonight though, just brilliant.

And VAR. Red Nose Day tomorrow. It should be upfront and central. What a joke. Ref 10 feet away. Clearest of clear views. Total bottler and knobhead to change what was a correct decision.

For later... see what happens when you have a striker on the pitch who plays as a striker. In the striker position. So midfielders can play into and join up with the striker. Even an unfit one.

Eddie Howe says the crowd swung it. He's dead right.

If that doesn't reflect the passion of the effort, nothing does.

It was ugly, uncoordinated, sometimes downright incompetent... but the effort was sheer magnificence.

Holgate and Keane were magnificent in front of Bego (whom I will never call "Bungles" again). And the goal came through three of the most scorned here... Seamus with the fierce tackle, Iwobi with the dribble, Dom with the backheel (after being roundly insulted by the Forum folk for his fashion adventures), and then the calm finish.

So proud of these guys today.

Thank you Everton

Allan was our best player. Losing him could have easily led to defeat, yet somehow the players found the guts and legs and ambition to put a marker down. Hopefully this can be the moment that makes next season look like it might be something to look forward to.

Special mention for Michael Keane and Mason Holgate; while the players in front of them flattered to deceive they made key blocks and challenges and clearances that kept us in the game. Begovic too.

I got the proper adrenaline shakes when Iwobi scored - and I hope you lot did too!

Fine goal by Iwobi but what a display of guts and fighting spirit by the whole team. If we can keep it going, we will be safe.

Well done, Frank, the players looked very well prepared.

I was at Wolves last week. It was awful.

Unfortunately I couldn't be there tonight. I would be at every Everton match if I could. But I was following like a rabid dog and talking to a very good Newcastle mate continuously throughout, which made me nervous but at the same time confident. They're an equally paranoid bunch.

I can't comment too much on the match or the football tonight as I didn't see it.

But what I can say, is that I love you more than life Everton. This support base loves you more than you know, no matter what you do to them. Continue to perform for them in this manner.

If you want to understand what it means to play for Everton, come and speak to me or the many people on here. You will understand.

I hope you understand that and take it into the next match. Because this result doesn't make the fight over. The fight is never over. You don't win unless you fight for it all of the time.

Sorry. Feeling happy, emotional and conscious that there is still a lot of work to do.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. God bless everyone blue.

Iwobi's finish in that context was superb and his fitness throughout the game was very impressive.

Significantly, DCL looks right back at it, he made a very big difference.

A great occasion but this is still an exceedingly tough battle ahead. We must not make our usual mistake of revelling in one victory and then flopping again.

What a fucking night though.

Can’t see the red card being over turned. Even Eddie Howe said that the crowd swung the game for us.

FA cup as a diversion on Sunday, but let’s re-group and get more league points on the board. Great win.

Red card was extremely harsh, he took the player out and it was a cast iron yellow. It wasn’t dangerous play just a bad foul. Can’t see them overturning it as the slow motion doesn’t really capture the context and flow of the tackle. They need to look at it in real time, and then they would se that it’s just a fully justifiable yellow.

We have, out of the blue, been given something to build on, and best of all some hope.

As a grown man it's embarrassing to say that I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed now. Oh how we needed that.

It wasn't great. The Passion from the crowd was exceptional. The effort from the players was clearly there. But we can't continue to ignore the lack of quality, bravery or ambition. We have to score goals. It's how every relegation threatened team gets out of trouble. It's why Kevin Campbell is revered - he scored the goals that kept us up.

I don't want to see Richarlison there again. I've said it forever. It might work for Brazil, but we're not Brazil. I'm so desperate to see him running at teams. Play a striker! Let Richie win second balls and go at teams.

The 99th minute was the one moment of quality we'd put together in nearly 8 hours of football. And it involved a striker and and a willing runner.

Thank you Everton, you cruel bastards!!

Alan Shearer did not think the Allan foul was a red card. Nobody other than Attwell on VAR thought it worth more than a yellow. I remember the foul by Shelvey on Gordon at St James’s Park was not similarly punished. Another VAR farce.

But don't bet on it ! And well done you crowdsters - you were magnificent.

First half was solid old school defending and useless wayward passes. Newcastle dominated but not so much weathering a storm as a rain shower. Second half was better all around. Dodgy ref wound the crowd up, red card icing on the cake. Even at 10 men you could see Everton were edging it then classy move slick finish. It was not quite dogs of war but closer to that than we’ve seen in a while

I salute thee, Alex Iwobi. You fucking, useless beaut.

It's an incentive.

We have a lot to do bit we can win on two fronts.

Whatever his failings and future, he sure saved us tonight.

Well done blues, not pretty but I'll take it

I thought we actually played better with 10 men despite the fact that Allan had a good game.

For me tonight was a victory over corruption, thoroughly deserved because we simply refused to lie down. The officials were appalling, surely there has to be some sort investigation or review, the consistency of poor performance from them this season is truly alarming.

Anyway fuck them, we won and hopefully gained a little confidence in the process.

Both teams shit and the ref even worse, with VAR out doing itself.

10 men Everton saved by Iowbi in the 109 minute with five minutes left to play, which turned out to be 8 minutes.

Not to mention Bill's long lost son in a red shirt , , trying to be a goal post , getting kicked by a Everton Supporter who looked like the guy who kissed the centre point after beating Wimbledon for Relegation survival.

Keane was motm.

The ref gave a yellow, he was close enough to warrant a yellow, yet var tell the ref to go over to the Monitor to have a look.

why was the same not done by var in the City game the other week, for the ref to go and take a look

It is getting ridiculous now, call me paranoid, but it is happening to us more and more this season, thankfully did not cost us three points, but it has cost us Allan missing the next three games.

Overall, before being swayed by var and changing his mind, I thought the ref had a decent game, let the game flow and ignored players trying to cheat by throwing themselves to the floor, from both sides.

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/302457/Referee-Stuart-Attwell-is-demoted

A great victory, but we need a few more between now and the end of the campaign, the last two games could have ended in draws, so from that perspecive 3 points is better than two in the current circumstances, let's hope that Frank and his team can encourage the players to believe that only hard work will suffice, if the quality isn't there.

It turned out to be one of the best atmospheres that I've been lucky enough to take part in...even though it was for twenty od minutes. And when that goal went in! The Roof went off!

I've been going for sixty odd years and as long as I keep going. That match...well we won in spite of that bastard ref. It will live long in the memory that. Team and supporters together. It was brilliant.

Yes, we've still got a mountain to climb, but that Geordie team were rolling round and trying to put our lads off their rhythm (and they suucceeded for long periods of the match; but in the end we won against all odds.

A proper Brilliant Everton Night!
I'll have to get some throat lozenges tomorrow mind!

Dave,well said! a smashing post.

Get some honey and lemon on those pipes Gramps, we need you for every verse. Keep it going, stay up win the cup like David Graves sings.

Call the ref, but he first showed a yellow card - the right decision. VAR intervened, and look what happened.

We could have had a penalty against City and not lost a player against Newcastle. Marked difference - and yet no investigation for validity will take place. That is huge potential for influence.

I think the last time I kicked up about a ref’s performance was Clattenburg after the derby but this season there’s been a catalogue. Tonights miserable exhibition was another disgrace
The PL really has to look into the abysmal standard of refereeing and the nonsense that is VAR.

If only these players were as good at their jobs as the supporters we’d be top of the league.

Struggling to understand the upside of VAR. It really doesn’t seem to ever favour us

Correction from earlier Michael , not Lyndon 's description.

I was totally wrong at the start prefering Van de Beek to Iowbi. Humble pie all round.

Pawson has ditched out 88 in 20 games !! Yet he can't tell that he was right with his first decision after all those cards - amazing. He gets plenty of practice after all. He has produced 2 red cards, including Allans tonight. Only Paul Tierney matches him.

The 10, whom won the Toon game.

🍀🍺🍺⚽️🙏🏼👌🍻☘️

I actually had palpitations watching that. Everton are seriously bad for your health at time.

Iwobi worked hard all night and created that goal himself and hopefully a lasting legacy as a cult hero.

Pawson is a corrupt shithouse and so is Atwell running VAR when they come to the decision to upgrade Allan's yellow to a red, these c**ts need calling out by the club.

Frank has to give up on the idea of playing Richie up top as a lone striker, he is not a Centre Forward as he isn't strong enough and goes down far too easily, he plays his best footie wide left cutting into the box. DCL if he can stay fit or Rondon are the only two CF's we have and they are the only ones who should be played there.

Onwards and hopefully upwards for both the League and FA Cup! COYB!

The passing between players is so bad compared to other teams. So many passes misplaced, under hit, sideways or worse backwards. When we don’t have the ball we’re too slow to press and put the opposition under pressure. Etc. etc.

On paper we have supposedly top internationals but on the pitch they look like a league 1 team. Just amazes me how these players struggle with the basics.

Anyway, that aside, all that mattered today was 3 points. We’re not out of the woods yet but it’s in our hands and the likes of Watford, Burnley and Leeds will probably all lose on the weekend so we’ll have more games in hand. I’m not expecting anything from West Ham and hope we can get a draw away to Burnley, if only to stop them gaining 3 points on us.

For now though, well played to the players for the win and hopefully we can play better football against palace without the league pressure.

Thank god we won tonight - anything but and I think that would have been it.

“Outstandingly berserk” is a Pulitzer Prize level and very apt description. For my part in a business meeting in the US surreptitiously watching on my phone I’m pretty sure everyone thought I’d gone berserk for no apparent reason when I jumped up after the goal. Awkwardly cell phones are banned in the office lol

That said Frank post-match said VAR ineptitude (he was being polite!) has cost us the excellent chance of a point against City and now Allan for three games - seriously impacting our fate.

Agreeing with him Shearer said it was never a red and I agree with Shearer's opinion that on-pitch referees also being VAR adjudicators is ridiculous. They're always going to protect their own in their stupid TV referrals whereas if VAR was employing ex-players of integrity (and some exist!) they would have no such allegiance and thereby be way more reliable.

A truly dreadful refereeing performance again. There must be an appeal against Allan’s red card. How they got only one yellow card is beyond belief.

We were robbed of a win at Newcastle, that Shelvey tackle was a fucking disgrace, disgraceful refereeing that night, the Manchester City game, this tonight, it is one rule for Liverpool and one rule for us, the stats do not lie!

Alex Iwobi showed tonight he can play, not best suited to a wide role but can do damage more centrally particularly with a pacy player ahead of him. Well done Alex, we needed that tonight so very badly.

When we can start scoring goals from crosses?

Martin #90, even the Skunks fans on their version of the Forum were saying it wasn't a red. It was really hilarious watching them sneer at us for 90 minutes -- they really grew a hate for Anthony Gordon -- and then find 125 ways to say "Fuck" when we scored.

Best comment at the final whistle: A reminder that we're still Newcastle United.

And speaking of disgrace, a hearty fuck off to some of the knobheads on our Forum today who were sneering at Dom's alleged femininity because of the clothing issue. Targeting one of our own players with sexist insults really sucked. And I'm glad he served some of you guys a plate of crow at the end.

EG (62).. Colin Glasser re Iwobi's goal Compliment followed by "You fucking useless beaut'

As a poster who often supports your comments I would like to say "I salute you Colin Glasser, You fucking useless Dick

NB. I have never used an expletive in any of my own posts. Not because I am a prude but I just don't need to. Colin today you forced me into it

Iwobi gets lots of stick, but when he has a useful and productive game let him KNOW it. No time to try to prove you are Liverpool's newest comedian.

I was pulling my hair out for a lot of it. We must pass the ball backwards more than any team in the Prem! We weren’t crossing the ball either. It’s like we don’t know how to attack.

That said, the defending and work rate were brilliant. Coleman, Keane and Holgate were outstanding, as was Begovic.

The whole midfield put in a shift. I would have liked to have seen more forward passing and crossing - it wasn’t until Gordon got pushed out to the left that we put any crosses in. And someone must have a word with Richarlison - I’m sick of him rolling around. He’s the worst in the league for it. Others do it to win penalties. He does it in useless positions all over the pitch, like the halfway line, to suddenly rise again like Lazarus every time. He’s not winning us anything, we just lose him for 10 minutes every game, and this particularly pissed me off tonight in a must win game. Even when we subbed him he stayed on the floor!

That aside, a much needed win despite a terrible ref. I’ll take that any day. And Gordon has to play out wide. It’s great watching him run at players and whip crosses in at the moment! Long may it continue.

It was lifting to see the whole team giving 100%. Danny Higinbotham said after the game that they need to bottle that feeling and save it for the next game.

Our immediate future looks brighter now.

I had 2 cousins, 2 aunties, 2 uncles, 3 second cousins, my wife, and two of my sons over for St. Paddy's today. Basically, only myself and my 2 sons even knew what the hell was going on - the rest are typical Americans who just don't know anything about 'soccer'.

When that goal went in and the Crowley boys blew the roof off the backyard pub, it was a three man deafening.

My extended family - love them dearly - looked at us wide-eyed and suspected possession.

I don't think I've seen a more important goal in my 15 years Blue.

The scream and elation that belted out of my body was some strange mixture of anger release, unbridled joy, and some weird warrior thingy screaming at the heavens, "you will not kill my Club".

I am so, so fucking happy right now it's surreal.

Down to 10 men, every single chip stacked against us, and mofo Iwobe scores to possibly save us from the unthinkable.

I honestly think I could have taken on a hoard of Vikings and won when that goal went in.

Iwobi is a funny one. Like John Boon, I generally agree with Colin. But I feel Iwobi is judged by his inflated transfer fee. I mean Tom Davies has his defenders and he's a much poorer player but he was “free” so he gets a pass.

Yes, chances are Iwobi will be shit next week but he does have these occasional really good games versus others (Gomes, Tom) who are consistently poor.

Also Calvert-Lewin, I was a big supporter of his but have been frustrated with him this year and given him stick. But his deft touch to Iwobi was class. Hopefully he can become once again the unselfish creator of the Koeman days or the tap-in king of the Carlo era.

Can somebody please, please explain to me how in the actual fuck that tackle by Allan was a red card???

Holy shit. This game, this league, I swear it's rigged. That was the most ridiculous call I have ever seen! Absolute steaming pile of soft-serve ice cream style shit! I'm still pissed off about it.

There's is absolutely no way, no way at all, that's a red card! How many "professional fouls" do you see every single week that are applauded - rightly so as well! Speedy, dangerous player breaking away? Bring him down! It's part of the damn game!

And that's exactly what Allan did. A professional, intelligent foul to stop the opposition getting forward and a dangerous predicament.

Hot steaming pile of absolute shit that call!!! Worst "review" I've ever seen. So devoid of any rational "second look" that it defies logic and you can only come to one single conclusion after this and previous "VAR" decisions against us.

They want us relegated.

Fuck them.

Second half I thought we were slowly getting to grips with them although ref gave us sod all. How did Burn get away with nothing for his off the ball petty retaliation against Richarlison?

A charge into the back (even if half-strength) is cowardice and more of a foul when the ball is ten / twenty yards away, not less. Free-kick minimum, but nothing from VAR even though it was clearly shown on TV replay.

So what if Gordon swayed across the defender's line in the box; the defender still ran into the back of him? A commonly given free-kick anywhere else on the pitch (and plenty given in the same game).

Glad everyone has ridiculed Allan's red but suspect we won't get an apology this time because they'll argue it was reckless / out of control.

Talking of reckless, very early on in the Wolves game Conor Coady got away with a lunge that was well after the ball was passed that was clearly designed to send our player flying down the steep incline we have at the sides of our pitch and with a very real chance of crashing into the hoarding. No comment from the commentator, no card from ref and no forensic analysis by VAR.

I can't say I'm wholly convinced there is an out and out plot to get us, but the level of reffing is simply atrocious at times and the inconsistency is appalling.

It wasn't our best performance but the crowd and the team's determination got us more than 3 points despite the efforts of the officials.

Something has to be done with this obvious bias against the Blues.

Having said that, it feels like we just won the cup.

Good thing I scheduled my March Madness vasectomy over here in the States to get out of work and watch basketball — and instead screamed like a maniac at my beloved Everton and the one and only Alex Iwobi and his moment of magic. Who cares that we can't string passes together or do a whole lot of other basic things on the pitch — and that VAR is shockingly trying to keep us down seemingly every match.

We will will this team away from relegation and I'm coming to Goodison next year to revel in the passion of the fans who are responsible for it.

The first half was a lot of effort with little guile or even what looked like a plan. Newcastle were reminiscent of their '60s team, a couple of yard dog centre halves playing every sly body check and push in the back. However, they seemed to have a plan while we just seemed to run around a lot. Gray still seems a bit off full fitness and Gordon, again, seemed targeted by their defence for some rough treatment which he might have to get used to if he continues to improve.

VAR still seems to be totally ill used and while Allan had to be shown yellow it was not a red and the Ref had allowed Newcastle to get away with similar all through the game even though they stayed on their feet while doing it. Also, I thought Gordon was not given a penalty late on as he stepped across a pace but the Newcastle man was two to three paces away and he still hit Gordon in the back. What was Gordon supposed to do, wait for him to get past? And why on earth do we bother with linesmen or assistants when they overlook fouls under their noses and don't flag for offside until told to by VAR, I presume.

Anyhow, the understanding between Iwobi and Calvert-Lewin for the goal was brilliant and shows what can be done if we have more than a lone attacker. Let's hope this is the momentum we need to go on a run of good results.

Not convinced about a conspiracy either but I think some of these pantomime villain egotistical refs like to go against the crowd just to show they're tough. That said, despite being obviously biased, the ref took an age to watch the video, suggesting he wasn't convinced, but of course eventually gave it.

Why even do the review as, every time, the refs do what VAR say. Save us 5 minutes and just have VAR call it instead of the pretence of the ref reconsidering.

I think if you took 50 above-average referees in a room, you'd be hard-pressed to get a single one who would call that red.

Forget the Shelvey tackle, which was pretty bad, that shoulder in the back to Richarlison merited a VAR review today more than the Allan tackle. I'm not inclined to claim corruption, just complete bewilderment and incompetence.

I could have been on the North Pole and some neighbor would have heard me / us.

We yelled so loud I'm surprised no one called the cops. I mean we went utterly wild. That goal was simply immense.

I've never experienced an Everton goal where we were looking into the abyss. And make no mistake, we're peering into the abyss. I honestly don't want to be in this situation, but man your soul explodes when those goals to get such precious points goes in. The sense of joy mingled with relief and throw in some "they're fucking us" anger and Lord above I didn't know that level of emotion even existed inside me!

If I was ever going to drop dead during a match, it was this one, my mental state is shot, as testified by my next-door neighbour who asked me an hour ago if everything was okay as she heard lots of shouting (and the occasional bad word) earlier on. She said she was really worried.. (not as much as I was)

I told her it was okay, just watching my favourite team playing, she had never heard of Everton. I swear I will leave this heathen country and return to the land of the righteous and all things blue once more, god willing!

Dave A. Oh god I wish I was there... the roar on the TV was loud so god knows what it sounded like in Kirkby, Vauxhall or New Brighton. Takes me back to the days of sitting on the steps of Portland Gardens on a winters night and listening to the roar, such nights do memories make!

If we're gonna stay up we need to pick up some points away from the Old Lady. I can dream… if I can get to sleep.

50 amateur and lower league refs would get that right. Anyone who has played gets that right.

A VAR official and professional referee see nonsense phrases they don't understand like "studs up" and "out of control because he's in the air".

I understand what "studs up" is. It's a cowardly front on challenge designed to endanger the opponent while protecting your cowardly self. I know what out of control is.

These refs don't. Every time a foot comes off the ground they're claiming it's high and showing studs. How else can you tackle? How can you even run without being high and studs up on a slow motion replay?

The refs and VAR officials are so far from fit for purpose it's incredible. They're literally trying to codify the game to the point where you can judge a challenge by a still image of it. You can't and you never could.

Tonight was the yellowest of yellow cards. Everyone knows that's a yellow. Yet the ref managed to find something else in it.

And that's before you get to the fact that he was sent to the screen to review an incident he clearly saw and punished. Error? No, he had the best view in the house.

And then he changed it! It's honestly astonishing how inept they can be.

Could it actually be corruption? Because the level of incompetence required in our last two VAR controversies is really hard to believe.

You're taught to look for speed of a tackle and intent and the height of the boot and all that, but it still requires some sort of endangering of an opponent.

Or you could just ask a person who has ever played the game and that's never a red. Abysmal on all counts.

The game was won on pure effort. That kind of effort in the vast majority of the games already played and we'd be at least nine points better off.

Which team will turn up next week.

Lampard needs nothing but our support. He has our passion. It will improve and get better, keep the faith.

If a club wants to pay £40M or more for Pickford in the summer, sell him. Begovic is solid. Pickford is a liability.

Allan was unlucky, but we have to accept we get nothing from the league and its "officials". I have been following the Blues for more than 40 years. Have we ever? I've given up expecting decisions. We don't play in red.

Who would have thought, back in August, Anthony Gordon would be our most committed player? Fair play to him.

Next time some dick wants to stick a zip-tie between his neck and the goal post, ring to. Some poor season ticket holder lost his rights tonight because of a nutter. (Reminded me of the Ashley Williams Euro fiasco.)

Again, Keep the faith Blues. Courage!

After all this COVID Crap. I have no time for these idiots.

The 10 men elevated themselves, the Goodison crowd got even louder... and Coleman probably would not have been in that particular spot to make that particular tackle to set Iwobi loose for the gamewinner.

I truly believe that if not for that shitty injustice, we would now be murmuring about a 0-0 tie instead of roaring about these three blessed points.

Jonathan #135, your use of the phrase "my March Madness vasectomy" had me helpless with laughter. Our English friends cannot possibly understand this particular behavioral phenomenon among American men.

Happy St Patrick's Day ☘️ COYB!

Decided to bring the Amazon Fire and two phones with me.- one for Internet, one for ToffeeWeb, just in case signal was shit.Arrived to find someone was in myself.Given another seat. Still watching the match, decided I had better change the seat to a far corner.Arrived in set up treats, phones and Amazon Fire -no sound.Used ToffeeWeb as commentary.The Commenter and Shearer had already giving me the pips anyway.

Film starts keep watching both.Sort of glad because both sides where shit.Seem to miss the Film jokes which the audience laughed at.Iowbi scored.Said out loud 'Fuck.... Iowbi' silenced the auditorium and realised everyone was watching me and not the film..

Good film though.Will never forget.What a St Patrick's day.Had played my ukulele on a float during a parade . Had to bring my daughter big dog with me onto the float and then hiked up a mountain 600m.

Happy St Patrick's Day.

Calvert-Lewin made all the difference but showed Richarlison can't play up front on his own. Seamus proved he's still our best right back and Gordon excellent again.

No resting on laurels, we now need at least the same commitment but with higher quality for the rest of the season.

2nd half my nerves were jangling, cortisol running through my body, volume up full so I could feel like I was there. I was slowly able to find crumbs of admiration for the fighters ala Coleman, Gordon, Keane (had a good game) & Godfrey. Begovic seemed composed. I kept thinking we are still in it despite looking shockingly bad at times, this somehow felt like a good omen before the goal.

Then there were a few passages of play for us, it felt like the crowd could suck the ball in, again, despite our pathetic interplay in the final 3rd. I was incensed by the red card, appalling decision, the ref had a shit game throughout in what was a niggly, cagey affair. Enter the recently maligned DCL and something changed, belief grew and suddenly we had a focal point. When the goal went in I went absolutely ape-shit.

3 points capped off a good day for me, I texted a fellow blue just minutes before the goal and said we need an unlikely hero and we got one. I'm pleased for Iwobi. I won't get carried away (Everton have stamped that cynicism and lack of trust into a largely positive and trusting chap) but maybe that could be the turning point, maybe. Today seems much brighter than yesterday with 3 in the bag. COYB.

Underservedly down to 10 men and still managing grind a win out. The manner of this win has to instill huge confidence and belief in the players to get us over the line for the remaining eleven league games.

I always think you are better in a fluid position, not quite Number 10 or a winger, a bit like Rodriguez.

The team was outstanding today, playing Carlo's low-block style suits us against fast aggressive teams, as our fastest set of players are our attacking players who can exploit space. I'd also include Godfrey and Doucoure, and before Digne, who love to have a little gallop into space from back to front.

DCL - absolutely dominated their back four when he came on, they couldn't get near the ball when it went near their back line as DCL kept beating each man to the ball - brilliant stuff.

It will be remambered as one of those pivotal moments, a real Kevin Brook occasion. Defeat (or even a draw) could have drained what little hope was left in the team and the fans.

The strange demonstration, the joke red card, the goal (let's not forget that it was Seamus who won the tackle) and the backs-to-the-wall defending. So much to be proud of on an incredible Goodison night.

I watched it with my recuperating dog (spayed) lying next to me moaning occasionally. I think it was her internal stitches and not our inability to put a ball into the box!

On reflection, it does seem that the refs have little time for us. Our Tom Daleys don't help our cause, but Newcastle had theirs too.

As for Allan, he is his own worst enemy. He harrangues refs every week with his fiery Latin gestures and has been fortunate not to be booked for dissent on many occasions.

The VAR is disfunctional, open to too much interpretation and thus bias.Mind you, I think the cynical trip, taking "one for the team" should be more than a Yellow. It is very poor sportsmanship, destroying good play and a Yellow is not enough of a punishment. 10 minutes in the bin, perhaps?

Now we need to build on this and Frank needs to get a settled first eleven. We simply have to play with a traditional centre-forward. If Dom isn't fullt fit, then have Rondon on a job-share with him.

Still very happy, we could have wilted after the sending off but it spurred us on. Allan will be a big miss for 3 games. As our next 2 are away, I'm not expecting much from them given our shocking away form all season.

I'm feeling a little more confident that we will stay up now, let's beat Palace at the weekend and go into the international break on a high.

Good job it was DCL who received that ball, as Richarlison would have held it for himself and ended up on his backside rolling around.

The Allan challenge would barely have been a yellow in the ‘70s, but in 2022, it was a red all day long. Goes in horizontally a foot off the ground, cuts Saint-Maximin down, and nowhere near the ball .

Strange to say but VAR to all intents and purposes won us that game.

I truly believe we would not have won it if Allan's card had remained as yellow. Not because we were just not producing anything or the fact that the red card re-energised the whole team, but that one action led to all the other actions and reactions that led to the goal.

Absolutely buzzing with that result – not the performance, but the effort, energy and spirit shown by the whole team. One of the moments for me was Richarlison bombing across the pitch to join in the celebrations – he really does care, that lad...

...As do all of us. A million smiling blue faces across the planet this morning.

But can anyone please tell me – where in the name of God did that performance by the fans come from? Did the club give away free Irish Whiskey on the way in or something?

It was unbelieveable to hear and see and made me very proud. It probably scared the life out of the players too so that they couldn't string 5 passes together, but at least they understood the urgency of the situation.

I would really love to bottle that atmosphere and have everyone take a swig from it on entering the ground - any our future ground. That MotM performance by the fans will be absolutely vital going forward.

Interesting comment by Jim Beglin earlier on after Iwobi messed up a pass: 'for once the fans didn't berate him – and that's different to recent months' – well that support paid dividens. Well done to all fans last night. Keep it up for the love of all things blue.

To release the protester, a steward appeared from the Park End and walked the full length of the pitch carrying the largest set of bolt cutters you will ever see. The guy behind me muttered “fucking hell, that reminds me of going for the snip”.

However, are the conversations actually recorded so they can be played back and used as evidence for any number of circumstances, particularly appeals? (-or even "training and quality purposes" :-)

That way at least one can retrospectively actually hear the reasoning for seemingly onerous decisions. It doesn't necessarily need to be made public, but clubs, players and officials would be able to hear and comment.

Will the club appeal? Do we have grounds?

I've been in the minority camp of believing there is a player in Iwobi. He doesn't show it enough unfortunately. I disn't get to even see last on the TV so was nervously checking the Internet every 5 minutes with eyes closed.

And oil protester boy; what's the bet he got the bus to the ground?

I was quite relieved when I heard Begovic was playing. The night didn’t need any drama between Pickford and and the Geordies, and he was very competent.

Seamus, Keane and Holgate did well in a battle, as they often do. They struggle when the game is a bit more sophisticated.

Iwobi’s passing was very poor for most of the match, but the goal was a thing of beauty - credit to the 3 players involved.

None of us like having our lives disturbed, but protest is a vital part of our society. Our rights to do so have been eroded over recent years. A young man taking the opportunity to make a stance, while we are playing a televised match against Saudi Arabia United, deserves better than to be branded “a stupid twat”.

In real time, I thought it was a red card tackle by Allan. Watching a replay, it was a yellow.

It was a brilliant end to a tense night, a bouncing Goodison is the most wonderful place to be. Now, as after the defeat by Wolves, is the time to hold our nerve. We have gained 3 points, but there is still a lot of hard work, and Goodison needs to remain the bear pit.

"C'mon Phil, there is something there right?"

He says...

"Not if you can't see there ain't..."

Gonna be a close call this.

Alan Shearer's stance was that Everton would be holding on for the point.

I hope he enjoyed his drive home.

When I got outside after the game and met my great grandson waiting for me with the widest grin on his face that had replaced the very sad one he had after the Wolves game it just completed a brilliant night for me as we walked along to the Taxi club where my granddaughter was picking me up and we watched the Bluenoses going in there to celebrate a fabulous win with big happy smiling faces, we take the knocks and get on with it, but Jesus we don’t half fuckin’ know how to enjoy a big win and that was one of them.

I bet you went to sleep with a big smile on your face Christine and you didn’t need a couple of large scotch to help you achieve it, very best wishes girl!!

Yes, for all last night was pure ecstacy and badly-needed three points, it just relieves the pressure until the next league game - we still need to grind this out until season's end.

I hope we appeal that red card on Allan because we will miss him terribly. A precedent has been set - Son broke Gomes ankle and had his red card rescinded.

On the question of bias I can remember my dad saying to me in the mid sixties “they don’t like us Laurie”. It’s been going on for decades. We should do what the crowd and the players did last night - feed off it.

What’s our name? !!!

Last night was obviously brilliant, exciting and the result we had to get but in the cold light of day I can't help but worry because the win was only really achieved due to the crowd and the situation.

What I mean is that relying on Goodison to win us games is just not realistic and won't happen every week - we were extremely lucky to get anything out of that game and scenes like last night will definitely not happen every week - especially away from home.

Having to rely on such obviously scraped up grit & determination is not going to keep us in the division because the players simply won't be as up for it as they were last night in every game - it's not a sustainable model for winning football matches and our shortcomings were all over the place after about 10 or 15 minutes.

We still lack a massive amount of belief and seemingly, ability to play simple passes, score goals or defend properly. Yes it was thrilling, and Goodison was electric, but we've seen this many times before - I just don't see how it can carry us through every game when fundamentally this is a pretty terrible football team with a manager who talks a really good game, but the jury is very much out on whether he's actually any good as a manager.

I really like Frank Lampard, but is he going to make a decent manager? Nobody knows because managers mostly tend to get jobs when teams are in the shit - nobody leaves their job when the team is flying near the top of the league do they. So far he's struggled, and we've actually regressed in many ways - one of those being shots achieved on goal since he took over - this has gone down massively.

Of course there are more than one reasons for stats like that, but if you don't actually play well in games, you tend to lose - last night we were bang average at best, and should have lost that game. It was one of those wild nights that produced a freak result in my view.

None of what went on was planned, and maybe this is my over-arching point - one swallow does not make a summer.

It did show that the players and manager/coaches now have serious enthusiasm for the task ahead, which I was starting to doubt.

We won't know what they are made of until they get a proper run at it.

I thought on Sunday, that Lampard may have given up the ghost and might even turn his back on the challenging situation, however, given his reaction to the goal and the victory and the same can be said of his players, there is something a little more to grasp onto in the remainder of the season. It's still going to be a rather bumpy ride trying to get the requisite number of points, but it is only results that matter now, and I'm not really bothered about how we get them.

But in a season where there has been very little cheer, why not sit back and enjoy that feeling.

Big credit to Seamus and Keane who have taken a barrel of shit recently, some justified, but they never hide and were excellent last night. And as for Iwobi...nah let's not!

The last time I felt confident in our keeper was when Robles had that run in the side under Koeman. Our recent troubles began with the arrival of Pickford.

Pickford is erratic. You simply cannot accommodate an erratic goalkeeper, at any level of the game.

It was a big boost for us (and a big knock for the away fans) to see he was out last night.

I'd keep Begovic in the sticks because he seems calmer than ADHD Jordan and at a time like this we need it.

Allan although I admire his passion unlike most of our mob, needs to chill out because he's a walking red machine.

I'd like to know why Patt isn't starting or getting minutes for Seamo unless we are led to believe that he's too young for a relegation fight bs...

Game cried out for two up top especially unleashing Dobbin for me.

In other news; Citeh have bid £500 million for Iwobi and have agreed to buy then give us Haaland to us finalise the deal 😝

On the red card another really bad decision which involves VAR and went against us. surely its time for VAR to be binned - it is just not working or is being used dishonestly against teams like us. the powers that be obviously want us down when you see the amount of bad calls that have gone against us in recent seasons. So good to get the win and put two fingers up to them!

Thought Begovic in goal was a big plus and we seemed a lot calmer with him back there. Would keep him in there now until season end. Have to credit DCL for his contribution too - wasn't sure he would be ready to play but great touch for Iwobi's goal.

In a way, it was typical Everton last night. Just when you start to give up hope and you think they will get nothing from a game beforehand, they manage to surprise you. Not complaining though - brilliant win. Just need to string a run together now.

Feel sorry for Frank breaking his hand in the celebrations but like the passion it shows he has. that will surely transmit to the players in time.

All it really does is gives us a pretty slim chance to stay up now. And don't get me wrong, I was jumping round the room and screaming at the TV last night with the rest of you - don't think I don't enjoy it because I absolutely do. I just think that games like last night are a symptom of being an Evertonian in the 21st century - we enjoy the scraps and Kenwright laps it all up because he's a theatrical type with a sense of drama.

Forgive me but I'm sick of supporting plucky little Everton, only ever enjoying fleeting moments of victory and living off our past all the time. I'm 50 next year and have followed Everton since I was about 7 years old, yet I've pretty much forgotten what it feels like to even come close to winning anything.

That's not enough, and games like last night, while they keep us coming back for more, are not the reason I follow Everton football club.

I didn’t see the game but I read that Keane and Iwobi played well - they need to play well every game, not just occasionally! I went to the Wolves game; that looked like a team that knows what it’s doing.

I hope Frank can pull things round. Newcastle were in an even bigger mess until Eddie Howe (who many on here refused to consider a potential Everton manager) got them sorted. Whether or not we avoid relegation, he has a massive rebuilding job.

Let's do Palace now eh lads,that Wembley arch is so close!

COYB

The ref should only be shown the incident at normal speed from different angles – no freeze-frame or slow-motion. If he is still unsure, he should have to ask for slow-motion and freeze-frame and he should have to clearly indicate why he is asking for it.

All of this should be broadcast.

We all know the issues with the quality of the squad, as they have been evident since the start of the season.

It isn’t demonstrating greater insight by coming on here to remind us of that the morning after one of the few moments of exhilaration in a terrible season. It is just the usual suspects trying to piss on everyone’s chips. Take a day off for once.

As if his decisions weren't bad enough, we have Attwell (VAR) and Mike (I have two S T holder sons at RS) Dean as the fourth official. As bad as Pawson was even his 'Yellow for Allan' was advised by VAR to convert it to Red. Of course he obliged. Even Alan Shearer who is, as in favour of the Barcodes as anyone, disputed the validity of the RED !

I have watched and re-watched the Amazon coverage, despite having been at the match too, as where I was seated alongside David Pearl, it was hard to see what was going on when the players were at the other end of the pitch. Even the incident with the protester at the Gwladys Street Goal (nearest to us in the MS) we failed to see the Cable Tie or what he had on his shirt.

There is a time and place to protest, and Goodison Park last night where a result and potential survival was paramount, was NOT that place. I later cursed the little bell-end as I nearly missed the last train to Chester, while he was safely tucked up in a cell with a mug of cocoa and biscuits, (probably chocolate) !

I just hope that last night and the result acts as a catalyst to add to the tally, and also progress on Sunday at Palace. While not a game of finesse, or even a lot of decent play, the attitude was what we have been crying out for, for far too long now.

Who would have thought Colin Glassar's favourite player would get the MotM nomination and the 'winning' only goal ?

COYB 💙

I think the most important statistic last night was not conceding a goal. Pickford is a good shot stopper but I would stay with Begovic for as long as that statistic remains.

Don't forget – Pickford was Sunderland keeper when they went down.

Best scheduling ever! And surely the English know a bit about March Madness?? I mean, if the NFL is a thing over there, surely they know about the filling out of brackets here? Anyone?

By the way Jonathan, I see you're in the twin cities. Around a quarter of a century ago I lived on the corner of 22nd and Colfax in Uptown. Loved Minneapolis, it's the hidden jewel of the midwest. Brilliant city. Too fuckin' cold for me now though!

Anyway, fuck them, fuck the premier league, the FA, VAR and Simon Jordan, and let’s go and stuff his ex team on Sunday. And most of all, those knuckle dragging gobshite skunks. Most obnoxious bunch of fans you’ll ever come across, after the RS.

Pete #162, that's hilarious.

Dave #176, when I saw the crowd going insane, I thought of you most of all. Thanks for the mental image of you dancing in the aisle punching the air. I love it.

David #191, can't argue with that at all. Well said.

Eddie #195, I'll trust Frank on this one. If Begovic was playing by Frank's preference, Pickford would have been on the bench. No way the untried Tyrer would have been there if Pickford hadn't been sick.

DK #203, glad you made your train, mate!

And finally, to the uninitiated, March Madness is the nickname of the American national college basketball tournament. The first-round games are scheduled on Thursday and Friday the first week, starting in the morning. Guys who are hoops nuts (or have money at stake in their betting pools) would much rather be home "sick" watching the games than going to work. Thousands deliberately schedule vasectomies for Tuesday and Wednesday so they can spend the next few days on the sofa watching the games. This is an actual documented phenomenon -- doctors report a 50% increase in snips for the days before the tournament starts.

Jonathan Oppenheimer is in good company!

I think it'll be reduced from three games to one.

The challenge from Allan was deliberately agricultural, and was a classic case of taking one (yellow card) for the team; if the VAR cannot accept that interfering and elevating Pawson's original yellow to a red card by way of a "clear and obvious error" being identified was in itself an error, then the VAR should receive a red card itself.

This could be watershed moment for the VAR, and if they get this one wrong then it will really illustrate how stubborn and out of touch Mike Riley and his PGMOL outfit truly are.

Regarding Pickford, he is, or was ill, and was also ill for the Wolves game, same as one or two others. Apparently there has been some kind of virus (not Covid) doing the rounds at Finch Farm.

If it's going to be reviewed, and it is a successful appeal, the only just outcome would for the card to revert back to yellow. Or would that be admitting to more mistakes than they could actually swallow. Christ - compare that with Samurai Son on Gomes.

Good job play had been stopped for a foul, or whatever, because if play had been in process, couldn't Gordon have been booked for leaving the field during play, to return back on without the referees permission? Or does that rule not apply no more?

Maybe we should try to get Sunday's game postponed on the grounds of Covid and so many injuries... LOL

I'm surprised Atwell isn't still reviewing the goal to get it ruled out. I genuinely feared that Coleman's tackle would be adjudged a foul to get the goal ruled out. If it had been Mane and Salah instead of Coleman and Gordon, the VAR would have awarded two penalties.

The corrupt ESL biased VAR monopoly needs to be scrapped. Next home match, they should tie Atwell and Pawson to the posts and shoot them with a blunderbuss loaded with their own shite.

It's a case of win at all costs now, forget the performance.
We have a difficult run-in, there's plenty of nail-biting to come, I fear. It makes a change to win the game at the death instead of losing it.

As far as the officials are concerned, they're a bloody joke. Don't hold your breath waiting for them to change the sending off.

If there's any fair play considering they deprived us of a potential point last week, they should do.

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2540565/from-all-angles-iwobis-winner

I noticed that; also when Gordon came on, Lampard was yelling for him to sit down as if he was injured as they never had Townsend ready to come on.

There was a stoppage on the pitch when Gordon walked off and it was still on when he walked back on.

I don't know if that made any difference, but it wouldn't have made any difference as the ref wasn't sure of the rules, going on his performance.

Could be wrong but I thought I heard on Sky Sports News today that Lee Mason and some other elderly referees were permanently on VAR. This was when the very annoying Rob Wotton and others were discussing having full-time VAR officials.

With such high stakes, we could well do without bent bell-ends which could ultimately cost a club or team millions, and send fans into a tailspin!

The players gave 100% buoyed by the crowd. The celebrations after the goal were simply nuts. Multiple players jumping on Iwobi, including some that have arguably been "marginalized" the past few weeks.

Frank actually broke his hand going wild, for fuck's sake! The entire coaching staff lost their shit.

This team, for all its faults, are in this survival endeavor passionately. They don't want to go down. It's painfully obvious watching their reactions.

It's time to get behind them 100%. We're gonna lay a few farts on the way, but have to get behind them through thick and thin. Everyone up and down the chain of command wants survival, and they want it badly.

I see a lot of comments on the Dogs of War here on TW. Well before my time, but wasn't last night a bit of that? Certainly "Dogs of War Light", no?

Allan's tackle on Maximin would have been considered quite normal and a pat on the back.

The main simiilarity was that we had been going through a bad patch and big Joe came in and revitalised the team and we then won the FA cup and beat the RS so lets hope for a repeat this season.

I think with Seamus' comments there has been a clearing in the locker room (who really knows) and it may have broken past whatever blame or discord was hanging over this group keeping them from giving their all for the badge. They've been here a couple of times now and may have been able to set a foundation that might endure a less than inspiring performance to still keep it together for a late result or at least keep it together for the next match. We can only hope and support them at this point, we are obviously part of it according to Eddie.

Last night made me realise again what it means to be an Evertonian. Even at 68, it still means so much to me. It was a crap game and even though certain players played well, particularly Keane, Coleman, Holgate and Allan, the team performance was generally rubbish.

Nobody these days would choose to support us for footballing excellence or for success in winning trophies but a certain select few will have witnessed the raw emotion and passion of the crowd and allowed the club to permeate their skin. A big thumbs up to the raucous spectators. Only the select few will understand what it means to be a Blue. The rest don't matter.

Surely instead of hiding away just like managers have to do interviews after the game then so should refs especially if a Var decision has altered the on field decision. Seeing they are to scared to do like they do in rugby were everybody can see and hear their decision making process how can the supposedly best league in the world continue without the same transparency they have in rugby and other sports use similar video replay.

Eddie @142. The studs up interpretation is similar to the high foot one that officials generally always give even when a forward lowers his head to the ball. What is a defender supposed to do if the players plants his head on his innocent boot trying to connect with the ball?

George @165. Parallels with the increasingly pointless Assistants (Linesmen in old speak) who are about to go one way for a throw in but then watch for the Referee's discreet hand point and go with that regardless of what they have seen and are closer to the ball. Some even wait for the hand before lifting the flag. They don't stick with their decision and are told what to do by the Referee. Sorry, pet hate of mine.

On Pickford, I think he had and continues to have his faults, but is as good a keeper as we can hope for right now. Yes, he still plays for touch and territory like a Rugby Union player, but he has mainly calmed down and improved. That said, for whatever reason he was dropped last night (I don't know), it was a good move. Jordan always seems to lose his head against Newcastle and rise to the bait their fans cast to him. He reverts back to the headless Jordan of Anfield and the Pickford we were watching 2 or 3 years ago.

Iwobi behind the striker might work. His forward momentum and position to score the goal was excellent! Pleased for him!

Great win but we must push on!

Apparently we were considering appealing against the Allan red card, which had to be lodged by 5 p.m.

I hope we have, on the back of doing so re. the City game; we have to keep standing up to this and it would be pleasing to see the club keep standing its ground.

Particularly if you know who's officiating next time out...

It would appear that all these type challenges are now red card events. I assume there is a brackets clause of which club crest appears on the shirt.

Once again corrupt football at its finest. Refs, var, appeal process, Ffp...

I wonder is that, they've dismissed consideration of the appeal, or they actually reviewed the footage immediately and have chosen not to change their mind.

Either way it's really not good enough. I've watched it in replay so many times I could probably paint the scene from memory now. There is no way it's a red.

Unacceptable.

"I spoke to a bloke wearing an Everton shirt in Asda early evening. Didn’t know him from Adam. Shared concerns. He said he knew I was a Blue from the look about me."

That really amused me, Mike!

It's debatable if both the above definitions apply in unison when it comes to all matters of officiating Everton FC. There will not be money changing hands, but the moral corruption at the top leagues officials has moved beyond what could reasonably be understood as bias against the club, to active attempts to change decisions and results of games. That's called match fixing. Call it what it is, the levels of incompetence reaches watershed moments when the sheer absurdity questions if incompetence is a rational explanation.
Any rational fan, of any club would dismiss this idea as pure speculation, but week in, week out, it keeps happening. Whether it's refereeing decisions, VAR, arbitrarily examples to be made an example of.. somewhere, someone is pulling strings.

I have to disagree with the calls above to bench Pickford or sell him — unless the money was high enough — as he has not been the problem this year. He’s made very few mistakes and his shot stopping has kept us in matches, probably earned us a few precious points. Yes, he’s erratic at times, but he’s not our problem right now.

I didn’t realize Richarlison was off the pitch when he came to celebrate. I’m surprised Pawson didn’t give him a second yellow for coming off the bench.

Jamie 206, the snow is finally melting here in St. Paul, but indeed one day down the road I’ll probably be joining you down south like any wise Minnesotan eventually does.

I could have sworn you were there in the old arena the night Charlton Heston had that chariot race. Talk about bad officiating.

Thanks for the tip about the “all angles goal”. Just been watching it and it's amazing seeing the pure joy and ecstasy everywhere.

I was there last night and reckon it was the best atmosphere for ages. The reporter in The Times says the roar at the final whistle will live long in the memory — he isn't wrong

Watching the replay of the goal is precious and seeing Richarlison run on to celebrate shows what it means to this team. They seriously needed that goal.

It wasn't me it was Her, or Ben Hur ! :-)