Everton and Newcastle United were both left frustrated after playing out a scrappy stalemate at Goodison Park.
Newcastle United played the more controlled football in a frenetic contest but squandered a first-half penalty when former Everton forward Anthony Gordon saw a first-half penalty saved by England keeper Jordan Pickford.
Gordon had been taunted by Everton’s fans from the first whistle but missed the chance to silence his tormentors when his poor spot-kick was saved by Pickford diving to his left after James Tarkowski was rightly penalised for foolishly dragging Sandro Tonali to the floor at a corner.
Everton had earlier seen an Abdoulaye Doucoure header ruled out for offside and Tonali’s shot was cleared off the line by Iliman Ndiaye as both sides tried to make the breakthrough in a scrappy encounter.
Gordon missed another big chance late on but Everton also wasted a huge opportunity when substitute Idrissa Gueye blazed over an open goal after Newcastle keeper Nick Pope had saved from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who had his claims for a penalty after clashing with defender Dan Burn chasing the rebound turned away by referee Craig Pawson.
Pickford Everton’s hero again
Everton goalkeeper Pickford and Newcastle United’s Gordon were the central characters in a drama that enlivened a game high on endeavour but desperately short on anything resembling high quality.
Pickford has long been a target for Newcastle United’s fans for his associations with former club and Wearside rivals Sunderland, but he responded with a fine performance that helped Everton earn their first clean sheet in the Premier League this season.
The big moment arrived in the 35th minute when Newcastle United were awarded a penalty when Everton defender Tarkowski, who plays a high-risk game in the area too often, was caught by the video assistant referee (VAR) foolishly trying to tear the shirt off Tonali’s back.
Pickford seemed to relish the psychological battle with Gordon as he waited to take the penalty and sparked wild celebrations as he dived to his left to save a poor effort, with Everton fans taking the opportunity to add to their former player’s misery.
The keeper was faultless throughout, making more crucial interventions in the second half, taking the acclaim from the home fans at the final whistle.
Everton will take this point and a clean sheet, but there is a lack of threat and ambition about their approach, with Calvert-Lewin often a frustrated figure as he was too often outnumbered and left to chase lost causes alone.
The striker appealed in vain for a penalty in that clash with Burn late on, but VAR adjudged that he has kicked the back of the Newcastle defender’s leg so referee Craig Pawson did not intervene.
This was a gritty and resilient Everton performance but if this is going to be transformed into something other than another season of struggle, they will rely heavily on Pickford – fortunately for Sean Dyche he has proved up to the task time and again in recent seasons.
Gordon makes miserable Goodison Park return
Gordon will have expected a hostile reception on his return to Everton and he was not disappointed on what was a miserable day for the forward, who came to prominence as a youngster at Goodison Park.
Gordon was heavily, but not surprisingly, taunted from the first whistle, his cause not helped by his revelation that he has been a lifelong Liverpool fan when talk of a move to Anfield was touted during the summer.
Everton fans have never forgiven Gordon for the manner of his exit in January 2023, when he went absent from their Finch Farm training HQ before returning, then completing a £45m move to Tyneside.
He had a nightmare moment when he missed that 35th-minute penalty, perhaps aware of the pressure and anger aimed towards him as he showed none of the composure he demonstrated when equalising from the spot against Manchester City at St James’ Park. It was a poor effort and out of character.
Gordon, normally so elegant on the ball, gave the impression of a quality player just trying too hard, a slip with no-one near him in the first half greeted with delight by the home fans. He also missed a chance late on when he blazed over from the angle when clean through.
It all added to the atmosphere, providing a welcome sub-plot in a game in which there was plenty of sweat but which petered out into a draw that will not live long in the memory.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe will be disappointed that his side failed to mount any sustained pressure or create clear-cut chances considering the amount of possession they had.
Howe’s lack of alternatives to injured main striker Alexander Isak was underscored in his absence as Gordon started in a central role, lying deep, but to little effect, Harvey Barnes also being used in that role after the break.
Isak cannot return quick enough for Newcastle’s liking, while Howe would also be delighted to eventually have the injury-plagued Callum Wilson available.
This, all in all, was a frustrating game for Newcastle’s manager and his players, especially Gordon.
