Newcastle United   vs   Everton

 

This match with the potential for some explosive football saw Newcastle United meet Everton at Highbury.  The Magpies, after sliding into the semi-finals with a dour 1-0 victory over Bradford City, have been rocked with the stunning sacking of boss Sigfried Moeri on the eve of this fixture.  It was a strange sight indeed to not see the inspirational Swissman walk onto the sidelines behind his team, and his place today was taken by veteran skipper Alan Shearer, dressed in suit-and-tie for his managerial debut.  He made some stirring decisions, leaving vice-captain Stephane Henchoz out completely and demoting Michael Carrick to the bench, and awarded the captaincy to goalkeeper Shay Given for this match.

 

Everton have also been rocked this week, after it was discovered Australian hitman Mark Viduka would be out until November with a fractured thigh bone.  Aussie Jones has been playing down the importance of the injury though, and will surely believe his side can still function without their big striker, who has struck fourteen goals in his last seven competitive games in all competitions.  Jones recalled club vice-captain Kevin Campbell to take the Australian's place, choosing to stick with a what is increasingly becoming the most steady teamsheet in all of England.

 

The Toffees began the game the better side by some way, and looked almost capable of ripping open the timid Magpies defence at will on occasions.  It took them just 58 seconds to get their first shot on goal, Brett Emerton bursting past Andy O'Brien to cross low for Campbell, and the striker struck his shot well but Given was well placed to block.

 

Campbell had another chance soon after, hitting the post with a simmering volley, before disaster struck.  Going in for a 50-50 challenge with Claudio Reyna, Campbell put his foot into the turf awkwardly, and immediately went down in pain.  For the second time in a week, an Everton striker had broken a bone - Campbell was stretchered off by medics with a suspected broken ankle, and replaced by teenager Nick Chadwick.

 

The shock of this event was evident, as the Everton crowd became almost silent.  Newcastle couldn't grasp the chance to take control of the game though, their supporters none too noisy either, and the match looked to be slipping into boredom.

 

This was to change suddenly though, in the 15th minute, when the Toffees stole into the lead.  It was a goal rarely seen from Everton this year, Alan Stubbs simply launching a clearance up-field to the front men.  Uncertainty between Frank de Boer and O'Brien allowed the ball to bounce, and Chadwick sprinted onto the ball, knocking it ahead for himself before blazing it low past Given for the goal.  The teenager celebrated wildly with the Everton fans behind the goals as Given berated his central defenders.

 

With a goal under their belt against their richer opposition, Everton were content to knock the ball around, and had themselves a second goal in the 23rd minute through a fine passing movement.  It was the culmination of 38 consecutive passes, starting and ending with Deisler - the German played in behind the defence by Tomasz Radzinski to shoot past Given for the 2-0 lead.

 

Disaster was then to strike for the Magpies.  As if 2-0 was not bad enough, they were down to ten men in the 36th minute when Given - sliding out to clear a loose ball - was adjudged to have deliberately used his hand.  He was just inches outside his 18-yard box, but William Williams had no compassion at all, sending the Toon Army captain off.

 

Nothing came of the free kick as Maik Taylor replaced Sigurd Rushfeldt to take up his position between the sticks, and this was the final event of the first half.  Shearer remained seated on the sidelines, simply staring up the electronic scoreboard which read 'Newcastle United 0 Everton 2', as his players walked into the break.  Jones on the other hand was thrilled, smiling broadly as he walked down the tunnel.

 

With no changes at half time, the second half began much the same the first ended - Everton completely dominating.  They were unable to translate ridiculously high pressure into shots though, the absence of Viduka and Campbell was affecting them badly up front, Chadwick too often coming back to get the ball leaving the smaller Radzinski up front to fend for himself.

 

Newcastle slowly pulled themselves back into the game possession-wise, and enjoyed some good pressure on Mark Bosnich's goal.  The Australian is in fine form though, and didn't really look like being beaten.  He was tested by a Craig Bellamy drive which warmed his fingertips, caught well a dipping long-range effort by Sean Davis, and made a nice one-handed stop to deny a deflected Muzzy Izzet drive.

 

Everton wrestled back control of the match on the hour mark when Newcastle were reduced to nine men.  O'Brien, who had been struggling badly all day to keep up with the pace of the Everton attack, caught Chadwick late with a lunging tackle, and was shown his second yellow of the day.  As if this wasn't enough, the free kick was changed to a penalty when Williams' linesman reported that the offence occurred in the box.

 

Deisler stood up to take the penalty, and gave Taylor no chance with a thundering drive into the top left corner of the net.  Everton three-nil up, and their supporters in party mode as the match entered its final stages.

 

Everton continued to apply the pressure, with the backing of their boisterous supporters, but Taylor was meeting some form himself.  He produced two awesome saves to stop Radzinski twice, then bravely dove at the feet of Martijn Reuser.

 

The Northern Irelander couldn't deny them forever though, Everton storming into a 4-0 lead against the beleaguered defence in the 75th minute.  Everton just kept passing the ball to feet, tiring the Newcastle players, giving Chadwick ample time to play the ball into the path of Radzinski, who stepped around Taylor before sliding the ball home.

 

The stadium was abuzz with the songs of the Everton supporters, and their day was capped off in the 82nd minute when captain Stubbs rise well to nod a Deisler corner past Taylor.  This was the final goalmouth action of the match, and as Williams ended the match, there was a feeling that it could've been much worse than 5-0.  It was a rude introduction to management for Alan Shearer, and he'll be glad to hear the rumours that Alex Walker and Miles Riley may be arriving soon.  Jones will be ebullient heading into the Final of the rich Super Cup, and although they will be without two established strikers, the Toffees must surely be confident of winning the tournament on the back of form like this.

 

Newcastle United   0-5   Everton

 

Newcastle United Squad: Shay Given © 7 (sent off), Jamie Carragher 6, John Arne Riise 6, Frank de Boer 5, Andy O'Brien 4 (sent off), Claudio Reyna 6, Muzzy Izzet 7, Sean Davis 6, Laurent Robert 5, Craig Bellamy 5, Sigurd Rushfeldt 6 (Maik Taylor 7).

Subs Not Used: Ole Tobiasen, Tobias Linderoth, Michael Carrick, Noel Whelan.

 

Scorers: None.

Injuries: None.

Bookings: Riise, O'Brien (x2)

Sendings Off: Given, O'Brien.

 

Everton Squad: Mark Bosnich 8, Steve Watson 7, Michael Duberry 8, Alan Stubbs © 9, Thomas Gravesen 8, Alan Mahon 8 (Stuart McCall 7), Brett Emerton 8, Sebastian Deisler 9, Kevin Campbell 7 (inj; Nick Chadwick), Tomasz Radzinski 9, Martijn Reuser 8.
Subs Not Used: Steve Simonsen, Alessandro Pistone, Marco Bresciano.

 

Scorers: Chadwick '15, Deisler '23 '61 (pen), Radzinski '75, Stubbs '82.

Injuries: Campbell (broken ankle - 21st August).

Bookings: Duberry, Reuser, Chadwick.

Sendings Off: None.

 

Match Stats

Shots On Target: Newcastle United 5-15 Everton

Shots Off Target: 0-7

Fouls Committed: 26-17

Corners: 4-11

Offsides: 8-3

Possession: 44%-56%

Attendance: 38,500 (full capacity) @ Highbury, London (neutral venue)

Referee: William Williams - 7/10.

 

Man of the Match: Sebastian Deisler - a great performance from the young German as he looks to cement a place in his country's World Cup squad.