Newcastle 0-1 Everton: Tom Cleverley strikes injury-time winner for Toffees
Tom Cleverley scored
an injury-time winner for Everton after it looked like Newcastle would hang on for a well-earned
draw at St James' Park.
The game had looked to
be heading for stalemate after stellar performances from Rob Elliot and his
opposite number Tim Howard in the Everton goal.
But Elliot could only
punch a last-gasp Leighton Baines corner into the path of Cleverley, who sent a
looping header over the home defence and into the net with 93 minutes on the
clock to spark wild celebrations on the Everton bench.
Daryl Janmaat then
swept in a beautiful cross onto the six-yard line but Aleksandar Mitrovic
failed to get a full head on the ball.
Everton felt they
should have had a penalty when Romelu Lukaku was seemingly pulled back by
Fabricio Coloccini. Coleman had bent a pass into the path of the Belgian, who
appeared to be wrestled to the ground by the Newcastle captain before Elliot calmly collected
the forward pass.
Elliot was then
brought into action when Lukaku shot straight at him after Lennon split the Newcastle defence.
Janmaat could have
been giving his marching orders after upending Ross Barkley as the England
midfielder burst towards the Toon goal but a free-kick was deemed enough by
referee Lee Mason when a second yellow seemed inevitable.
Elliot was again
brought into action by Lukaku when the Belgian - who was looking to become the
first Everton player since Dixie Dean in 1924 to score in nine consecutive
matches - turned Chancel Mbemba all too easily only to fire his low left-footed
shot at the sprawling feet of Elliot.
Aaron Lennon then
stung the 'keeper's palms with a powerful shot that skimmed the soggy Tyneside
surface.
Roberto Martinez threw on Muhamed
Besic and Gerard Deulofeu in
place of Barkley and Lennon for the final 20 minutes but it was Newcastle who almost made
a breakthrough.
Gini Wijnaldum was
found at the back post by Jack Colback but Newcastle's top scorer could not
manage to direct his header past Howard.
Elliot then emulated
Howard with a save from Ramiro Funes Mori after the defender got on the end of
a Baines corner but the 'keeper's performance counted for nothing after he
failed to deal with a Baines corner, Cleverley striking a cruel late blow.
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