Callum Wilson scored twice as Newcastle relieved the pressure on manager Steve Bruce with a much-needed win at Everton.
Bruce has endured intense criticism from Newcastle’s fan base as his team lost their past five Premier League games to slip towards the relegation zone.
But after switching to a 4-4-2 diamond formation they produced a display to secure their first win in 12 games, with Callum Wilson’s superb double helping to beat a passive Everton.
Wilson, who had drawn a classy save from Jordan Pickford in the first half and shot wide after the break, ended a seven-game goal drought by heading in Jonjo Shelvey’s corner.
Newcastle’s top scorer then hit the post before scoring in stoppage time.
Bruce, who added Bournemouth coach Graeme Jones to his staff this week, was understandably delighted at the final whistle as his team moved nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Everton, who tested keeper Karl Darlow in the first half, could not find a way through Newcastle’s defence and missed out on a chance to draw level on points with Liverpool.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side remain seventh, three points off the top four.
More to follow
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Everton
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player namePickford
Average rating3.25
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Squad number23Player nameColeman
Average rating3.65
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Squad number13Player nameMina
Average rating3.73
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Squad number5Player nameKeane
Average rating3.75
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Squad number12Player nameDigne
Average rating3.54
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Squad number16Player nameDoucouré
Average rating3.61
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Squad number10Player nameG Sigurdsson
Average rating3.39
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Squad number17Player nameIwobi
Average rating3.36
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Squad number19Player nameRodríguez
Average rating4.24
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Squad number7Player nameRicharlison
Average rating3.48
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Squad number9Player nameCalvert-Lewin
Average rating3.64
Substitutes
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Squad number21Player nameAndré Gomes
Average rating3.81
Newcastle United
Starting XI
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Squad number26Player nameDarlow
Average rating7.53
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Squad number19Player nameManquillo
Average rating7.43
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Squad number6Player nameLascelles
Average rating7.07
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Squad number5Player nameSchär
Average rating7.32
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Squad number15Player nameLewis
Average rating7.57
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Squad number16Player nameHendrick
Average rating7.09
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Squad number14Player nameHayden
Average rating7.51
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
Average rating8.04
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Squad number8Player nameShelvey
Average rating7.43
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Squad number13Player nameWilson
Average rating8.72
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Squad number21Player nameFraser
Average rating7.28
Substitutes
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Squad number2Player nameClark
Average rating7.25
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Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin
Average rating7.67
Line-ups
Everton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pickford
- 23Coleman
- 13Mina
- 5KeaneBooked at 61mins
- 12Digne
- 16Doucouré
- 10G SigurdssonBooked at 33mins
- 17IwobiSubstituted forAndré Gomesat 63′minutes
- 19RodríguezBooked at 79mins
- 7Richarlison
- 9Calvert-Lewin
Substitutes
- 2Kenny
- 4Holgate
- 21André Gomes
- 22Godfrey
- 24Gordon
- 26Davies
- 31Neves Virgínia
- 33Olsen
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 26DarlowBooked at 84mins
- 19Manquillo
- 6LascellesBooked at 4minsSubstituted forClarkat 54′minutes
- 5Schär
- 15Lewis
- 16HendrickBooked at 88mins
- 14Hayden
- 24Almirón
- 8ShelveyBooked at 21mins
- 13Wilson
- 21FraserSubstituted forSaint-Maximinat 67′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Dubravka
- 2Clark
- 4M Longstaff
- 7Carroll
- 9Joelinton
- 10Saint-Maximin
- 12Gayle
- 17Krafth
- 57Anderson
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Everton 0, Newcastle United 2.
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Second Half ends, Everton 0, Newcastle United 2.
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Goal! Everton 0, Newcastle United 2. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jamal Lewis following a fast break.
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Attempt missed. Richarlison (Everton) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by James Rodríguez with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Jeff Hendrick.
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Attempt missed. Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Michael Keane (Everton).
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Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Offside, Everton. Séamus Coleman tries a through ball, but James Rodríguez is caught offside.
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Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Richarlison (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United).
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Yerry Mina.
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Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) hits the left post with a left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left. Assisted by Miguel Almirón.
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Michael Keane.
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Foul by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton).
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Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Karl Darlow (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt missed. Lucas Digne (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Isaac Hayden.