Newcastle Vs Everton: Barry's late strike and Pickford save heap pressure on Howe
In a stirring finish at St James' Park, Thierno Barry's late winner secured a 3-2 result in newcastle vs everton, a scoreline that deepens Newcastle United's Premier League worries as their Champions League schedule approaches. The result matters now because it followed a sequence of tactical changes, errors and a stoppage-time save that combined to leave Eddie Howe facing renewed scrutiny.
Barry bundles Everton to victory at St James' Park
Everton's substitute Thierno Barry produced the decisive touch, bundling home a late winner to complete a 3-2 comeback at St James' Park. Everton restored their lead seconds after both Newcastle equalisers, and Jordan Pickford later produced a stunning stoppage-time flying save to deny Sandro Tonali what looked like a late equaliser. The match finished with Everton celebrating and Newcastle left to ponder defensive frailties.
Howe's deja vu and public admissions of falling short
Eddie Howe said: "I have a similar feeling, " after the 3-2 home defeat, describing the result as deja vu following a recent loss by the same scoreline at the same stadium. Howe admitted this month he was not doing his job "well enough" and embarked on a period of soul-searching. He warned that "In relation to the Premier League, our form has not been good enough for a while" and added: "We know that. We take responsibility for that. It's been really frustrating for us - and that's the perils of Europe, I'm afraid. " Howe also said the deluge of fixtures can sway focus despite attempts to be "laser-focused on every game. "
Set pieces and errors handed Everton early advantage
The visitors were rewarded from a corner when James Garner's delivery found Jarrad Branthwaite, whose expertly flicked header brushed the far post before nestling in the net. Newcastle conceded an opener from that corner kick and were punished again when Nick Pope spilled Dwight McNeil's swerving shot, placing the rebound into the path of Beto, who stroked the ball into an empty net. Beto's finish was recorded as his fourth Premier League goal of the season.
Tactical reshuffle: six changes after Qarabag and miscast roles
Howe had made six changes after giving a number of key players a form of rest in the 3-2 win against Qarabag on Tuesday. That rotation included Joelinton starting on the left, Nick Woltemade being fielded in midfield and Anthony Gordon leading the line. The reshuffle saw Woltemade — described as an ineffective £69m Germany striker in the context — moved between attacking midfield and No 9 during the match, with Gordon shifting to the left and later reverting to centre-forward. The tinkering left Newcastle's balance unsettled.
Illness, substitutions and Everton's reaction
Newcastle's Jacob Ramsey was forced off early in the second half after vomiting repeatedly on the pitch and was replaced by Joe Willock. Anthony Elanga and Nick Woltemade were substituted for Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes as Howe continued to search for a response. Murphy fired Newcastle level with a second-half goal, but Everton immediately retook the lead when Barry bundled them back in front straight from the restart. Everton also introduced Yoane Wissa, the previously overlooked £55m former Brentford centre-forward, while Beto — making his first start since December — was replaced after hitting the bar.
Wider signs of strain: clean sheets, recent form and Europe
Howe reflected on wider issues, noting that the side have not been consistent and suffer from lapses. Newcastle have now won just once in their last seven Premier League games and have not kept a clean sheet in the 11 matches since they beat PSV Eindhoven 3-0 here on 21 January, conceding 23 goals in that span. They have kept only two clean sheets in 21 league games and lost three consecutive home games for the first time since February 2021 under Steve Bruce. By contrast, Everton remain unbeaten in their last six away matches and their victory helped David Moyes' team respond to a defeat to Manchester United on Monday Night Football and climb back into the top eight.
Rain fell incessantly during the match, and Eddie Howe wandered around the pitch alone as the final whistle blew while Everton celebrated a deserved win that, in the manager's view, left Newcastle "wildly inconsistent, even within games. " With a Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona approaching, the fixture list and squad management were cited inside the dressing-room narrative as factors complicating Newcastle's efforts to arrest their slide.
