View: Three things learned as Everton beat Newcastle 1-0
Everton extended the gap to the Premier League’s relegation zone with a hard fought win against Newcastle at Goodison Park last night (March 17).
Alex Iwobi bagged the last-gasp winner with Everton down to ten men after Allan found himself wrongly sent off for his tackle on Toon sensation Allan Saint-Maximin.
There were a lot of non-football talking points with protesters tying themselves to the goalpost and Frank Lampard breaking his hand whilst celebrating but we at Goodison News have narrowed it down to three.
Goodison crowd was fantastic
Make no mistake, there was still a lot of tension and anxiousness around the ground, as expected with the position the Blues find themselves in, but it was much more positive for the most part.
In years gone by under Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez in particular, the crowd would have soured long before Iwobi eventually notched the winner. The supporters responded to the fight and energy the players displayed which resulted in a far better mood around Goodison.
That is undoubtedly the biggest factor that led to the late winner. If there were moans and groans around the stadium, the players would have lost their confidence and crumbled under the pressure as seen so many times before.
Anthony Gordon is a star
Not that many need telling this but for those who don’t know or need reminding, Gordon is a future legend.
He lives and breathes Everton Football Club. Unfortunately, he has been compared to Liverpool player, Steven Gerrard, but you can see why.
Not only does he have bags of talent, but he also isn’t scared to let the opposition players or his teammates know he is there. He showed great passion in his spouts with Bruno Guimaraes which the fans love to see.
He also let Ben Godfrey know what he thought when the defender lost possession with the winger wide open. At just 21, he already possesses all of the qualities of a Toffees great.
Mentality is growing
In weeks gone by, there is no way Everton are winning that game. They would have given up long before the winner was scored and the players almost sulking on the pitch would have added to a hostile atmosphere in the club.
The away form might need a lot of work, but every time Lampard’s team play at Goodison, it is so, so much better.
The players are now running, tackling and fighting right until the end which was unheard of under previous managers with several huge wins at home but the game against Manchester City – which the Blues should have got a point – is probably the biggest indicator of how far this team has come under the new boss.
In other Everton news, Frank Lampard breaks his hand celebrating the Blues’ last-gasp winner.
Be sure to follow Goodison News on Facebook for 24/7 updates on Everton plus more exclusive interviews with Kevin Campbell.