Everton: Alan Stubbs reacts to what happened in draw v Newcastle
Alan Stubbs has called out Everton for their defending after their 1-1 draw against Newcastle at St James’ Park on April 2.
The ex-Everton defender could not believe the lacklustre defending mid-way through the first half of the draw, posting a photo on X to voice his bewilderedness at the open nature of the side.
In his post, which showed just four Everton players back trying to defend against a Newcastle attack led by seven black-and-white jerseys, Stubbs said; “Come on seriously, only one outcome if we are this open when we lose possession.”
With Vitalii Mykolenko caught in possession further up the field, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski and Ben Godfrey were left exposed, with only Idrissa Gueye backtracking to help them out as Newcastle threw numbers forward.
Everton fight back to draw despite questionable defending
With Newcastle already a goal to the good by the point of Stubbs’ post, it’s some achievement that the Magpies didn’t add to their tally and were eventually pegged back by Calvert-Lewin from the spot.
Stubbs played 169 league games across two spells with the Toffees and knows that while they may have avoided conceding a second goal during the first half, they must tighten up at the back if they’re to achieve Premier League survival this season.
Everton certainly rode their luck in this game, with Newcastle’s Dan Burn having a goal ruled out for offside and Isak being denied by Mykolenko‘s last-ditch block in the second half.
James Garner striking the post at the other end looked to be the closest the Toffees would get to an equaliser, but Paul Dummett’s late pull on Ashley Young set the stage for Calvert-Lewin to secure a point.
It’s time to take the positives and move on.
In other Everton news, football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes another points deduction is ‘inevitable’ after the club released their latest accounts.
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