Everton old boy Anthony Gordon saw a penalty saved on his return to Goodison Park as Newcastle United were held to a 0-0 draw.
Gordon had been Newcastle's spot-kick hero last week, winning and converting a penalty to earn a point against Manchester City, but his failure this time cost the Magpies.
James Tarkowski's foul on Sandro Tonali gave Gordon, who left Everton for Newcastle in January 2023, his opportunity from 12 yards, but he could not find a way past England team-mate Jordan Pickford.
The save from Pickford was heartily celebrated by the Everton fans, who then vented their frustration at referee Craig Pawson midway through the second half when Dominic Calvert-Lewin felt he too should have had a penalty.
A point nudges Sean Dyche's side further clear of the relegation zone in 16th, while Newcastle can at least take solace in a place in the top six, leapfrogging Fulham.
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How the match unfolded
Iliman Ndiaye thwarted Bruno Guimaraes with a superb goalline clearance early on, and the hosts thought they were ahead when Abdoulaye Doucoure headed in James Garner's cross, only for it to be ruled offside.
That decision was given after a review from the VAR, who then called referee Pawson to the pitchside monitor to award a penalty after Tarkowski had wrestled Tonali to the ground at a corner.
But Pickford won the battle of wits with Gordon from the spot, diving to his left and keeping out a tame effort with his legs.
Everton wanted a penalty of their own midway through the second half as Calvert-Lewin went down under Dan Burn’s challenge when he looked certain to score, following up Nick Pope’s save. Appeals were waved away as Idrissa Gana Gueye blazed the rebound over.
#EVENEW – 67’
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The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge between Calvert-Lewin and Burn is checked and confirmed by VAR - deeming that Calvert-Lewin kicked the back of Burn’s leg.
Gordon should still have had the final say when played in on goal by Miguel Almiron with eight minutes to play, but he blasted off target as Newcastle were forced to settle for a point.
Team-mates save toiling Tarkowski
Calvert-Lewin and Everton thought they should have had the opportunity to take all three points, but outside of that penalty claim, they created precious few clear chances and were perhaps fortunate to come away with a goalless draw.
That was perhaps not a result many would have expected given the makeshift nature of the Everton defence. After beating Crystal Palace on Jarrad Branthwaite's return to the team last week, they lost both the centre-back and Vitalii Mykolenko to injury, leaving Tarkowski as the last remaining member of Dyche's first-choice back four, with club captain Seamus Coleman also out.
As it was, Tarkowski was grateful for his team-mates for their contributions to the clean sheet as he struggled throughout, most notably when fouling Tonali. Pickford saved his captain on that occasion, while Michael Keane stepped across to make a vital challenge on Joelinton soon afterwards.
More ruthless opposition might have made Tarkowski – who did make an important block late on from Miguel Almiron – and Everton pay. This was a hard-earned clean sheet but hardly a blueprint moving forward, and Dyche will be wanting Tarkowski especially to cut out the mistakes when the Toffees return to action at Ipswich Town next month.
Gordon's nightmare Goodison return
Gordon missed Newcastle's last meeting with Everton at St James' Park through suspension, but he was the centre of attention right from the outset on this occasion.
Even before the penalty, Gordon was jeered by the crowd and targeted by heavy challenges from his former team-mates, yet a number of bright early touches hinted at a promising performance.
The England man's confidence was perhaps rocked by his failure from 12 yards, though, bowing to the huge pressure in that moment, with Ashley Young among those looking to get inside Gordon's head.
He was unselfish either side of half-time in looking to tee up Joelinton and then leaving the ball for Guimaraes, before racing through late on and missing the target altogether.
In the absence of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, Gordon could not step up in a striking role this time, with Newcastle ultimately just missing the final touch despite controlling much of the game.
Matters could well look brighter in the striker department for Eddie Howe after the international break – the Newcastle boss will be hoping to have both Isak, who is not going away with Sweden, and Wilson fit and available for the Magpies’ match with Brighton on 19 October.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
16 | +2 | 28 |
| 5 |
Man City
MCI
|
16 | +5 | 27 |
| 6 |
Bournemouth
BOU
|
16 | +3 | 25 |
| 7 |
Aston Villa
AVL
|
16 | -1 | 25 |
| 8 |
Fulham
FUL
|
16 | +2 | 24 |
| 9 |
Brighton
BHA
|
16 | +1 | 24 |
Club reports
Everton report | Newcastle report
What the managers said
Sean Dyche: "We have been patching together teams which has been a hard task. I'm pleased for the back five, I thought they were very good. All things considered we take the point, a positive point, and we have looked strong in the last three games."
Eddie Howe: "We created a lot of good chances and I am frustrated we haven't won. But it was much better. It looked like we were snatching at chances. I have to credit the players because it is a difficult environment to play in and it is a much better defensive display from us too. Big steps forward."
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Key facts
Everton have now had 106 goalless draws in Premier League history, just one fewer than Aston Villa who have kept the most.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe became the 20th manager to take charge of 300 Premier League games – at 46 years and 311 days, he’s the second-youngest to reach this milestone after David Moyes in 2010 (46y 291d).
Since the start of last season, only Arsenal (21) and Liverpool (15) have kept more Premier League clean sheets than Everton (14), with today’s their first shutout so far in 2024/25.
Newcastle have had two of their last three Premier League penalties saved (one goal), having scored 23 of their previous 24 spot kicks in the competition.
