If there was ever a game to stamp our authority and show everyone that we’re not about to get dragged back into this relegation battle, it’s this one.
Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea was a bitter pill to swallow and tough to accept. We matched them in all departments, defended superbly, were brave in the press and positive in our approach…only to be let down by two VAR errors.
The injustice will only add fire to our bellies heading into this one, with the performance itself another huge positive which further highlights just how far we’ve come under Eddie Howe.
Many believe we are too good to go down and look anything but a side at risk of relegation, so this one’s interestingly poised against an Everton who stink of a team in deep trouble.
We outplayed them at St James’ Park last month in a 3-1 win and will be hoping to inflict more misery on the Blue half of Merseyside on Thursday night, knowing another victory would leave Frank Lampard’s side on the brink of the bottom three ahead of a tough run of fixtures.
The atmosphere at Goodison will be volatile and on a knife edge. If we allow them to settle, build confidence or get ahead, this could be the moment that kickstarts their push towards survival. But start fast, score early or silence the crowd and it could soon become toxic and a dream away day for the travelling Toon Army.
Team news
Joe Willock is fit again after recovering from illness, but Jonjo Shelvey (unwell) and Joelinton (groin) are both major doubts.
Howe also has a decision to make at right-back – will he start Manquillo or Krafth – while Allan Saint-Maximin and Ryan Fraser are in contention to return to the starting 11.
Elsewhere, Kieran Trippier (foot), Callum Wilson (calf) and Federico Fernanadez (side strain) are expected to miss out once again, despite the latter returning to training on Wednesday.
As for Everton, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (ill) is facing a late fitness test, while Jonjoe Kenny (suspended), Yerry Mina (quadriceps), Fabian Delph (thigh) and Tom Davies (hamstring) will all be missing.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett – Willock, Guimaraes, Longstaff – Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
Martin Dubravka – Had nothing to do for 77 minutes on Sunday and was only beaten by one moment of quality. Hopefully he can go one better and collect another clean sheet here.
Emil Krafth – Manquillo is, for me, our best RB when Trippier is out and did well as part of a back five at Chelsea. However, if Howe reverts back to a four-man defence on Thursday, I can see Krafth coming back in on the basis he did little wrong during our unbeaten run.
Fabian Schar – Undroppable at present and was one of our best players at Stamford Bridge, being a presence in both boxes.
Dan Burn – Looked gutted to concede late at Chelsea, so will have the bit between his teeth here. Could be key up against Calvert-Lewin if the big striker passes a late fitness test.
Matt Targett – He put in another assured display at left-back last weekend and will have his hands full if Everton livewire Anthony Gordon continues down their right-hand side.
Joe Willock – Has been passed fit after recovering from illness, so I can see Howe bringing him back in as part of a midfield three. His energy, late runs into the box and ability to carry the ball into the final third could be key.
Bruno Guimaraes – Impressed at Chelsea in his second start for the club, showing his quality in possession and ability off the ball; making more tackles than any other NUFC player. If Joelinton and Shelvey miss out, we’ll need more of the same.
Sean Longstaff – Howe thought he was “excellent” on his return to the side and because of that I can’t see him taking a risk with Joelinton or starting a half-fit Shelvey who hasn’t trained since he was ill.
Ryan Fraser – Was rested at Chelsea and will almost certainly come back in for this one. His energy, pressing and creativity could be key against an edgy Everton.
Allan Saint-Maximin – I thought he didn’t offer enough during his cameo on Sunday, as we got worse after he came on, however you can’t not start your most devastating attacker against a defence that looks there for the taking! If he’s still not 100% fit, Murphy could start, but I think Howe will look to get at them from the off.
Chris Wood – Had a few too many sloppy moments on the ball last time out, but he makes up for that with his hard work, constant pressing and aerial dominance; all of which could come in handy against a Blues side who are weak in the air and poor at playing out from the back.
Predicted Everton XI (4-3-3): Pickford – Coleman, Keane, Holgate, Godfrey – Doucoure, Allan, Van de beek – Gordon, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.
Match prediction
The home side haven’t scored a Premier League goal in over a month, losing their last three games by an aggregate score of 8-0. They look lost, lack identity and can’t defend for toffee.
Meanwhile, we were unbeaten in nine prior to Sunday’s robbery at Chelsea and will be out to prove a point in this one, arriving with higher levels of confidence and belief in what is being dubbed a ‘must-win’ game for the hosts.
Because of all the above, I am confident we’ll leave Goodison with a big away victory.
Prediction: Everton 1-2 Newcastle
HOWAY THE LADS!
I know this is a Newcastle blog & we have a game tonight – but Sky Sports are really p!ssing me off at the minute.
Chelsea as a football team are really up against it – I’m not taking about Abramovich, I couldn’t give a **** about him. I’m talking about Tuchel & the team.
They win at Lille & go into the final 8 of the CL – and the first thing Tuchel is hit with in the post match press conference is the fact their next game will be behind closed doors – no congratulations, no footy craic, just straight with another boot in.
Tuchel didn’t even know. When will SSN learn that managers aren’t responsible for what goes on with the clubs they work for.
Sharpy17(Quote)
On the game tonight – if we score first, I think Goodison Park could turn toxic pretty quickly.
I think after our recent run, I think we are as good as safe. There’s still lots of points to play for, but I think we will get enough to stay up.
Everton on the other hand, I’m not so sure. Tonight is a must win for them – but their form is awful at the moment.
We should be in their faces & pile the pressure on.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agree Sharpy, get at em from the off, try and get a goal and I can see them go into their shells.
Also agree about SSN it’s getting silly now bringing our owners up every five minutes.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Strong midfied with the miracle of Big Jo plus Willock and Bruno.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
No Pickford tonight ? oh dear.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Pickford out through illness ??? he’s sick of getting picked on for having little arms
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Calvert-Lewin starts but he only has 3 goals in 9 games.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I have a T-Rex Toy. He’s a fraud!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I am going 2-1 NUFC.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Why do they play Zed Cars?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Pawson is the ref ?????. Oh dear.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
2-0 Toon
Shamrock(Quote)
THE RAFA DERBY.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
lovely pass Bruno
KIMTOON(Quote)
Big Joe is playing well again.
I have never seen a player change for the better as much as him in my life.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Same. I can now see I have witnessed a genuine miracle, courtesy of Wor Eddie.
Saint Eddie, miracle man – and Sir Big Joe.
Shamrock(Quote)
Knight of Toon
Shamrock(Quote)
this is frenetic stuff
KIMTOON(Quote)
Hope he hasn’t got a runny nose mate, he won’t be able to reach ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
We are playing well – 34 mins
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
We are starting to get on top a bit now like. It was always going to be frantic with the crowd up for it. We’ve just got to play our game & be sensible – they’ll get frustrated the longer it goes without them scoring
Sharpy17(Quote)
They desperately need the win – a point would do us just fine ??♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
Even- 50/50
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
good half but we need to score
KIMTOON(Quote)
Even first half. We need to take a few of our chances though. Not too impressed with Miggy tonight. I think he needs changing for maxi in second half I think.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I think if we score first it will really affect morale in the toffees
Gilly Toon(Quote)
What an idiot, players at danger of injury because of this
KIMTOON(Quote)
Game feels a bit dull since all that nonsense
Shamrock(Quote)
Yeah really does mate, we seem to have gone off the boil
KIMTOON(Quote)
The abuse the reg has got from players today is sickening
Shamrock(Quote)
14 mins et
gordon you cheatin git
KIMTOON(Quote)
yeah it is
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ridiculous
Shamrock(Quote)
ffs
two games in a row, slipping back into our bad habits
KIMTOON(Quote)
Yup. Total mess there
Shamrock(Quote)
We have been poor this 2nd half.
Fair play to Everton
Shamrock(Quote)
Reality check today.
Shamrock(Quote)
That’s 2 games in a row we could of made are safe properly safe but for the ref at Chelsea and not asserting our advantage here.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Gutted we were not good enough today.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
made ourselves properly safe I mean. 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Very poor second half with nothing offered. Not good enough. ???
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Getting really frustrated with ASM as well .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Yeah he needs to look up more. Bi-Polar footballer
Shamrock(Quote)
Everton will twist about going down to 10, but we played with 9 most of the fecking night with Miggy & Wood on the pitch – both did every little tonight.
Don’t hate Miggy, but he’s not for this league as far as I’m concerned.
Wood is starting to annoy me now as well. He’s coasting through games. He did nowt tonight.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agree re: Wood Sharpy. He could have had a hat trick tonight if switched in a little more.
We will survive comfortably and then need 1 or 2 proper strikers in the summer. Maybe 1 established top forward and a high profile decent prospect as understudy. Woody can then be a tactical option when we need to hold the ball up or have a battering ram in last 10 mins
Shamrock(Quote)
I thought that drive Miggy did before getting taken off was good
Shamrock(Quote)
Miggy was poor tonight and maxi did nothing when he came on. Burn was probably MotM again. I don’t really think their red was a sending off. I thought yellow was fair but ok, It evens out. We just didn’t perform today. Agree wood was poor.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
That little scrote who fixed himself to the goal post caused the added time that they scored in, without him we’d likely both have a point tonight.
KIMTOON(Quote)
How does Maguire keep his England place !
KIMTOON(Quote)
Should’ve just continued the game and used him as target practice
Gilly Toon(Quote)
😆 😆 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)