Everton dominated this Premier League game against Newcastle United; it was really as comfortable a game as you could get in the Premiership... they were playing well; confident; everything was coming off...
Midway through the first half, a ball played up was flicked on by Dominic Calvert-Lewin into space; for Bernard to latch on and deliver a superb through ball for Moise Kean. Even though Kean kind of mis-controlled it, he still managed to get hold & unleash a shot that fortuitously found its way through both Jamaal Lascelles and 'keeper Martin Dubravka. Finally his first-ever goal for Everton and cue the long-practised goal celebrations lol...
Things got even better for the home team nine minutes after the re-start; as Lucas Digne's ball into Calvert-Lewin was misjudged by Lascelles; for the Everton striker to finish confidently past Dubravka. Everton were rolling at this point and there seemed no way back for Steve Bruce's side. He even made a rather strange third substitution in the 78th minute; bringing off striker Joelinton for a fourth centre-back Fabian Schar and putting smallish Miguel Almiron upfront in what was seemingly a damage-limitation exercise.
In the end, it was complacency that proved to be Everton's downfall; as even the commentator had commentated it as an Everton win. They inexplicably failed to mark Schar at the back-post from Matt Ritchie's corner. Jordan Pickford made a poor punch-out in the first place, giving Schar the opportunity to strike a volley that ended up being deflected and leading another substitute central defender Florian Lejuene to finish with a magnificent overhead kick.
That was already in the 94th minute and still the match looked to have been done and dusted. But there was still more drama in the works as Everton again rather panickly gave away an unnecessary free-kick around the half-way line. Another long ball from left-back Ritchie was this time inexplicably mis-judged by both Tom Davies and Yerry Mina; giving yet another central defender Federico Fernandes the change to smack an angled shot against the post; it led to an acrobatic attempt by Lascelles that was brilliantly blocked by Mason Holgate; before the ensuing chaos saw Lejuene expertly prod home even though Pickford managed to save it when it had already crossed the line.
Steve Bruce looked like a man who had just won the jackpot; and after the final whistle, the Newcastle players had the seeming look of disbelief on their faces. It was that kind of a game.
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