FOOTBALL – EVERTON completed a four-day double over Newcastle by adding a 1-0 win in the Premier League last night to their victory in the English League Cup last week.
Thierno Barry scored the only goal at St James’ Park, tapping the ball into an unguarded net from barely a meter out in the 49th minute after Newcastle goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek let a shot from Tyrique George squirm under his body.
Newcastle fans jeered their team at halftime and again at the fulltime whistle after a fourth loss in their last five games in all competitions. The previous one also came against Everton, 3-1 in the cup on Thursday.
The Saudi-owned home side ended the game with 10 men after substitute Jacob Ramsey picked up two yellow cards in as many minutes deep into second-half stoppage time.
Everton, who had lost to Chelsea and Arsenal in their last two league games, climbed above Newcastle in the standings and up to seventh place after nine rounds, marking a solid start to the season for a club who were put up for sale last month by their American owners.
Newcastle have lost 22 of their last 33 Premier League matches on a Monday and many of their supporters headed for the exits well before the final whistle on a miserable rainy night.
Jack Grealish was absent from the Everton squad for a second successive game after being axed for the Newcastle match last week due to a ‘breach of club discipline’.
The on-loan Manchester City winger, who has been criticised for his off-field behaviour for much of his colourful career, reportedly skipped training prior to the League Cup clash.
Everton said he was “not match fit” for the rematch with the Magpies, but his team coped just fine without him.
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