‘Perfect’ - Newcastle United and Eddie Howe masterclass v Everton stunned former player
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Newcastle United v Everton: Shay Given loved what Eddie Howe’s side did in their victory over Everton in the Premier League.
All the pre-match talk surrounded who Eddie Howe would pick in goal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Aaron Ramsdale was the answer to that particular question, with Nick Pope ruled-out through injury.
The other pressing issue was how Newcastle United would respond to their defeat against Marseille in midweek. That defeat was their fourth in a row on their travels in all competitions, and the Magpies headed to Merseyside aiming to avoid a fourth-successive defeat away from home in the Premier League.
Well, within 60 seconds, those doubters had an answer as Thiaw nodded a wicked Miley delivery past Jordan Pickford to give his side the lead. Newcastle were no strangers to taking the lead away from home, having done so in their last three away games, however, what they weren’t used to doing is capitalising on those leads.
Well that changed in the first 25 minutes of their maiden trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium as Miley turned scorer to nudge his side two goals ahead. The teenager’s volley snuck under Pickford to give the Magpies a cushion.
Chants of ‘Lewis Miley… he’s one of our own’ rang out from those jubilant Magpies fans housed in the opposite corner to where Miley had just netted. That goal, more than just a nerve-settler for the visitors, came after they managed to withstand a barrage of pressure from the hosts.
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The perfect half was then wrapped up by a delightful lob from Nick Woltemade who scored for the first time in the league in over a month to ensure his side went into the break with a very comfortable, and deserved, lead.
Shay Given reacts to Newcastle United win v Everton
And ‘perfect’ was the exact way Shay Given described his former side’s performance during the first 45 minutes on Merseyside: “It was the perfect start for Newcastle, scoring in the very first minute,” Given said.
“That just lifts everyone on the pitch, especially given their away record. The second goal is a comedy of errors for Everton, it should be an easy save for Jordan Pickford.
“At 2-0 Newcastle would have been buzzing at half-time. Three is absolutely brilliant for them.”
Thiaw’s second goal, just after the break, ensured victory for the visitors and even when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall pulled one back for the Toffees, there were few nerves from the visiting cohort as they saw out a routine victory with ease.
At full-time, Given added: "A very happy birthday for Eddie Howe. It's been too long coming for an away win, but it was emphatic, scoring four goals. It was a brilliant away performance."
Newcastle United moved up to 11th in the Premier League table following that win and secured back-to-back league victories for the first time this season. The Magpies now have just three days to recover before they go again in the league when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
The Magpies have already defeated Spurs once this season, securing a comfortable 2-0 win over them in the Carabao Cup back in October.