Newcastle 2 Everton 3 – Saturday 28 February 2026 3pm
Instant fan/writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.
Nat Seaton:
‘No shying away from the fact this was a poor performance.
Disjointed at times and many players below par who I will not name.
A formation at the start that proved to be unsuccessful, took 30 mins to change. We scored within 2 minutes of the change, only to give the lead back in disastrous fashion.
Their third goal just summed up our day.
Let’s move on to Wednesday and put this behind us and hope for better things against Man Utd’
Simon Ritter:
‘Groundhog day at St James’ Park.
A depressing rerun of the Brentford match in the most recent Premier League match at home, scoring two but conceding three.
Everton have an excellent away record this season, so this was no surprise despite the bookies making the visitors 16/5 against to win.
For as long as I can remember, pundits have said a team are at their most vulnerable just after they score. We proved that in spades today.
Individual errors can be highlighted but there is something seriously wrong when Beto and Barry, two of the least impressive strikers in this division, both find the net.
The biggest worry is that none of our forwards looked likely to score.’
Billy Miller:
‘It’s easier said than done (evidently) but if we had reversed both the Brentford and Everton results we’d be sat comfortably in 7th and still in the Champions League conversation.
Even an eternal optimist like myself has to concede that CL qualification is out of the question.
Unless we win it of course (what did I say about optimism?).
It’s all about the cups for us now but we could be out of them by the end of March.
Three home losses in the league in a row is uncharacteristic and unacceptable.
Win the next three in all comps and we’ll feel a lot better but it’s a huge ask with our injuries and form.’
Matt Busby said…:
‘Well that was disappointing.
Without those two crucial errors we’d have won that.’
Tony Mallabar:
‘The plastic mackem played more games for Bradford than he did for the village of the dammed…but he won the scouse mackems all three points today with save of the season in injury time.
As for the match overall, Everton deserved to win, they look a better well drilled Premier League team.
Another howler from Pope.
Elanga is now heading into Osula territory and Big Nick seems to get more detached from the £69 million player each time he pulls on the black and white.
Sandro was the pick of wor lot.
But once again despite a lacklustre performance, the East Stand block i kept on cheering us on to the end.’
Mark Jankowski:
‘Eddie Howe must be furious after that.
Newcastle repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot after Howe had made tweaks to the team to relatively positive effects.
Newcastle were very much in the ascendancy after their second equaliser only for a catastrophic individual error from Gordon immediately handing Everton a chance they couldn’t miss to restore their lead.
Gordon on the whole had played a good game but his lapse cost us even the chance of a point.’
Jamie Smith:
‘Absolutely unacceptable game management.
Shocking individual errors and yet again Anthony Gordon fails to show up against his former club.
Overall this wasn’t a bad performance but really poor moments that keep happening cost us yet again.
The amount of goals we are shipping at home is demoralising.
The league campaign is in ruins with a top half finish looking a challenge, never mind a European spot.
It’s a Hail Mary that we can focus on the cups and eradicate this sort of thing in those select games.’
David Punton:
‘Criminal from Newcastle today.
The height of frustration.
Twice they got level and twice they threw it away. Almost immediately, too.
Fans have every right to be annoyed with that.
Errors from Pope a particular annoyance for us.
Faltering league form at the moment. Mired in mid-table.’
Newcastle 2 Everton 3 – Saturday 28 February 2026 3pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Ramsey 32, Jacob Murphy 82
Everton:
Branthwaite 19, Beto 34, Barry 83
Possession was Newcastle 66% Everton 34%
Total shots were Newcastle 17 Everton 9
Shots on target were Newcastle 7 Everton 5
Corners were Newcastle 7 Everton 2
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 33 Everton 12
Newcastle team v Everton:
Pope, Trippier (Wissa 75), Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Joelinton, Ramsey (Willock 46), Elanga (Jacob Murphy 56), Gordon (Osula 86), Woltemade (Barnes 56)
Unused subs:
Ramsdale, Botman, Shahar, Alex Murphy