JOE ROYLE knows what it is like to lose six league matches in a row for Everton. He did it as a player 25 years ago, and last night four goals in the last 16 minutes from a previously uninspired Newcastle United brought the feeling back for the increasingly besieged manager.
However, until Newcastle were rallied by Faustino Asprilla's introduction for Peter Beardsley, Royle had more to smile about than Kenny Dalglish for there was much to be taken from Everton's plucky performance. Robbie Elliott added insult with a last minute fourth goal.
Five league defeats since St Stephen's Day plus last Saturday's dismal exit from the FA Cup at the hands of lowly Bradford City ha placed Royle under intense pressure.
Then again Dalglish was under a bit himself. Newcastle had also gone out of the Cup and the consequence was Philippe Albert's return at the expense of the error prone Warron, Bartop. David Ginola also gave wayto Keith Gillespie.
But Royle's axe was sharper, with Nick Barmby and Neville Southall reduced to substitutes, and Andrei Kanchelskis was absent.
Only a minute had gone when one of those frequent Newcastle defensive blunders gifted Everton a golden chance. Elliott at left back stumbled and only glanced a routine high ball with his head. Duncan Ferguson was in like a shot but his finish lacked conviction and slid wide.
Maybe Everton were encouraged by that for within a further 60 seconds they had taken the lead. Gary Speed, the game's most influential player early on, scored with a blistering left foot free kick from 22 yards, after Robert Lee had tripped Graeme Stuart.
It was an incredibly scrappy first, half from the home team, with practically nothing to cheer but much to, jeer, and the Gallogate End roared its disapproval.
The only consolation for Newcastle was that had Ferguson managed a meatier contact to an inswinging free kick from Speed they would have gone into the interval two behind.
When, straight after the break, Stuart scuffed his shot when clean through, Newcastle breathed again. Then on the hour Ferguson was guilty of a below par strike which Shaka Hislop parried after Terry Phelan's lively breakaway had shredded the home defence.
After that Newcastle at last achieved some sustained attacking. They were rewarded when, 16 minutes from the end, a free kick from Elliott fell at the feet of the unmarked Les Ferdinand, who lashed in the equaliser from 10 yards.
Five minutes later Newcastle had a barely deserved second goal after Asprilla escaped David Unsworth's clutches and crossed to the far post, where Lee supplied a scorching volley. Soon afterwards Asprilla was up ended by Claud Thomsen and Alan Shearer smacked in the penalty.
The Merseysiders sixth successive league defeat equalled the club record but Royle insisted his side will bounce back at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
. Leaders Bolton sent shudders through the rest of the first division of the English League as they marched 11 points clear with a 2-1 win at Stoke despite playing most of the game with 10 men. Nathan Blake was sent off for violent conduct, but the result never looked in doubt despite a late consolation from Stoke substitute Mike Macari. Jamie Pollock and John McGinlay scored Bolton's goals.
