Everton cruelly hit by wonder goal

Newcastle Utd 2 Everton 1: The beautiful game? Do not even dare mention that to Evertonians today. The ridiculous game, on the other hand. Oh, yes, say that quite a lot.

Four minutes away from a sixth successive 1-0 victory - one that would have been achieved with 10 men for 68 minutes, one that would have taken them second in the Premiership, above Liverpool and three points behind Arsenal - Everton were knocked out by the sort of punch only a true heavyweight can deliver.

Alan Shearer had not done much yesterday afternoon. In the 12th minute, when the game was young and spiky and still 0-0, he had a forceful header well tipped over by Richard Wright, but while that was the beginning of a busy afternoon for Wright, for Shearer it began a long and fruitless slog on a testing pitch.

Then, in the 86th minute, with Newcastle United apparently spent, Laurent Robert launched yet another home attack. Shola Ameobi, just on as a substitute, won a header against David Unsworth. This was news in itself because Everton's defence, which had been missing Joseph Yobo since his 22nd-minute dismissal for a professional foul on Craig Bellamy, had been brilliantly resolute.

But after Ameobi won his header the ball looped invitingly towards Shearer. He was 25 yards out and looked drained. But then, as they say, he has a reasonable shot on him, and thought: Why not?

Shaping as only the classic centre-forwards do, Shearer made pure contact to send a ferocious volley soaring over Wright. It was a goal from the skies, literally and metaphorically.

"It'll be up there in the top three," said Shearer afterwards. As he has spanked over 300 goals in his career, it was some tribute from the man himself.

Newcastle may have merited Shearer's goal for perseverance and sheer effort four days after playing Internazionale with 10 men, but scarcely deserved to win.

Kevin Campbell had given Everton a lead in the 17th minute when he nipped between the new Newcastle central defensive partnership of Andy O'Brien and Steven Caldwell, controlled Unsworth's diagonal pass and slipped the ball through the legs of Shay Given.

Five minutes later Bellamy scampered in front of Yobo and the Nigerian defender, so vital to Everton this season, tugged Bellamy back. It was far from violent but Yobo was the last defender.

The referee Mark Halsey produced the red card straight away. Moyes withdrew Lee Carsley, sent on David Weir and kept Tomasz Radzinski as advanced as possible. Campbell also stayed on. With Thomas Gravesen impeccable in his tackling and distribution, Everton settled in for a siege.

Coming from behind is nothing new for Newcastle - this was the fifth time they have done so at St James' Park already this season - but midway through the second half Everton went past the 10-mark without conceding a goal in the Premiership. All changed utterly after Shearer's unforgettable moment.

Sensing a victory could be theirs Newcastle poured forward. Robert won the ball on the left and fed Bellamy. The Welshman has had a trying few days since his red card against Inter but he skipped into the Everton area and was a yard from the byline when he chose to drive the ball in.

Li Tie was another Everton midfielder, like Gravesen, who had given his all. This extended to the toe he stuck out to get to Bellamy's effort. For Evertonians, Tie and Moyes, it verged on heartbreaking that the ball deflected off Tie and flashed past Wright.

And at the end another memory. Shearer sought out Wayne Rooney and the two swapped shirts. If, in 15 years' time, Rooney is scoring goals like Shearer's here, then he will also be entitled to be called great.

Guardian Service

NEWCASTLE: Given, Griffin, O'Brien, Caldwell (Ameobi 81), Bernard, Solano, Dyer, Speed (Viana 81), Robert, Shearer, Bellamy. Subs not used: Jenas, Harper, Dabizas. Goals: Shearer 86, Bellamy 89.

EVERTON: Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Unsworth, Carsley (Weir 24), Tie Li, Gravesen, Pembridge, Campbell, Radzinski (Rooney 73). Subs not used: Simonsen, Naysmith, Gemmill. Sent Off: Yobo (22). Booked: Unsworth. Goals: Campbell 17.

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).