Who knows what might have happened had Papiss Cissé been sent off for swinging a first-half elbow into Seamus Coleman’s face? Fortunately for Alan Pardew, Craig Pawson, the referee, was looking elsewhere at the time and, shortly afterwards, Cissé’s equaliser set Newcastle United on course for a much-needed win.
Roberto Martínez’s decision to offer Arouna Koné his first Premier League start for Everton while leaving Romelu Lukaku to warm the bench was vindicated, emphatically, in the fifth minute.
With Yoan Gouffran caught out of position, Aiden McGeady’s stellar delivery deceived Paul Dummett, permitting Coleman to dispatch a fabulous, low, right-wing cross, which the unmarked Ivorian striker lashed beyond Jak Alnwick from close range. After 18 largely injury-plagued months on Merseyside, it was Koné’s first goal since swapping Wigan for Goodison Park in a £6 million move.
Not to be upstaged, Cissé, making only his sixth start this season, registered his ninth goal of the campaign in the 34th minute. It is far from a shabby tally for a player still troubled by a knee injury following surgery last April. His volleyed equaliser, after being cued up by Cheick Tioté’s cross and Mike Williamson’s far-post flick-on was characteristically accomplished.
Cissé, though, seemed somewhat fortunate to still be on the pitch at that point, having earlier elbowed Coleman in the face in an incident worthy of a red card but apparently unseen by Pawson. Not that the Senegal striker is likely to evade justice entirely. If Pawson’s referee’s report confirms he did not spot that swinging arm, the Football Association can be expected to use video evidence to punish Cissé retrospectively.
It took a last-ditch block from Sylvain Distin – once a Newcastle defender – to prevent Daryl Janmaat shooting the home side into the lead from six yards on the brink of half-time.
Martínez introduced Ross Barkley at the break, withdrawing James McCarthy, whose effectiveness had been reduced in the wake of a yellow card.
All eyes were on Barkley but Distin and company would soon regret not paying closer attention to Ayoze Pérez.
When McGeady conceded possession, Tioté’s through- ball picked out Pérez’s fast feet in the 51st minute. After taking a touch, Pérez eluded the Everton goalkeeper, Joel Robles, courtesy of an excellent shot dispatched through Coleman’s legs and into the bottom corner.
Pardew’s horizon brightened further when Barkley’s attempt to intercept Janmaat’s through-ball resulted in a heavy touch which nudged the ball into Jack Colback’s path. All that remained was for Colback to slip a low shot beneath the advancing Robles in the 68th minute, for his first goal since swapping Sunderland for Newcastle.
Kevin Mirallas, on as a substitute, ensured a tense finale by chipping Alnwick after Leighton Baines’s splendid pass bisected a rather square home defence with six minutes remaining.
