Tom Davies has been sloppy since coming on but he gets away with a poor pass to Leighton Baines as Everton immediately win back possession.

Image source, Reuters

Lewis: Everton fans aren't annoyed at big Sam for what he's produced so far. They're annoyed because the board promised better at the start of the season.

But it's Matt Ritchie who steps over the free-kick and it had the accuracy but not quite the dip as it flies inches over the cross-bar.

First booking of the game. Dwight Gayle just gets a yard on Michael Keane but it is a dangerous area for Jonjo Shelvey to give it a crack.

Dwight Gayle gets it all wrong. He tries to cross the ball first time after it's swung into him from a deep midfield position but he completes misses it and ends up with his legs in a tangle.

Image source, Reuters

Tom: You fans are deluded, Sam has saved Everton from relegation and you are moaning because you’re eighth...

Kenedy whips a ball into the middle but Ayoze Perez, who was left unmarked, can't get enough pace on the header and it's straight into the hands of Jordan Pickford.

Alex: Considering Newcastle's woes in front of goal, they must be regretting loaning Mitrovic to Fulham? He's been in great form in the Championship, scoring 11 league goals since January.

Chris: If only Newcastle had a livewire striker on their books who can’t stop scoring... maybe a Serbian? Must be one somewhere...

Postpublished at 71 mins

71 mins

Everton 1-0 Newcastle

There's a coming together and Michael Keane goes down to the ground holding his face. He has some blood coming from his nose but he looks alright.

Image source, Getty Images

Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Newcastle are starting to dominate Everton now they have pinned them back. They now they need an equaliser and are starting to ask Everton a few questions.

Ayoze Perez takes a nice touch on the back post but he can't beat Seamus Coleman as the Everton defender does well to get a block in, which ricochets off Perez and out for a goalkick.

Image source, Reuters

Newcastle are enjoying a good spell here. They build-up patiently before Kenedy curls one into the middle and wins a corner.

Paul F: Dave, don't kid yourself. Everton will not get 50 points this season after spending a lot of money. If you think Sam is doing a good job you're deluded. 8th means absolutely nothing when it's 25 points off 4th.

Wayne Rooney has certainly been carrying out his defensive duties this evening. He gets in the way again to touch the ball out for a throw-in.

Image source, Getty Images

Dan: That is why we need a decent striker. Another shocking miss from Gayle.

Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

That was a difficult chance for Dwight Gayle, but he's a Premier League striker, he should score.

Ayoze Perez does well to win a corner off Phil Jagielka. And when the ball is played in, it's headed on by Jamaal Lascelles towards Dwight Gayle.

The substitute tries to help it on towards the goal but he doesn't direct it well enough and it flies wide.

That was a good chance and you'd expect Gayle to have done better.

Dwight Gayle is sent on for Newcastle as they search for an equaliser. He replaces Islam Slimani.

Image source, Getty Images

Wayne Rooney plays an excellent ball into the feet of Tom Davies, who is unmarked in the middle of the box, but the substitute's touch is an awful one and it bounces off him and straight into a Newcastle defender.

Image source, Reuters

Dave: So Everton go 8th after the start they had and no centre forward for most of the season and a back four in their twilight years. But what does Big Sam know?