Everton 1 v 1 Newcastle                                                     3rd March 2001

Everton : Gerrard,| Watson, Weir, Ball, Xavier, Naysmith ,| Gravesen, Gemmill, Nyarko,| Jeffers, Campbell,

Bench :Tal, Gascoigne, Jevons, Unsworth, Simonsen.

Subs: Unsworth for Naysmith(29m), Tal for Nyarko(45m), Gascoigne for Xavier(79m).

Att: 35,779

Everton only drew with the Geordie's when a 3-1 win would have been a fair result. Newcastle took the field with no balls for the kick in & that's the way it stayed. Everton had most of the play, more chances , but couldn't score from open play. It took both teams time to settle, but it was Everton, who had the first chance when Franny Jeffers got on the end of a Gravesen pass, but hit his shot was to close to Givan, who saved. Franny you should have scored. Everton were getting frustrated struggling to get through the Geordie defence. This was apparent when we witnessed an argument between Campbell and Gravesen, while Weir was taking a free kick. Salarno got a bad bounce from the bumpy pitch and was adjudged to have handled. From the free kick Gravesen obviously didn't think that it was a foul, so just passed the ball back to the goalkeeper.

Kevin Campbell missed the biggest sitter the world has ever seen, when Gary Naysmith went on a run down the left, beating a defender on his way, drew the goalkeeper and passed to Super Kev, who somehow missed an open goal. (Me Granny would have scored) Unfortunately Gary Naysmith was stretchered off with a badly gashed knee, he was replaced by David Unsworth. Steve Watson who was having a good game, went down the right and crossed, only for Campbell to head wide. This was Evertons best spell of the half. Everton should have had a penalty, when a Gemmill goal bound shot was handled by a Newcastle defender. The referee made a new rule up and gave a corner. Again Watson went down the right hand side and his cross was met by Xavier, but he headed over. The crowd gave its biggest cheer for Gazza warming up on the side lines. Everybody thought he was coming on for the injured Nyarko, but Walter in his wisdom, brought on Idan Tal.

Half Time 0 - 0

The second half started disastrously for Everton when within a minute Newcastle were 1 - 0 up. It came about when Alan Shearer robbed the dawdling Xavier and hit a fierce cross shot which Gerrard parried out, only for David Unsworth to score form 6 yards. Everton found it hard going from this point on, with Newcastle finding a new lease of life and defending well. Everton nearly scored with the best move of the second half, which involved Unsworth, Tal and Gemmill, but Franny Jeffers shot wide. Steve Watson went on another run down the right, beat his man, and crossed only for Idan Tal to head over again. The Newcastle fans joined us in giving Gazza a warm welcome when he came on for Abel Xavier. He was straight into he game when he chipped into the path of Franny Jeffers, but Given came off his line to smother the danger. The game became a bit scrappy then. With Everton being a bit nervous and panicking. Just when we all though that the points had gone to the Geodies. We were awarded a penalty when Campbell was pushed to the ground. David Unsworth deserves a lot of praise for keeping cool, even though Alan Shearer was trying his best to put him off, with 'arl arse' tactics. In the last minute Everton nearly snatched victory, when Gazza put a peach of a ball into the path of Franny Jeffers but again Given smothered his effort.

On chances alone Everton should have easily won. But that's what happens when you are struggling at the wrong end of the table. Ball and Gravesen had steady games, but man of the match was Steve Watson who was outstanding against his old club.

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