A week is a long time in football and the cliche earned itself another outing last night when, seven days after dismantling Barcelona, Newcastle United took an age to conquer the rather less daunting opposition offered by Everton.
But after a frustrating evening Robert Lee, Newcastle's captain, ran on to a deflected effort from Darren Peacock that bounced awkwardly and smacked a volley in off the under side of the crossbar.
Paul Gerrard, in Everton's goal, was given no chance and there were only two minutes left. Everton, having survived the 62ndminute sending-off of Slaven Bilic, deserved better.
Everton had arrived in the North East with the underwhelming record of no away wins in the Premiership since last December. With Duncan Ferguson on the bench the task of rectifying that situation fell to Danny Cadamarteri and Nick Barmby.
In a lively opening Everton showed intelligence. Firm in the tackle, Newcastle struggled to penetrate Everton's midfield until Philippe Albert's chip to Faustino Asprilla by-passed it in the 18th minute.
On the end of Asprilla's sharp downward header was Jon Dahl Tomasson, but his shot was well parried by Gerrard. From the resulting corner Gerrard made another good block from an Albert header but with Newcastle upping the tempo Gerrard was then passed by a volley from Keith Gillespie. Fortunately for Gerrard, the shot passed the post too.
Subdued the crowd may have been but straight after half-time a couple of reckless tackles from Bilic raised the decibel level - Bilic was booked for one of these on Gillespie - and the home side pressed forward again. But with John Barnes and Gillespie offering insufficient width Everton were able to smother Asprilla in the blue blanket.
Bilic, who had a running battle with the Colombian from the first whistle, took this to extremes and just past the hour he received a second yellow card in the space of 14 minutes for fouling Asprilla for the umpteenth time.
Newcastle: Given, Watson, Pistone, Peacock, Albert, Batty, Lee (Beresford 90), Gillespie (Barton 76), Barnes, Tomasson (Rush 76), Asprilla. Subs Not Used: Hislop, Howey. Goals: Lee 87.
Everton: Gerrard, Barrett, Hinchcliffe, Grant (McCann 84), Watson, Bilic, Stuart, Barmby (Ball 64), Cadamarteri (Ferguson 77), Oster, Speed. Subs Not Used: Southall, O'Connor. Sent Off: Bilic (62). Booked: Watson, Cadamarteri, Bilic. Att: 36,705.
Referee: G Poll (Tring).
