Newcastle United played host to Everton in Premier League this evening looking to gain ground on the Blues in the table.
The Magpies fell behind in the first half courtesy of a solo strike from Ross Barkley, and things went from bad to worse from them after the break when Romelu Lukaku added a second.
Roberto Martinez's side looked content with 2-0, but Leon Osman added a third late on following a blazing counterattack.
Find out of all of the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to our live text coverage of the Premier League fixture between Newcastle United and Everton. Both starting XIs have been submitted, so team news will be our first port of call tonight...
NEWCASTLE: Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Dummett, Anita, Williamson, Coloccini, Sissoko, Tiote, Cisse, de Jong, Gouffran
EVERTON: Howard, Coleman, Baines, McCarthy, Stones, Distin, Osman, Barry, Lukaku, Barkley, Deulofeu
So Newcastle have named an unchanged lineup from their dramatic late win over Crystal Palace at the weekend, with Luuk de Jong playing behind lone striker Papiss Cisse, who bagged that late goal against the Eagles.
Everton have made two changes from the side that edged past Swansea City, with Gerard Deulofeu favoured over Kevin Mirallas on the right and Aiden McGeady making way for Leon Osman.
Newcastle head into the match one place behind Everton in eighth in the table, but the two teams' league placement doesn't really tell the full story. The Blues have a five-point cushion on their side, as well as a game in hand.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez is adamant that his side is aiming to launch a late bid to secure Champions League football, but that looks like a long shot, despite Arsenal's downward spiral.
I would say that the Blues are the favourites for fifth place and Europa League football, though. They have had a better season than both Manchester United and Spurs above them when all factors are taken into account, so I expect that anything less than fifth would be viewed as an underachievement at Goodison Park.
However, this also begs the question of whether Everton have the squad depth to compete in both the Europa League and on the domestic front next season. Tonight's opponents Newcastle can tell you all about the toll the Europa League can take on your squad.
Recent history is in Everton's favour tonight as they are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Newcastle, winning three of those. They have also come out on top in two of their last three visits to St James' Park.
However, looking at the bigger picture, it's the Magpies who have the better head-to-head record, having won 62 to Everton's 61. We could be level pegging overall after tonight's match.
This is an incredibly tough one to call, but one thing you might want to bet on is a penalty kick being awarded. This fixture has seen the joint-most spot kicks since the Premier League was founded - 17 in total.
Everton's Romelu Lukaku is a good shout for first goalscorer this evening, as the big Belgian has found them net three times in as many games against Newcastle. He's been in good form of late for the Blues, too, getting in amongst the goals in their win against Swansea last week.
PREDICTION: As I said a moment ago, this is a tough one to call, so I'm going to have to sit on the fence and say 1-1 with Lukaku on target for Everton and Gouffran snatching a late equaliser for the hosts.
Newcastle are still without their manager Alan Pardew on the touchlines, banned for his altercation with Hull City's David Meyler. Assistant coach John Carver is sat in the dugout in his stead.
The two teams are heading out of the tunnel now. There's a good crowd here at St James' Park, and the home support is making its presence felt.
Both these sides could use three points tonight, but which one will prevail? Moment-by-moment text commentary from the 90 minutes coming up...
KICKOFF: Newcastle United get the match under way, shooting from right to left in this first half. They start off on the front foot, but good defending from Leighton Baines stalls their attack.
CHANCES! Oh my word! How are Everton not behind here? First Luuk de Jong's shot is deflected behind off John Stones, then Yoan Gouffran misses a golden opportunity from the resultant corner. The cross fell kindly for him just yards out, but he drove his shot straight into James McCarthy.
Everton apply some pressure at the other end after winning their first corner. Newcastle struggle to deal with Baines's cross, but Fabricio Coloccini eventually scrambled it behind under pressure from Gerard Deulofeu. It looks like we might have an open game on our hands tonight!
A stray throw-in from Leighton Baines lands at the feet of Moussa Sissoko, who bears down on the Everton goal and causes their defence some real problems. However, he overruns it and hands the Blues a goalkick.
Sissoko causes the Everton rear guard more problems as he looks to pick out Papiss Cisse with a through ball, but the move breaks down as his teammate strays offside.
More Newcastle pressure as Luuk de Jong leaps high in the area to meet Cisse's cross, but the attack grinds to a halt as the Dutchman is adjudged to have fouled Seamus Coleman. The Magpies have dominated this contest so far.
Good link-up play between Gerard Deulofeu and James McCarthy leads to another Everton corner. Baines swings in the cross, but Tim Krul punches clear. He hasn't been as busy as his opposite number Tim Howard so far, though the visitors look like they have weathered the storm.
CHANCE! Great vision from Leon Osman sees him pick out Romelu Lukaku in the box with a pinpoint pass. The Belgian gets a yard on his marker and lets fly, but Krul produces an impressive save to keep him out.
Everton are getting into their stride now. They spend these last few moments firmly inside the Newcastle half and have just won a free kick in a dangerous position for a foul on Gareth Barry.
Baines delivers the free kick, but Newcastle quickly clear it and go on the break. Cisse eventually gains possession and surges into the area, but superb last-ditch defending from Coleman saves Everton's skin!
GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-1 Everton (Ross Barkley)
The home support falls into a stunned silence as Ross Barkley puts the visitors in front with a sublime solo effort. The youngster is picked out by Gerard Deulofeu following a swift break, before tearing the Newcastle defence apart and rifling an effort into the top left corner.
Everton could be on for a league double over Newcastle here, and with both United and Arsenal trailing this evening, a win here would do their European ambitions the power of good.
Everton have played some confident football since taking the lead, stringing a lot of passes together and seeing plenty of possession. Barkley and Osman are dominating the midfield.
Newcastle back in the game now and putting Everton under pressure. Yoan Gouffran attempts to pick out Papiss Cisse with a through ball, but over hits the pass and gives away a goal kick. Cisse gets another opportunity to level the match moments later as the ball fall kindly for him in front of goal, but a sea of Blue shirts crowds him out.
Good pressure from Cisse, who twists and turns before cutting inside the Everton area. John Stones tracks back and takes the ball from his feet with a sliding tackle, conceding a corner kick in the process.
SHOT! Cheick Tiote gains possession from 25 yards out and shoots first time, his effort cannoning off Sylvain Distin and bouncing clear of danger.
Everton down to 10 men for the time being as John Stones is receiving treatment for a nasty gash to the head after colliding with Luuk de Jong. The defender was brave in this instance, taking one for the team.
CHANCE! Gerard Deulofeu produces a couple of deft stepovers before flashing the ball across the face of goal. I'm not sure if that was intended to be a shot or a cross, but it went wide by just a couple of inches.
HALF TIME: NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-1 EVERTON
Newcastle United are trailing to a Ross Barkley goal at half time, the Everton midfielder supporting his case for inclusion in England's World Cup squad with a superb solo strike.
Taking that Barkley goal out of the equation, it's been an equal first half, with both sides threatening on occasion. Things would be very different had Yoan Gouffran put away that early goalscoring opportunity for the Magpies.
There are two other games to bring you up to speed on in the Premier League. A first-minute strike from Edin Dzeko has given Manchester City a 1-0 lead against Manchester United, and Swansea City are 1-0 up at Arsenal courtesy of a Wilfried Bony strike.
Both of those matches are going Everton's way. Should they remain the same, the Blues will move above United in the table with one game in hand, and close in on Arsenal in the Champions League positions.
I said earlier that Champions League football is looking like a long shot for Roberto Martinez's side, but given Arsenal's recently decline, maybe they will begin to dream if they secure three points tonight.
KICKOFF: Everton get the match back under way. Newcastle trail to a Barkley goal, but they are still very much in this game.
I'm just hearing that John Stones required 10 stitches in his head at half time. They young defender is back out there with his head heavily bandaged. What a soldier!
It's been end-to-end stuff in the early stages of the second half, with Yoan Gouffran shooting over for Newcastle and Osman mishitting an effort at the other end. No clear-cut opportunities since the restart, though.
Gerard Deulofeu shows off more of his trickery, but is dispossessed in the area by Paul Dummett, who slides in and concedes a corner. The young Spaniard swings a cross into the box moments later, forcing Tim Krul to punch clear.
GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-2 EVERTON (Romelu Lukaku)
Everton double their lead following a swift counterattack. Gerard Deulofeu displays a wonderful first touch and races along the right flank. He plays a low pass to Lukaku in front of goal, and the Belgian steals half a yard on Coloccini to slide the ball home from close range.
CHANCES! Newcastle attempt a swift response as Papiss Cisse races clear of the defence, but is denied by the offside trap. Cheik Tiote lets fly from outside the area moments late, his effort palmed behind by Tim Howard.
NEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION: Hatem Ben Arfa replaces Luuk de Jong, who hasn't made much of an impact on this match to be fair.
SHOT: Yoan Gouffran takes Moussa Sissoko's cross on the volley from inside the box. The Frenchman shows great technique and really connects with the ball, but it flies over the bar.
BOOKING! The first yellow card of the game goes to Everton's Gareth Barry for what can only be described as a cynical challenge on Yoan Gouffran. An easy decision for the referee.
SHOT! Another Newcastle half chance almost yields an opening as a Cisse shot cannons off Coleman and goes behind for a corner. Coloccini gets his head to the resulting cross, but fails to get it on target.
Everton have taken their foot off the accelerator since securing that two-goal cushion and settled into a diamond formation. Newcastle are asking all of the questions at the moment, but the Blues are frustrating them.
Everton are on course for their first away win of 2014 here. They don't lose many, with only Chelsea suffering more reverses this season. The Blues have drawn more than most, though.
CHANCE! The Blues had lost momentum but they sprung into life just now, with Lukaku giving his marker the slip and going clean through on goal. He shoots from a tight angle, forcing Tim Krul to parry the ball clear.
NEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle make their second change, bringing on Sylvain Marveaux for Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa as they look to stage an unlikely comeback.
WHAT A MISS! Newcastle have just missed an absolute sitter! Hatem Ben Arfa raced along the left flank and played a low pass to the feet of Vurnon Anita right in front of goal, but the Dutcman shot wide from point-blank range with only a stranded Howard to beat!
SAVE! Tim Howard comes to Everton's rescue, tipping a header from Cisse behind at full stretch. It was Anita who supplied the cross, almost providing an assist to make up for his earlier miss.
EVERTON SUBSTITUTION: Steven Naismith replaces Ross Barkley for Everton in what can be considered an attacking change. Martinez is perhaps looking to inject some life into his side, who have been a touch complacent since doubling their lead.
CHANCE! Gerard Deulofeu goes for goal from a tight angle after latching onto a pass from James McCarthy, his effort failing to trouble Tim Krul between the Newcastle sticks.
GOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-3 EVERTON (Leon Osman)
It's exhibition stuff from Everton, who score a superb third following another blazing counterattack. Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu were involved during the build-up, and Leon Osman capped off the move sensationally, lashing one into the top corner from the right side of the box!
Everton have been so effective on the break this evening, and they thoroughly deserve three points here for taking their chances. The likes of Deulofeu and Lukaku have been head and shoulders above the rest tonight.
FULL TIME: NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-3 EVERTON
A well-deserved win for Everton in the end, with Barkley, Lukaku and Osman finding the net. You have to take your chances in football, and the Blues did just that at St James' Park tonight.
That's all we have time for this evening, but stick with Sports Mole for analysis and reaction from all of tonight's matches. Many thanks for joining us!
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
