EVERTON v NEWCASTLE UNITED, 3-0 Sat 30 Dec
2006
Victor Anichebe enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a
devastating double to upstage compatriot Obafemi Martins as Everton
destroyed Newcastle United at Goodison Park.
The 18-year-old scored either side of the break to put Everton 2-0
ahead, before captain Phil Neville wrapped up an emphatic victory
with his first goal for the club.
Neville's 62nd-minute goal sent Goodison Park wild - but not even
his spectacular strike could eclipse Anichebe's exploits.
The rookie striker, who was born in the Nigerian capital of Lagos
before his family moved to Merseyside when he was a one-year-old,
was simply outstanding throughout.
Anichebe, who qualifies to play for Nigeria and England, found the
net in the ninth minute and doubled his tally in the 58th
minute.
He always posed a greater goal threat than countryman and
Newcastle's summer signing, Martins, who blazed a penalty over the
crossbar on the stroke of half-time to add to the visitors'
misery.
Glenn Roeder's side were again hit hard by injury, but goalkeeper
Shay Given returned in one of three changes to the side which lost
2-1 at Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day.
Given, passed fit after a groin injury, replaced 38-year-old Pavel
Srnicek - while Emre and Nolberto Solano came in for Antoine
Sibierski and teenager David Edgar.
Neville returned after a one-match ban for Everton. Nuno Valente
and Andy van der Meyde also started - with Simon Davies, James
McFadden and Gary Naysmith dropped.
Everton began brightly in the Merseyside drizzle - and in the
second minute Neville launched a quick, long throw down the flank
which Anichebe raced on to in a flash.
The teenage powerhouse sent in a dangerous cross for Andy Johnson
to head firmly but over the bar.
Everton found themselves ahead when some neat interplay between
Mikel Arteta, Johnson and Anichebe forced a corner.
Arteta played the ball short to Neville, and his whipped cross was
met by Everton defender Joseph Yobo.
The clearance from rookie Newcastle left-back Paul Huntington was
weak and quickly seized upon by Anichebe who fired a low, left-foot
shot into the corner from six yards.
Everton continued to hold the upper hand, and their dominance was
in no small part down to Neville's steadying influence on the right
flank.
After Emre and Huntington had both earned themselves yellow cards
from referee Dermot Gallagher following late challenges on Yobo and
Arteta respectively, Neville again displayed his attacking
prowess.
Shortly before the half-hour, the former Manchester United utility
man produced a superb cross which Johnson and Van der Meyde somehow
contrived to miss.
Newcastle, who again deployed Kieron Dyer behind Martins, carried
precious little attacking threat in the opening period.
But 11 minutes before the break Martins arched himself into
position to plant a firm header towards goal from James Milner's
deep cross.
The effort looked to be heading wide of Tim Howard's goal, but the
on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper was in fact required to make a
smart save to tip the ball around a post.
Newcastle's cause was not helped by an injury to Peter Ramage seven
minutes before the break - and with no obvious replacement,
Sibierski was called into action.
Two minutes before the break, Newcastle had an opportunity to draw
level when Leon Osman hauled down Dyer - and Gallagher had no
hesitation pointing to the penalty spot.
But Martins failed to make the spot-kick count as he blazed his
attempt high over Howard's goal.
The visitors should then have drawn level nine minutes after the
restart.
Milner embarked on a weaving run and cut in from the right to hit a
left-foot shot which looked destined for the top corner.
Howard proved equal to the effort with a flying save, and Martins
and Steven Taylor collided as they sought to bury the loose
ball.
In the 58th minute, though, the Magpies cover was blown as
Anichebe claimed his second.
A right-wing corner from Arteta was met by Johnson's flicked header
which was nodded goalwards by Anichebe.
His effort came back off the bar - but he showed great awareness to
fire home the rebound from inside the six-yard box.
Four minutes later, Goodison Park erupted as Neville hit Arteta's
low free-kick first time with a mis-hit, dipping effort from 20
yards which flew over Given and into the far corner.
With the points effectively sealed, Anichebe left the field to a
standing ovation as Everton were left to celebrate a victory which
provided plenty of reasons for optimism heading into 2007.