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Callum Wilson scored twice as Newcastle relieved the pressure on manager Steve Bruce with a much-needed win at Everton.
Bruce has endured intense criticism from Newcastle’s fan base as his team lost their past five Premier League games to slip towards the relegation zone.
But after switching to a 4-4-2 diamond formation they secured their first win in 12 games, with Callum Wilson’s superb double helping to beat a passive Everton.
Wilson, who had drawn a classy save from Jordan Pickford in the first half and shot wide after the break, ended a seven-game goal drought by heading in Jonjo Shelvey’s corner.
Newcastle’s top scorer then hit the post before scoring in stoppage time.
Bruce was understandably delighted at the final whistle as his team moved nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Everton, who tested keeper Karl Darlow in the first half, could not find a way through Newcastle’s defence and missed out on a chance to draw level on points with Liverpool.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side remain seventh, three points off the top four.
Wilson sparkles as Newcastle end wretched run
Bruce has borne the brunt of fans’ frustrations for the past two months as Newcastle dwindled towards what looked like a scrap for survival.
But he has always maintained his side are capable of turning the corner once they got Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles back from coronavirus problems, and Ryan Fraser from injury.
There has been criticism of his formations and team selection too, but, in a week when Bruce added Bournemouth coach Graeme Jones to his staff, Wilson’s return to form and a new formation offered supporters much-needed hope.
There were signs of improvement in the second half of their midweek defeat by Leeds, but, with Miguel Almiron at the tip of the diamond and Wilson and Fraser further forward, this was Newcastle’s best display for months.
Wilson, often isolated in previous matches, got better support and, although starting slightly to the right, he looked dangerous from the outset.
Shelvey had already gone close with a deflected shot when Wilson drew a fine stop from Pickford with a header from Fraser’s corner. Further good link-up play from Wilson led to a free-kick where Shelvey could not hit the target.
But with a better balance in midfield and a firm defence, Bruce bellowed at his players from the sidelines as he sensed a positive result.
That came when Wilson nodded in his ninth of the season to give the visitors a deserved lead.
Although he wasted a great chance to make it 2-0 when he rounded Pickford and hit a post, he made up for that error with a 10th goal of the season by firing in unmarked.
More to follow
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Everton
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Squad number1Player namePickford
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Squad number23Player nameColeman
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Squad number13Player nameMina
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Squad number5Player nameKeane
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Squad number12Player nameDigne
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Squad number16Player nameDoucouré
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Squad number10Player nameG Sigurdsson
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Squad number17Player nameIwobi
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Squad number19Player nameRodrÃguez
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Squad number7Player nameRicharlison
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Squad number9Player nameCalvert-Lewin
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Squad number21Player nameAndré Gomes
Newcastle United
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Squad number26Player nameDarlow
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Squad number19Player nameManquillo
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Squad number6Player nameLascelles
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Squad number5Player nameSchär
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Squad number15Player nameLewis
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Squad number16Player nameHendrick
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Squad number14Player nameHayden
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
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Squad number8Player nameShelvey
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Squad number13Player nameWilson
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Squad number21Player nameFraser
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Squad number2Player nameClark
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Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin
Line-ups
Everton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pickford
- 23Coleman
- 13Mina
- 5KeaneBooked at 61mins
- 12Digne
- 16Doucouré
- 10G SigurdssonBooked at 33mins
- 17IwobiSubstituted forAndré Gomesat 63′minutes
- 19RodrÃguezBooked at 79mins
- 7Richarlison
- 9Calvert-Lewin
Substitutes
- 2Kenny
- 4Holgate
- 21André Gomes
- 22Godfrey
- 24Gordon
- 26Davies
- 31Neves VirgÃnia
- 33Olsen
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 26DarlowBooked at 84mins
- 19Manquillo
- 6LascellesBooked at 4minsSubstituted forClarkat 54′minutes
- 5Schär
- 15Lewis
- 16HendrickBooked at 88mins
- 14Hayden
- 24Almirón
- 8ShelveyBooked at 21mins
- 13Wilson
- 21FraserSubstituted forSaint-Maximinat 67′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Dubravka
- 2Clark
- 4M Longstaff
- 7Carroll
- 9Joelinton
- 10Saint-Maximin
- 12Gayle
- 17Krafth
- 57Anderson
Live Text
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Match ends, Everton 0, Newcastle United 2.
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Second Half ends, Everton 0, Newcastle United 2.
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Goal! Everton 0, Newcastle United 2. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jamal Lewis following a fast break.
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Attempt missed. Richarlison (Everton) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by James RodrÃguez with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Jeff Hendrick.
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Attempt missed. Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Michael Keane (Everton).
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Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Offside, Everton. Séamus Coleman tries a through ball, but James RodrÃguez is caught offside.
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Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Richarlison (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United).
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Yerry Mina.
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Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) hits the left post with a left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left. Assisted by Miguel Almirón.
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Michael Keane.
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Foul by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton).
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Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Karl Darlow (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt missed. Lucas Digne (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Isaac Hayden.
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