Everton moved out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-0 victory over Newcastle United on Thursday night at Goodison Park.
Dwight McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Beto scored for the Toffees, propelling Sean Dyche’s side to 17th place in the table, one point ahead of 18th-placed Luton Town.
Newcastle, meanwhile, remains seventh in the table, one point behind sixth-placed Manchester United, despite suffering their fifth league defeat of the season.
Everton got off to a quick start at Goodison Park, with Jarrad Branthwaite heading a McNeil delivery just wide of the post in the seventh minute, before James Tarkowski missed from distance.
Ashley Young also fired just wide of the Newcastle goal in the early going, with the hosts looking to make an early breakthrough in front of a vocal home crowd.
Newcastle’s first real chance came in the 16th minute, thanks to Joelinton’s excellent work, with the Brazilian finding a pass into Miguel Almiron, who could only fire straight at Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin then had two chances in quick succession, missing with a header in the 18th minute and nodding into the arms of Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in the 20th.
In the 31st minute, McNeil had another half-chance, firing wide of the post from a difficult angle, and Newcastle were struggling to get going down the other end of the field.
In the 36th minute, Alexander Isak found himself unmarked inside the Everton box, but his header went just wide of the post.
Calvert-Lewin then had a golden opportunity from close range, volleying over the crossbar after chesting it down in front of the Newcastle goal, and the two teams were level at the end of the first 45 minutes.
Everton vs Newcastle | English Premier League | Matchday 15
Anthony Gordon’s first shot of the game came in the 55th minute, and the home fans erupted when it flew harmlessly wide of the post.
amaal During a period of pressure from Everton, Lascelles called for calm on the pitch, with Jack Harrison and McNeil both causing problems in wide areas.
The home side had another chance in the 63rd minute when Calvert-Lewin met a deep corner, but his header sailed over the crossbar, giving Newcastle another let-off at Goodison Park.
Gordon then curled one just wide of the target in the 65th minute, before Idrissa Gueye missed Newcastle’s goal from distance as the game entered the final 20 minutes.
Doucoure was unable to get enough power on his header in the 75th minute after receiving a cross into the Newcastle box.
Everton finally broke through in the 79th minute, with McNeil scoring after a mistake by Trippier, who conceded possession inside his own half, allowing the Toffees attacker to drive into the box and fire past the diving Dubravka.
In the 82nd minute, Almiron had a golden opportunity to equalize from close range, but the forward somehow headed over the crossbar when it appeared easier to score.
Everton doubled their lead in the 86th minute, with Doucoure scoring from close range after Harrison’s low cross was fed into the box, and Beto added a third in stoppage time after beating the Newcastle offside trap and firing under the advancing goalkeeper, with the goal awarded after a lengthy VAR review.
Everton’s next match is at home against Chelsea on Sunday, while Newcastle’s league season continues away to Tottenham Hotspur on the same day.