Fixture - Everton vs Newcastle

Match report

Everton’s hopes of climbing to third in the Barclays Premier League were dashed by two second-half goals from Demba Ba as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Newcastle United at Goodison Park.

Victor Anichebe thought he had given Everton a 88th-minute winner when he turned neatly in the penalty area and scored, but barely two minutes later Ba picked up Shola Ameobi’s chest-on and finished calmly beyond Tim Howard.

Ba had come on at the break and soon made an impact, levelling the scores after Leighton Baines had given Everton a 15th-minute lead.

In a pulsating match, Nikica Jelavic thought he had given Everton an early lead when he followed up Steve Harper’s parry of Marouane Fellaini’s shot but he was ruled offside and in attempting to score collided with a post, ultimately forcing his withdrawal for Anichebe.

Everton fans did not have to wait long to see a genuine goal. Baines exchanged a neat one-two down the left with Steven Pienaar before slotting the ball across Steve Harper in the Newcastle goal.

Baines was involved throughout the first half, leading many attacks as well as making a goalline clearance. Pienaar should have doubled the lead when robbing James Perch but instead of playing in Loen Osman, the South African chose to shoot and put the ball wide. Kevin Mirallas, the summer signing impressing on his first league start, had a couple of good chances while Phil Jagielka shaved the post with a volley from Jelavic's layoff.

The closest Newcastle came to a goal in the first half was when Papiss Cisse volleyed just wide after a scramble in the Everton area.

Ba was introduced for Sylvain Marveax at the break and soon made an impact. Yohan Cabaye won the ball in midfield and played a through-ball to the Senegal striker, who put a first-time shot across Tim Howard into the net.

Cisse almost scored a second for Newcastle when his volley of James Perch’s lofted pass was just over. At the other end Fellaini had a goal ruled out for offside.

Anichebe thought he had restored Everton’s lead with 12 minutes remaining when his header was tipped on to the bar by Harper and Mike Williamson cleared off the line. The Nigerian striker made amends with a neat turn and shot in the area from Pienaar’s pass but Everton’s joy was short-lived as Ameobi, another substitute, chested-on a long punt and Ba finished coolly beyond the advancing Howard.

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