Barry punishes Hornicek fumble as Everton beat Newcastle for second time in four days

Everton won 1-0 at St James’ Park on Monday night, beating Newcastle United for the second time in four days and leaving the home crowd booing their side off at the final whistle.

The only goal came four minutes into the second half and it was one the Newcastle goalkeeper will want to forget. James Garner slid Tyrique George in down the left, George’s shot went through the hands of Lukas Hornicek on a slick surface, and Thierno Barry tapped into an empty net from a yard out.

It was Barry’s eighth goal of the season in all competitions. He is Everton’s only recognised striker this season, and he had a chance to score earlier, failing to connect from seven yards in a first half in which Merlin Rohl also shot narrowly over.

Newcastle barely threatened. Anthony Elanga was denied by Jordan Pickford and the woodwork, Jacob Ramsey volleyed just wide with about 11 minutes left, and Pickford saved from Yoane Wissa at close range in stoppage time. Ramsey’s night ended badly: he was sent off with seconds left for two late tackles in quick succession, on Hayden Hackney and Harrison Armstrong.

“It was probably our best performance of the season,” Everton defender James Tarkowski said.

The win came days after Everton beat Newcastle 3-1 in the Carabao Cup, and it ended a run of two straight league defeats, to Chelsea and Arsenal. David Moyes’s side moved up to seventh in the table, without Jack Grealish, who was left out for a third game in a row for disciplinary reasons.

For Newcastle it was a fourth defeat in five matches in all competitions. They dropped to 13th, and the jeers at half-time and full time told their own story.