Everton and Newcastle United were both left frustrated after playing out a scrappy stalemate at Goodison Park.
Newcastle United played the more controlled football in a frenetic contest but squandered a first-half penalty when former Everton forward Anthony Gordon saw a first-half penalty saved by England keeper Jordan Pickford.
After James Tarkowski was rightly penalised for foolishly dragging Sandro Tonali to the floor at a corner.
Gordon saw a first-half penalty saved
Gordon had been taunted by Everton’s fans from the first whistle but missed the chance to silence his tormentors when his poor spot-kick was saved by Pickford. Gordon was seen taunting the Everton goalkeeper but the diving Pickford maintained his focus and dove down to his left and made the save.
Everton had earlier seen an Abdoulaye Doucoure header ruled out for offside and Tonali’s shot was cleared off the line by Iliman Ndiaye as both sides tried to make the breakthrough in a scrappy encounter.
This game should have been better and it was one of the picks of the weekend in our ‘sport this week‘ But Everton goalkeeper Pickford and Newcastle United’s Gordon were the central characters in a drama that enlivened a game high on endeavour but desperately short on anything resembling high quality.
Gordon missed another big chance late on but Everton also wasted a huge opportunity when substitute Idrissa Gueye blazed over an open goal after Newcastle United keeper Nick Pope had saved from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but were turned away by the referee.
Watch as Match of the Day’s Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer analyse how different outcomes from penalty appeals shaped the goalless draw between Everton and Newcastle. A decent watch especially given Gordon saw a first-half penalty saved by Pickford.