Alex Iwobi boosts Everton survival bid with late winner against Newcastle

Alex Iwobi’s goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time ignited 10-man Everton’s fight against relegation with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle at a bouncing Goodison Park.

With a horrible April fixture list to come, this game was billed as “must win”, but after Allan’s 83rd-minute sending off – their second red card in successive games – a point seemed the best they could hope for.

However, in the 14 additional minutes played due to the incursion of a protester who tied himself to a goalpost and the VAR check for the Brazilian’s dismissal, there was a brief opening and Iwobi took it clinically for only his second league goal of the season.

It was only Everton’s third top-flight win since September, but the three-point gap it opened up over 18th-placed Watford, over whom they have two matches in hand, was just the breathing space they needed as the pressure started to become intolerable.

Frank Lampard’s side also discovered some much-needed resilience which will serve them well in the run-in as they battled to only their second Premier League clean sheet since November.

Revved up by a raucous crowd, Everton’s early tempo was good, with Ben Godfrey heading weakly at Martin Dubravka from a corner.

However, once their initial energy had not established the control they wanted, momentum quickly shifted to the in-form team.

Chris Wood’s gentle nod towards goal was easily claimed by Asmir Begovic – in for Jordan Pickford who, along with midfielder Donny Van De Beek, was ill – while Miguel Almiron’s shot was deflected wide by Mason Holgate.

Everton’s problem was that when they did gain possession, Richarlison was so isolated up front that by the time the ball carrier – usually Anthony Gordon or Demarai Gray – had waited for options