Everton Put Three Past Newscastle

…Everton earn second win in 13 league games
…McCarthy scores first of season
…Captain Coloccini sent off for foul on Lennon
…Cisse suspended, replacement Gouffran gives away penalty

Everton eased their relegation fears as they beat 10-man Newcastle with a first Premier League win at Goodison Park in three months.

James McCarthy scored after Romelu Lukaku's lay-off but Tim Krul was at fault after misjudging the tame shot.

Newcastle striker Yoan Gouffran tripped Aaron Lennon in the penalty area with Lukaku scoring from the spot.

Three minutes later Fabricio Coloccini saw red after he fouled Lennon, with Ross Barkley adding a third late on.

The result moved Everton six points clear of the relegation zone and after struggling to combine Europa League excursions with Premier League survival, Roberto Martinez successfully freshened up his team with a second victory in four days.

Coming after a 2-1 win over Dynamo Kiev on Thursday, it relieved the pressure on the Toffees, and was a much-needed response after 18th-placed Burnley beat Manchester City on Saturday.

While Everton boosted their confidence ahead of the return leg in Kiev on Thursday, Newcastle were the architects of their own downfall.

Only Krul will know what he was doing when he seemed to dive away from McCarthy's shot towards the centre of the goal, while a three-minute spell of madness from Gouffran and Coloccini ended the game as a contest, although Newcastle argued the red card was harsh.

Part of Everton's problem this season has been an over-reliance on Lukaku's goals, so it was a welcome change for the home supporters to see an unlikely marksman as McCarthy claimed his first of the season.

Lukaku still played his part. Phil Jagielka drilled a long pass into the forward, and the Belgian held up the ball before McCarthy latched onto it and struck with Krul already falling to his right.

Goodison Park, which has been a nervous place at times this season, was energised but after that lift Newcastle began to find their feet again.

The visitors' best chance of the first half came early on when Gabriel Obertan's shot was saved by Tim Howard with Mike Williamson's follow-up effort blocked on the line by McCarthy. The Newcastle defender appealed for handball, but referee Martin Atkinson disagreed.

Any hopes of getting back into the game were extinguished early in the second half.

Attempting to dribble on the edge of the penalty area, Gouffran – in for the suspended Papiss Cisse – lost the ball and then rashly caught the on-rushing Lennon. Lukaku gave Krul no chance from the spot for his 17th goal of the season.

Three minutes later the game appeared to be settled. Arouna Kone, one of five new inclusions in the Everton line-up, went on a marauding run but when the ball fell loose, Lennon picked it up and was chopped down by Coloccini.

The contact did not look very strong but Atkinson saw enough to send off the Newcastle captain and, with a three-game ban looming, he will miss the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland on 5 April.

There were further chances for Everton as Kone and Leon Osman went close before Barkley rounded Krul for his second of the season and an emphatic victory.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez: “We've been growing during the season to be in a position so that whatever changes you make to the team they will be ready to perform. We showed today that we are ready to cope with the European demands.

“I am delighted in the manner we managed the game. We took our chances and we kept a clean sheet and took control of a big occasion because we had to win the game.”

Newcastle boss John Carver: “Even at 11 v 11 we were second best, we started brightly, and had a chance of a penalty but we don't get those so that's no surprise. We had our best chances when we went down to 10 men and the loss of Fabricio Coloccini for the next three games is even more disappointing. I've looked at it from four or five angles and I'm not totally convinced [it was a red card].

“The biggest disappointment is missing our defender and captain for the derby game [against Sunderland on 5 April]. Our record is not good against Sunderland so we needed him for that. We will just have to deal with it.”

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