Toffees seal fifth spot

Everton clinched fifth spot and a place in the Uefa Cup with a 3-1 win over Newcastle at Goodison Park

Yakubu at the double for Everton

Everton clinched fifth spot and a place in the Uefa Cup with a 3-1 win over Newcastle at Goodison Park. Yakubu Aiyebeni gave Everton the lead on 28 minutes when he headed home Maunel Fernandes's free-kick to end his goal drought. Newcastle drew level two minutes after the break when Michael Owen scored the spot after Charles N'Zogbia was felled by Joseph Yobo. Everton restored their lead on 70 minutes when Joleon Lescott scored his tenth goal of the season with a well-taken volley at the far post. The home side made the game safe eight minutes from time when Yakubu scored with ease from the penalty spot after Leon Osman was brought down by Steven Taylor. It was 20 year-old Andy Carroll - making his full league debut - who had the first shot, an effort on the turn that forced Tim Howard into a save to his right. Manuel Fernandes fired over from 20 yards for Everton, while Yakubu saw a low drive just miss the far post, with Anichebe just inches away from a connection. Referee Peter Walton had been lenient over a few tackles and some blatant holding but booked Damien Duff for pulling back Fernandes.

Breakthrough

Fernandes got up to take the free-kick himself, and lifted it into the box for Yakubu to power a header past Steve Harper, his 20th of the season, after 28 minutes. Newcastle's response was a 25-yard free-kick from N'Zogbia that dipped a foot over Howard's bar, but they were penned back from then on. Yakubu had the ball in the net again with a close-range header, set-up by Lescott's nod back into the six-yard box. But Lescott was judged marginally offside and the effort was ruled out. Harper punched away from Fernandes and Leon Osman curled a 20-yarder just wide as Everton sought to make the most of possession and territorial advantage. Then Harper managed to save a Yakubu effort at full stretch, before fumbling the ball behind as he lay on the pitch. The barrage continued when Anichebe saw a powerful header fly just over before Harper saved well from an Osman drive. Newcastle were hanging on now for the break and only a Harper kick away from Steven Pienaar avoided more trouble. Newcastle replaced the injured Abdoulaye Faye with Claudio Cacapa at the break, and they were level within 30 seconds of the restart.

Penalty

Joseph Yobo, caught off balance by a swerving run by N'Zogbia, sent the Newcastle forward flying in the box, and referee Walton pointed to the spot. Up stepped Michael Owen to fire home the penalty, to become the first visiting player to score in four successive appearance at Goodison Park since Tom Finney in the 1950s. Storm clouds were now enveloping, with accompanying thunder and lightning, as Harper superbly tipped over a swerving Fernandes free-kick. The atmosphere was very different now. But Everton were ahead again after 70 minutes when Fernandes' chip into the box was flicked on by Steven Taylor, and there was Lescott to role the ball into the far corner. Harper had to save at Anichebe's feet before Everton got their third. Osman's run into the box after 82 minutes was met with Taylor's challenge, taking man and not ball and referee Walton evened up the spot-kicks with one for Yakubu to drill home.

Everton	Team Statistics	Newcastle United
3	Goals	1
1	1st Half Goals	0
10	Shots on Target	2
9	Shots off Target	1
2	Blocked Shots	1
6	Corners	2
11	Fouls	13
1	Offsides	2
0	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
83.1	Passing Success	82
17	Tackles	14
88.2	Tackles Success	64.3
54.6	Possession	45.4
57.9	Territorial Advantage	42.1