Goodison Is NOT A Happy Hunting Ground!

EVERTON: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Osman, Carsley, Arteta, Van der Meyde (Davies 78),Johnson (Beattie 71), Anichebe (McFadden 71).
Subs Not Used: Wright, Weir.

Goals: Anichebe 9, 58, Neville 62.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Solano, Ramage (Sibierski 37), Taylor, Huntington, Milner, Butt, Parker, Emre, Dyer (Pattison 78), Martins.
Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Rossi, Edgar.

Victor Anichebe enhanced his burgeoning reputation with two goals to upstage compatriot Obafemi Martins as Everton destroyed Newcastle at Goodison Park.

The 18-year-old scored either side of the break to put Everton 2-0 ahead, before captain Phil Neville wrapped up an emphatic victory with his first goal for the club.

Everton climbed out of the bottom three with a win over Newcastle which followed a week of recriminations and threats from manager David Moyes of dire action in the transfer window if things did not improve.

Having lost 4-0 at West Brom last weekend, Everton needed to rediscover their combative style, and quickly.

And in a game in which referee Howard Webb let far too much go but still booked six players - five from Newcastle - it was a header 54 seconds into the second period from Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo that secured victory for the Toffees.

2004/5 EVERTON 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 0

EVERTON: Martyn, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Watson, Carsley, Bent (McFadden 74), Cahill (Stubbs 89), Arteta, Kilbane, Ferguson (Beattie 63).
Subs Not Used: Wright, Pistone.

Goals: Weir 43, Cahill 59.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Carr (Ramage 45), Boumsong, Bramble, Babayaro, Ambrose, N'Zogbia, Jenas, Milner (Shearer 82), Ameobi, Kluivert.
Subs Not Used: Andrew O'Brien, Harper, Robert.

Everton are on the brink of the Champions League after a masterful destruction that sparked joyous scenes at Goodison Park.

Goals from veteran David Weir - his first since January 2002 - and another from top scorer Tim Cahill mean the Toffees can start planning for entry into Europe's elite competition for the first time since 1971.

Newcastle made the task easy. They had Shola Ameobi sent off for lashing out at Cahill and produced a limp, disinterested display, even though Cahill could easily have been sent off himself for a string of offences.

Ten bookings, two red cards, three penalties - and still Newcastle have not won this season.

Referee Rob Styles dominated an amazing match that saw him send off Laurent Robert and Gary Naysmith as the sides traded penalties.

Alan Shearer banged in two for Newcastle - he has now scored all five of their goals this season - while substitute Duncan Ferguson stepped up to fire home Everton's spot-kick to claim a point, Tomasz Radzinski having netted an earlier Everton equaliser.

The Hampshire referee went into the game with 11 cautions and three red cards from just two games this season. By the end he had taken that tally to 21 bookings and five reds, and sent players, fans and managers wild.

Is there anything Wayne Rooney can't do?

Fresh from rescuing England's dreams he returned to his beloved Everton to push them towards the Champions League and deal Newcastle's title ambitions a heavy blow.

Days after making his first start for the national team, Rooney scored an early goal to send Everton on the way to this crucial victory.

And, after Laurent Robert had produced a stunning equaliser, it was 17-year-old Rooney whose run and pass created the penalty converted by Dave Unsworth which sent Everton into fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.