Newcastle United remain closer to the bottom three than the top five of the Premier League after suffering three straight Premier League home defeats for the first time under Eddie Howe.
Despite twice coming from behind to equalise, the hosts appeared lethargic and short of ideas in attack throughout, while defensively the goals they conceded in a 3-2 loss were poor. Following reversals against Aston Villa and Brentford at St James’ Park, Newcastle are enduring their worst run in the top flight at home since early 2021 under Steve Bruce.
Everton opened the scoring in the 19th minute, when Jarrad Branthwaite glanced a James Garner corner in via the far post. Howe switched around his personnel in search of a revival, moving Anthony Gordon from centre-forward to left-wing, Nick Woltemade from No 8 to striker, and pulling Joelinton back into midfield.
That was rewarded as Jacob Ramsey’s shot deflected off Branthwaite and looped over a stranded Jordan Pickford. Yet but barely two minutes later, Beto pounced on a Nick Pope error to restore Everton’s lead.
Jacob Murphy did equalise with a volley after the break but, against almost immediately, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall crossed low for Thierno Barry to put Everton back in front — a lead which they did not relinquish a third time courtesy of a fine Pickford save late on to deny Tonali.
Here, The Athletic’s George Caulkin and Chris Waugh analyse the key talking points.
What was wrong with Jacob Ramsey?
It was enough to make Ramsey sick.
The midfielder had been Newcastle’s best player in a difficult and frustrating first half, scoring the team’s short-lived equaliser and offering dynamism in midfield.
The goal was equal parts finesse and fortuitous, with Ramsey’s shot preceded by a gorgeous pass inside from Sandro Tonali and followed by a big deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite.
Jacob Ramsey’s shot deflects off Jarrad Branthwaite and flies in (George Wood/Getty Images)
In spite of some unconvincing individual performances, the same 11 Newcastle players returned to the pitch after half-time but this, too, was only temporary.
As Newcastle prepared to kick-off towards the Gallowgate End, Ramsey began retching. Stuart Atwell, the referee, signalled to the bench for him to receive treatment and Paul Catterson, the club doctor, indicated he should come off.
Ramsey was replaced by Joe Willock before the game resumed, robbing Newcastle of arguably their most effective player and reducing options in a midfield already lacking the injured Bruno Guimaraes and Lewis Miley.
Kieran Trippier consoles Jacob Ramsey as he is taken ill before the start of the second half (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Howe had already shifted his misfiring midfield once, moving Nick Woltemade from the left to a central attacking position and switching Anthony Gordon, who began the match as a false nine, to the wing.
It was a sickener in more ways than one.
George Caulkin
Is it time for Nick Pope to have a breather?
Newcastle have problems in defence and they have problems in the goalkeeping position. That is a lethal combination and it is unsurprising, therefore, that it is three clean sheets in 29 games in all competitions and just two in 21 matches in the Premier League. Howe’s side have shipped at least two goals in each of their last four home games, too.
A dozen matches have passed since Newcastle last registered a shutout, against PSV Eindhoven last month, and it is hard to envisage when the next one will arrive. Even Qarabag managed to breach Newcastle’s defences, home and away.
The marking for Branthwaite’s opener was poor, before Pope then gifted Everton their lead back just two minutes after Newcastle had equalised. McNeil curled a speculative shot from 25 yards towards goal — it was only just to Pope’s right — but the goalkeeper dived and parried.
He then simply did not react quickly enough, while no Newcastle defender retreated either, allowing Beto to finish into an empty net.
Beto converts the rebound after Nick Pope’s error (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Pope was also at least partly at fault for the goal Newcastle conceded in Baku and he should have kept out Manchester City’s opener at the Etihad in the Premier League earlier this month.
There is a valid argument to suggest Pope warrants being dropped, yet the issue is that Aaron Ramsdale hardly convinced during his stint in goal towards the back end of 2025 when the first-choice shot-stopper was injured.
Signing a goalkeeper was already a priority for Newcastle during the upcoming summer window and with every passing game the importance of recruiting a top-class shot-stopper keeps being underlined.
Chris Waugh
Whatever happened to Fortress St James’?
Newcastle’s home form has long been a bedrock, but that foundation has crumbled in recent weeks and cheers have been replaced by jeers. The boos at half and full-time did not feel harsh.
For the first time under Eddie Howe’s management, Newcastle have lost three successive Premier League matches on Tyneside, a faith-shaker for a club which prides itself on making journeys north uncomfortable for their opponents. At present, they are doing the opposite.
Jacob Murphy’s second equaliser briefly gave Newcastle hope (George Wood/Getty Images)
Aston Villa, Brentford and Everton have now come to Gallowgate and left with three points; all three scored two goals or more.
Brentford was so poor that it forced a mini-reset for Howe and his players, which led to an uptick and three wins from four in all competitions, but this represented another regression.
The problem here is obvious. For all that Newcastle promptly won at Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Qarabag post Brentford, their away record remains desperately mediocre. In the Premier League, they have won three away fixtures and lost seven and been a soft touch, piling pressure on them to perform at St James’.
Newcastle’s home form has deserted them(George Wood/Getty Images)
They are now paying a steep price for this and, unless Howe can find a remedy, a return to European football will be a distant dream. They are porous and their game-management is dreadful.
Put simply, Newcastle need to win against Manchester United on Wednesday.
George Caulkin
What did Eddie Howe say?
We will bring you the Newcastle manager’s thoughts once he has completed his post-match media duties.
What next for Newcastle?
Wednesday, March 4: Manchester United (Home), Premier League, 8:15pm UK, 3:15pm ET