Offside Blunder Costs Everton

Everton and their fans are entitled to be aggrieved that in their game against Newcastle United at St James’ Park a moment of sheer incompetence from a linesman allowed the home side the lead and ultimately, as things turned out, deprived the visitors of the chance to take three points from a methodical and determined performance.

As rehearsed, the Everton side stepped out at Newcastle’s left flank free kick, leaving Shola Ameobi clearly in an offside position. He glanced sheepishly at the linesman when he received the ball and was shocked to see that no flag had been raised. All that remained was for him to drill the ball past Howard to give his side an improbable (and strictly illegal) 13th minute lead.

So there was an element of justice when Cahill seized on Arteta’s clever cross to head Everton level 6 minutes before the interval, and in the way David Moyes’ side survived strong Newcastle pressure in a second half which saw both teams reduced to 10 as red cards were shown to Bramble and Hibbert.