Duff stops rot as Newcastle grab point

AFP - 5 October 2008 19:40

Newcastle United´s Irish midfielder Damien Duff celebrates equalising against Everton during their English Premier League football match at Goodison Park in Liverpool. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Damien Duff stopped the rot for Newcastle as his second half equaliser earned a 2-2 draw at Everton on Sunday.

Newcastle's interim manager Joe Kinnear had announced his arrival on Tyneside with a foul-mouthed rant at local journalists and he must have been preparing another blast, for his players this time, when Everton roared into a two-goal lead at Goodison Park.

But Newcastle recovered from the shock of falling behind to Mikel Arteta's penalty and a Marouane Fellaini strike to take their first point in five league matches.

Steven Taylor gave Newcastle a lifeline just before half-time and Duff's first league goal since September 2006 lifted Kinnear's side one place to third from bottom and, more importantly, gave them hope of a surge up the table.

Kinnear watched from the stands as he served out a suspension from his last job at Nottingham Forest and he will take heart from Newcastle's gutsy display.

"We had two kicked off the line, we were 2-0 down, we pushed the game all the way and if there was anyone going to win the game it was us," Kinnear said.

"We have worked two, three sessions morning and afternoon since I have arrived at the club. I think it is starting to show.

"I was very much concerned that maybe we didn't have enough experience in the side on the pitch, but I am an optimist."

Kinnear missed Taylor's goal as he left his seat just before the interval and did not see Duff scoring early in the second half either as police stopped him passing a message to the bench.

"I was racing down at half-time when a goal was scored, then I was racing back up again," he said.

"I wanted to get some information onto the bench but of course the busy police got busy as usual and sent me back upstairs again. In between all this I'm missing the goals but it was a great effort by everyone concerned."

Newcastle were under pressure from the start against an Everton side desperate to make amends for their midweek UEFA Cup exit to Standard Liege.

Louis Saha fired wide, Ayegbeni Yakubu scooped his effort over the crossbar and Arteta saw a free-kick curl over as the hosts started brightly.

Everton should have been ahead after seven minutes when Yakubu turned Claudio Cacapa far too easily as a ball came in from the left but the Nigerian stabbed a 12-yard effort just wide.

Newcastle responded when Charles N'Zogbia appeared in yards of space on the left to fire a cross-shot just wide of the far post.

But Everton were ahead after 17 minutes when Nicky Butt was penalised for a sliding tackle on Leighton Baines. Referee Howard Webb had no doubt over the award of a penalty and Arteta slotted past Shay Given.

Newcastle didn't let their heads drop and Tim Howard had to push away a shot from Michael Owen, then Taylor's follow-up effort was chested off the line by Baines.

But Everton threatened every time they went forward in the first half. Yakubu was next to go close as the Nigerian sent a near-post cross from Steven Pienaar just wide.

A second goal for the hosts duly arrived in the 35th minute when Fellaini met a Baines cross in the six-yard box and stabbed in his first Everton goal off the crossbar.

But Newcastle were given a lifeline when Taylor headed home at the far post seconds before the break from Geremi's cross.

Inspired by the prospect of a point, and perhaps Kinnear's half time team-talk, Newcastle drew level a minute after the break.

Taylor beat Everton's offside trap and crossed from the right wing towards Duff, who steered in the equaliser.

Suddenly it was Newcastle coming forward. Saha almost sliced a corner into his own net and Howard saved from Charles N'Zogbia.

Leon Osman forced a fine save from Given as Everton regained some of their composure, but N'Zgobia could have won it when he met Shola Ameobi's cross, only for Baines to clear off the line.