JUST IN: DAVID MOYES HAILS DEWSBURY-HALL’S PERFORMANCE AS "BEST SINCE INJURY RETURN."
Everton win a 3-2 thriller: Read how Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jordan Pickford inspired a seventh away victory at St James’ Park.
David Moyes couldn’t stop praising Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Even as Dewsbury-Hall made his way to the bench, Moyes followed, still full of compliments. If this match had been at Goodison Park, 50,000 Everton fans would’ve been on their feet, cheering him on. But this was an away game, and everyone – Moyes, his staff, and the 3,000 travelling supporters – was focused on holding their nerve and seeing the job through. Eight tense minutes and one brilliant Jordan Pickford save later, they were all celebrating Everton’s seventh away win of the season.
Plenty of Royal Blue shirts deserved credit for that, but Pickford’s heroics behind enemy lines stood out. Still, Dewsbury-Hall really pulled the strings. He's become the heartbeat of Moyes’ Everton.
When Jacob Murphy’s scruffy volley deflected past Pickford in the 83rd minute, Everton could’ve let their heads drop. Newcastle had thrown everything at them in the second half, pinning them back, but Everton handled the pressure with surprising composure.
Murphy’s goal came after Newcastle’s second equaliser of the afternoon. Pickford was left stranded when an Everton defender’s desperate block awkwardly redirected the ball past him.
At that point, you’d bet on Newcastle going for the win. Dewsbury-Hall had other plans.
Home fans were still celebrating when Dewsbury-Hall, the former Chelsea man, burst through a crowd of black and white shirts, driving deep into the box. He sent in a cross that landed perfectly for Thierno Barry, who bundled it in, which sparked wild celebrations among the Everton fans tucked high up in St James’ Park.
What made this response so impressive was that it wasn’t the first time Everton had bounced back. They’d taken the lead in the 20th minute when Jarrad Branthwaite powered home James Garner’s corner. After a frustrating effort against Manchester United on Monday, where Everton barely tested Senne Lammens, it took just one well-worked set piece for the story to change. Branthwaite’s header ricocheted in off the post after a lively start.
Fifteen minutes later, Newcastle pulled level. You could see it coming, but there was still a big slice of luck: Jacob Ramsey’s shot took a deflection off Branthwaite and left Pickford helpless.
But Everton didn’t sulk. Within two minutes, they were back in front. Dwight McNeil, making a surprise return to the starting lineup after his Crystal Palace move fell through, let fly from distance. Nick Pope parried but spilt the ball right into the path of Beto, who didn’t hesitate, just like he did against Brighton.
Beto was a constant menace. He bullied Malick Thiaw all afternoon, beating him in the air and on the ground. Moyes was left with his head in his hands at one point, though Beto shrugged off Thiaw near the halfway line, raced clear, and hammered a shot past Pope, only to see it crash off the crossbar.
It felt like one of those moments that could haunt Everton, especially when Murphy made it 2-2. Not this time.
Pickford’s incredible save from Sandro Tonali’s stoppage-time volley kept Everton in front – a full-blooded strike that Pickford somehow pushed onto the woodwork. Dewsbury-Hall did his part too, surging forward after Murphy’s goal to set up the winner and getting stuck in all over the pitch. He even threw himself in front of Anthony Gordon’s shot from a distance and twice made sure Tonali knew he couldn’t bully Garner off the ball without a fight.
When Newcastle threatened to overwhelm Everton, Dewsbury-Hall calmed his teammates and led by example. Moyes loves him, the fans are quickly following, and when Everton play well, Dewsbury-Hall is usually at the centre of it. His passing range kept turning defence into attack, and Moyes later called it his best display since coming back from the hamstring injury that wrecked his Christmas.
Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye played their part, as did Garner back in his favourite central midfield role. McNeil won the ball back in his own half to start the move that led to Branthwaite’s goal and linked play smartly in midfield. Vitalii Mykolenko dealt with Newcastle’s set pieces again and again, while
ASTON VILLA WARNED UNAI EMERY AND MORGAN ROGERS COULD EXIT THIS SUMMER
Unai Emery and Morgan Rogers are reportedly set to leave Aston Villa if the club fails to secure Champions League football.
Aston Villa find themselves at a critical juncture this summer, with warnings circulating that head coach Unai Emery and standout player Morgan Rogers might be on their way out, assuming one key condition isn’t met. The club's initial momentum in the Premier League seems to be slipping as its chances of Champions League qualification dwindle amid a noticeable drop in performance.
Injuries and questionable recruitment decisions have clearly taken a toll on Emery’s squad, which once looked like surprise title challengers but now faces the possibility of finishing outside the top five. After a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United, Villa sits fourth in the league, trailing Liverpool by two points, with Chelsea not far behind in sixth place.
While there’s still a pathway via winning the Europa League, concerns about Villa’s transfer dealings have been raised. Alex Crook, talkSPORT’s transfer correspondent, expressed doubts about their recent market moves during a discussion with former Villa player Agbonlahor. Crook recalled last January’s window, when Villa made high-profile signings like Marcus Rashford and Marcus Asensio in a serious push for Champions League football efforts that ultimately fell short. This season, he felt the acquisitions lacked the same ambition or quality. The loan signing of Douglas Luiz, despite his familiarity with the club, raised questions since he was rejected by Nottingham Forest and Juventus. Similarly, Tammy Abraham’s form in Turkey left Crook unconvinced that his signing would elevate the squad.
There’s also speculation about Emery’s future tied closely to the team’s success. Crook suggested that if Villa miss out on Champions League football, Emery might not be staying around much longer. Agbonlahor was swift to agree, bluntly stating that Emery would likely be gone.
The uncertainty doesn't stop there. Morgan Rogers, despite having recently signed a new contract, could also be at risk of departure if Villa fail to reach Europe’s elite competition. Crook mentioned he is investigating whether Rogers’ contract includes a release clause, given that other clubs would be interested in the young England international. Agbonlahor backed this up, highlighting Rogers’ potential impact at the upcoming World Cup and implying that without Champions League football, Villa could lose both their manager and key talent, risking a slide to becoming a mid-table team, similar to Fulham.
The stakes couldn’t be clearer. Achieving Champions League qualification might not just define this season but shape Villa’s trajectory for the next several years. If they succeed and Emery remains, the club could build on a promising foundation. Fail to do so, and they face tough questions about ambition, retention, and their place in the Premier League hierarchy.
KONSTANTINOS MAVROPANOS EQUALIZER LIFTS WEST HAM OUT OF RELEGATION ZONE AT CITY’S EXPENSE
Manchester City fall nine points behind Arsenal after Konstantinos Mavropanos earns West Ham a vital 1-1 draw.
Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by a revitalised West Ham in a match that carried significant implications across the Premier League standings. Early in the game, Bernardo Silva gave City the lead with a deft chip, but Konstantinos Mavropanos responded before halftime with a headed equaliser, securing a crucial point for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
That goal did more than just lift West Ham out of the relegation zone; it also played a crucial role in the title race. Arsenal, Mavropanos’ former club, had already beaten Everton 2-0 earlier that day and now leads Manchester City by nine points after City’s second consecutive slip in the league. While Arsenal will take a boost from West Ham’s performance, Nottingham Forest, Nuno’s previous team, find themselves sliding into the relegation zone due to this result.
Despite the setback, Pep Guardiola insists the title chase is far from decided. After the match, he told TNT Sports, “It’s not over because we didn’t lose. We will continue. We have an incredible team spirit.” His midfielder Rodri shared a similar view, acknowledging the gap but emphasising their determination: “Maybe the title race is over, maybe not. We’re not giving up; we’ll keep fighting. It’s tough, but we’ve been through what it takes to win. We showed today a bit of the ups and downs of the season. Sometimes the final pass or strike makes the difference. Football is about goals, and we just couldn’t find the right finishers.”
Rodri also highlighted how City created chances and controlled much of the game, but couldn’t convert that dominance into more goals. That subtle difference often separates winners from the rest.
On the other side, Nuno Espirito Santo praised his team’s defensive effort in his post-match interview with Match of the Day. He described the defence as "heroic", pointing to the sacrifices made across the team. “The midfield worked incredibly hard, and the forwards helped by cutting off passing lanes to slow their play,” he explained. “Overall, especially in the first half, we were compact and limited City’s opportunities.”
This draw leaves both teams with clear messages moving forward: West Ham fights to stay safe, while City must regroup quickly if they want to keep pace with Arsenal’s commanding lead. As the season edges toward its climax, the smallest moments on the pitch could define who lifts the trophy. What do you think? Can City mount a comeback, or is the title race slipping away? Feel free to share your thoughts below.
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