Everton may have left it late but Alex Iwobi's strike in added time earned his side a much-needed three points against an in-form Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Thursday night.
Having been reduced to 10-men when midfielder Allan was sent off after a lengthy VAR check changed a yellow card to a straight red, Frank Lampard's side never gave up and kept pushing to send the supporters inside the stadium delighted.
The match was delayed by eight minutes after the break when a protestor chained himself to the Gwladys Street goalpost but the bizarre incident refused to knock the Toffees off their stride as they continued to search for a winner. The victory opened up a three-point gap between Everton and 18th-placed Watford.
With two games in hand over the teams around them, Lampard's gave themselves a terrific opportunity to further the gap and over the teams in the bottom three and the ECHO has taken a look at what the national media has said about Everton's crucial victory over the Magpies....
READ MORE: Everton players ratings as Alex Iwobi heroic and three others superb against Newcastle United
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Carl Markham for the Independent wrote:
"With a horrible April fixture list to come, this game was billed as 'must win,' but after Allan’s 83rd-minute sending off – their second red card in successive games – a point seemed the best they could hope for.
"However, in the 14 additional minutes played due to the incursion of a protester who tied himself to a goalpost and the VAR check for the Brazilian’s dismissal, there was a brief opening and Iwobi took it clinically for only his second league goal of the season.
"It was only Everton’s third top-flight win since September, but the three-point gap it opened up over 18th-placed Watford, over whom they have two matches in hand, was just the breathing space they needed as the pressure started to become intolerable.
"Frank Lampard’s side also discovered some much-needed resilience which will serve them well in the run-in as they battled to only their second Premier League clean sheet since November."
David Maddock of the Daily Mirror wrote:
"It was one for the ages, a night of insane drama that Everton's theatre impresario chairman Bill Kenwright would be proud of. Miraculously, magnificently, Alex Iwobi came up with a finale which brought the house down…almost literally, such was the noise it inspired amongst the Goodison faithful.
"With his side reduced to 10 men - after another desperately controversial VAR call - and clinging desperately on to a precious point against a physically imposing Newcastle, he scored a quite wondrous goal in the 99th minute that provoked scenes of utter carnage.
"New manager Frank Lampard, overcome with a frenzied emotion, revealed afterwards he broke his hand amid the celebrations. Hard men were crying in the stands. The noise wasn’t just deafening, it was sonic boom territory."
Adam Jones of the ECHO wrote:
"Down to ten men, aggrieved by decisions that had gone against them and under the cosh from an opponent in a strong run of form - they needed to find any way. Step up, Alex Iwobi.
"Arguably, the narrative couldn't have been more fitting. This is someone who has been maligned in some quarters from his arrival at Goodison Park, someone who has struggled to regularly make his mark under multiple managers.
"He might have felt a little unfortunate to have been dropped under Frank Lampard for recent matches, and perhaps that gave him a point to prove on Thursday evening.
"It would be unfair to call this a "zero to hero" story, because the winger's stock wasn't as low as that before this game.
"But my goodness, he stood up to be counted when everyone in the stadium needed it most."
Dominic King of the Daily Mail wrote:
"By the end, the stadium was shaking. They were banging on wooden panels, they were singing louder than they had done in years and the celebrations were a throwback to glorious days of old.
"Everton, for much of a spiteful and raucous night, had showed why they were being sucked further into the relegation mire. They had barely produced a shot of note, they had huffed and puffed with no reward and a side with more gumption than Newcastle would have profited.
"But then, deep into 14 minutes of stoppage time that had been added on because of a protestor chaining himself to the Gwladys Street goalpost, Everton — down to 10 men after Allan had been sent off — launched an attack.
"Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on as a substitute, surged forward and saw Alex Iwobi dashing beyond him. It needed a good pass and the striker delivered, sending his team-mate careering into Newcastle’s penalty area, the path to opportunity opening up in front of him.
"Iwobi has been derided in the years he has spent on Merseyside but he took aim and delivered a shot that sped into the corner of the Park End net. Bedlam ensued, as Frank Lampard and his coaching staff spilled onto the pitch and fans tried to join them.
"This goal was huge. It may well have changed the course of a season that was heading for absolute calamity. It may well be the moment that keeps Everton in the Premier League. Certainly the noise at the end, the whistle and the screaming and the frenzy, suggested that will be the case."
