Regardless of how this game goes, David Moyes will be looking back on what has been a successful campaign.
ot just have Everton out-performed their more generously funded neighbours so far but they now have a striker who knows how to put the ball in the net on a regular basis.
Though two draws in the last two games smacks of a side cruising to the end of the season. However Everton dominated Wolves last weekend and were unlucky not to have gotten a second against Stoke a week earlier. If there’s one word which has been uniformly applied to Everton teams under Moyes it’s ‘competitive’.
Newcastle may have far more to play for as their Champions League dream remains alive but Everton will be going hard for the win in front of a packed Goodison Park.
Alan Pardew’s side have impressed this year but they’ve stumbled a little in recent weeks. A 4-0 hammering at the hands of Bolton and a more acceptable 2-0 loss away to Man City have blotted their copy book over the last three games. Thos losses did bookmark a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge so Moyes won’t be taking any liberties at the back. Particularly not with the in-form Papiss Cisse.
Everton have kept six clean sheet in their last ten games in all competitions and have managed shut outs in their last three games at home. Newcastle have failed to score in tow of their last three games so an Everton clean sheet at 21/10 is well worth backing.
Newcastle have also failed to win a game where they’ve conceded first this season. If Everton score first at 5/6 then they’ll be massive favourites to win the match. Currently you can back a home win with Paddy Power at 5/4.
Obviously Nikica Jelavic is the man to back in the goal scorer markets. The Croat is well priced at 11/2 to score first and 13/8 to score anytime. Despite not finding the net in Everton’s last two games he still has seven in his last six games, bringing his Everton total to 13 in 15 games since his January arrival.
With a boisterous home crowd looking for a positive end to a positive season, Newcastle will need to put in a great showing to get something from this game. Everton will show little sympathy for their Champions League ambitions and a home win at 5/4 will be a fitting ending for Jelavic and Co.