Ba compounds Everton frustration

Everton 2 Newcastle United 2

Substitute Victor Anichebe, whose earlier header had appeared to cross the line but was not given, thought he had won it three minutes from time but Demba Ba scored his second of the night even later.

Leighton Baines had put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute only for Ba to score with virtually his first touch after coming on at half-time.

Marouane Fellaini’s effort was ruled out on a questionable offside decision before Anichebe’s disallowed goal added to the controversy.

“Our play was very good and I thought we should have taken all three points, and we didn’t,” Everton boss David Moyes said.

“It’s not just conceding a late second goal, we had other goals I thought should have been allowed.”

On the Anichebe incident, he added: “It’s a difficult call but if you’re a linesman on the goal line, you would hope you would see if the ball goes over the line — that’s your job.

“(And Fellaini was) onside, it was really good play and sometimes you need decisions to go for you, and they didn’t tonight.”

While the post-match discussion was all about technology and officials’ decisions, understandably the pre-match focus was on recognising the fight of Hillsborough campaigners in their battle for justice after the publication of last week’s independent report.

The club’s approach was pitched perfectly as, in addition to two mascots wearing an Everton number nine shirt and a Liverpool top with the number 6 and ball boys bearing the number 96, the names of all victims of the disaster scrolled across Goodison’s television screen accompanied by the Hollies’ ‘He Ain’t Heavy...He’s My Brother’.

Moyes, in his programme notes, had summed up the feeling on Merseyside by writing: “I and everyone at Everton stands alongside the Hillsborough families.

“I am a football supporter and a father and I applaud the families who continued to fight for the ones they loved.

“The outcome (of the findings of the independent panel) was nothing short of disgraceful.’’

Nikica Jelavic had an early goal disallowed for offside but it set the tempo and when the breakthrough came in the 15th minute it was no more than the hosts deserved.

A 17-pass move merely reflected the Toffees’ dominance as Baines raced onto a clever backheel from Steven Pienaar to fire past Steve Harper, in for the injured Tim Krul.

The loss of Croatia international Jelavic with a knee injury just before the interval was a blow to Everton but not as much as Ba’s equaliser just after the break. Within four minutes of being introduced the half-time substitute hit a low shot past Howard after Yohan Cabaye robbed Osman and rolled a perfectly-weighted diagonal pass into his path for Ba to convert.

Everton responded and Marouane Fellaini had a goal ruled out for offside, a decision which was marginal at best, but only goalline technology — which does not come in until next season — could have assisted Jones with his next decision as Anichebe’s header tipped onto the crossbar by Harper appeared to bounce down over the line before Mike Williamson cleared.

Anichebe left no room for doubt three minutes from time when he turned in the penalty area to fire home but Everton’s celebrations were short-lived when Ba latched on to Shola Ameobi’s knockdown to roll a shot under Howard.

EVERTON: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Mirallas (Naismith 83), Jelavic (Anichebe 44).

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Perch, S Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Cabaye (Bigirimana 90), Anita, Gutierrez, Marveaux (Ba 46), Cisse (Shola Ameobi 80), Ben Arfa.

Ref: Mike Jones (Cheshire).