Rooney caps off memorable week

Everton 2 Newcastle 1

Is there anything Wayne Rooney can’t do?

Fresh from rescuing England’s dreams he returned to his beloved Everton to push them towards the Champions League and deal Newcastle’s title ambitions a heavy blow.

Days after making his first start for the national team, Rooney scored an early goal to send Everton on the way to this crucial victory.

And, after Laurent Robert had produced a stunning equaliser, it was 17-year-old Rooney whose run and pass created the penalty converted by Dave Unsworth which sent Everton into fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Newcastle kept pushing for the equaliser but they now sit six points behind Arsenal and Manchester United and look like dropping out of the title race now.

An expectant public got what they wanted, England’s newest hero pitched against ‘old-timer’ Alan Shearer, Rooney given his 11th first team start and only the second time this term he has played back-to-back league matches.

Lee Carsley and Joseph Yobo got into Everton’s side at the expense of Li Tie and Tony Hibbert, while for Newcastle Brian Kerr came into midfield and Andy O’Brien was installed at full back.

Shearer made a point of shaking Rooney’s hand just prior to the kick-off, and the 17 year-old’s response was to almost score inside the first minute.

A through-ball put him behind Titus Bramble. He was flagged offside but only a fine save at his feet by Shay Given kept the ball out of the net.

Newcastle were then denied a penalty when David Weir clattered into Keiron Dyer in the box as he went for a Craig Bellamy pass, but referee Neale Barry refused heated appeals.

It was fierce stuff, and Rooney, Richard Wright and Joseph Yobo came off worst from challenges by Given, Shearer and Olivier Bernard that incensed the home fans.

But they were soon going wild when they got the goal they’d been praying for.

Thomas Gravesen received a short corner on 18 minutes and launched his cross in from the left, David Weir nodded the ball on.

And there was Rooney, reacting like lightning to duck forward and turn a low header past Given to give Everton the lead with his fifth league goal of the season.

Kevin Campbell almost made it two from close range a minute later, with Given gratefully clutching the ball on the line as he fell, during a spell when Everton’s midfield dominated.

But Newcastle were let off the hook and started to show signs of movement and quality that soon had them back in the game.

Shearer broke down the right and got to the by-line but his pull-back failed to find Bellamy.

The ball was half-cleared to Kerr, who blasted over from 20 yards.

Everton went straight to the other end and Rooney surged in from the left to crack a fierce low drive that Given did well to block on his near post. Robert’s 35-yarder soon after was well directed but ambitious.

His next effort on 40 minutes was equally ambitious but more effective. Jonathan Woodgate’s cross-field pass found Robert out on the left and he hit a stunning, curling first-time drive that crashed past Wright’s despairing hands.

A minute from the break Wright needed to go full stretch to turn a Bellamy shot behind.

From Robert’s corner, Woodgate had a powerful header turned on to the bar by Wright.

Alan Stubbs’ brave diving header kept Given alert but Rooney continued to be the most involved and potent threat Everton had, while Bellamy for Newcastle was almost as clever and tricky.

Then on 63 minutes Everton gained a highly controversial penalty.

Play was in their own half when Gravesen sent Bernard flying with a crunching tackle.

The Frenchman lay motionless and Newcastle clearly wanted a free-kick, and then for Everton to put the ball out so their man could have treatment.

But Rooney gained possession out on the left touchline and set off on a mazy run across the pitch before releasing Campbell with a clever pass. Woodgate brought him down and referee Barry pointed to the spot.

Everton boss David Moyes had shouted for the ball to be put out of play but the Newcastle players were furious.

In Moyes’ team’s defence, Bernard had clearly not taken a head injury, the usual circumstances when teams stop play when in possession, even if Gravesen’s tackle did look bad.

Woodgate was booked and after Bernard had received treatment Unsworth blasted home the spot kick on 64 minutes.

Newcastle brought on Shola Ameobi and Andy Griffin for Kerr and O’Brien, for a last ditch assault, and it almost worked.

Bellamy’s backheel in the dying minutes almost set up Dyer, but Carsley’s brave challenge saved the day.

Wright then made a strong save from Ameobi’s close range header, and somehow Everton hung on – even with Given in the box as Newcastle sent forward desperate waves of Newcastle attacks.

But it was Rooney who left the field to a standing ovation, having had the same impact on the title race he had on England’s Euro 2004 campaign.