Everton lost further ground in their European bid with a 2-0 loss to Newcastle.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side fell behind in the 73rd minute when Callum Wilson powered a header past Jordan Pickford from Jonjo Shelvey’s corner.

Wilson compounded the Blues’ misery in the third minute of stoppage time as he beat Pickford again with a comfortable finish teed up by Jamal Lewis.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

Gutless Blues aren’t ready for Europe

 

This week was supposed to give a glimpse of Everton’s competitive future.

If Carlo Ancelotti believed that his side would finally demonstrate their true European credentials, he was instead provided with a rude awakening.

Qualifying for the Champions League has been greeted with hushed tones within Goodison Park, not least from its manager – and for very good reason.

Even reaching the Europa Conference League, UEFA’s third-tier tournament which kicks off next season, feels borderline ambitious on this latest evidence.

Allowing a Newcastle team which had not won in its previous 11 matches to take maximum points through a fairly comfortable victory is highly damning.

Ancelotti’s post-match assessment lamented the Blues’ players for being ‘lazy’ but the words gutless and incompetent would actually not be a stretch either.

Until they can be more consistent, the European dream will remain just that.

Less is not always more

 

A meagre shots on target tally has proved deceptive for Everton this season.

In their last seven league games, they took 16 points from a potential 21 by barely breaking a sweat with successful attempts on goal at a bare minimum.

The three efforts registered against Newcastle mirrored their numbers in the wins at Sheffield United and Wolves yet the outcome was incredibly different.

Having limited chances carries its merits when the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison are flying and able to ruthlessly pounce on them.

But both found themselves deprived of service, especially the usually proficient England international, when facing Steve Bruce’s struggling side.

Ancelotti’s charges learned the hard way that less is not necessarily more.

Pickford repays No.1 faith

 

Ironically the one Everton player to emerge with any real credit is the same one that had the finger of blame pointed at him here just days earlier.

Ancelotti’s persistence with Jordan Pickford after his midweek blunder gifted Leicester City a surprise equaliser could have been seen as a leap of faith.

The much-maligned goalkeeper’s confidence invariably takes a fresh hammering whenever such high-profile mistakes occur in the line of duty.

Not that Pickford appeared to show any signs of fragility as he repelled the visitors’ threat in the first half with a sharp reflex save to deny Callum Wilson.

Tipping a header over the crossbar from point-blank range may be in the job description but the nature of his last outing meant there were no certainties.

Equally, little about the manner of Wilson’s eventual brace during the final quarter of the match can be levelled at key failings on the 26-year-old’s part.

One swallow does not make a summer but Pickford succeeded in repaying Ancelotti’s continued faith despite his teammates failing to do the same.

Short bench exposes depth issue

 

Ancelotti deserves credit for naming such an attacking starting line-up, but it inadvertently exposed the current limitations within Everton’s squad overall.

Just eight players were chosen for a potential nine-man substitutes’ bench, with two understudy goalkeepers accounting for a quarter of that number.

Only one of those could be characterised as forward-minded in the unused Anthony Gordon due to several others in the process of moving elsewhere.

Ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, Cenk Tosun’s return to Besiktas is now imminent while Bernard is headed a permanent move to Dubai-based Al-Nasr.

Others are also expected to depart, leaving Ancelotti needing to either source fresh reinforcements or recall some of those currently farmed out on loan.

It is unlikely that Moise Keane and Theo Walcott will again be breezing into Finch Farm before the season is out, so the Everton manager has work to do.