Everton closed their final match with a resounding win. It was Manchester City winning the Cup and boy was it close. Bolton goes down, together with Blackburn and Wolves who had already been relegated before today's kick-off.
Everton sees the return of Bainesy in this final match. This means that Players' player of the year Distin is benched. There are a couple of uncertainties such as will Everton be signing Pienaar and Strac? Will Felli and Bainesy be staying? But for now, full concentration will be on this match.
Everton looked to have controlled the match while Newcastle seemed totally lethargic. Ossie won a solid header on the right channel. Felli picked up the ball and ran at the defence. No one closed him down. He slides the ball to Pienaar and once again, the defence was just backing off. Pienaar had all the time in the world to curl the ball into the net, via a big deflection. Everton 1-0 Newcastle.
Eveton has another chance on goal. A free kick had the entire Newcastle defence in disarray. The ball was heading out but Ossie had other ideas. He kept the ball in play, lay it back off for Pienaar who smashed the ball. It rebounded off the vertical and out of play. So, so close.
In the 26th minute, Jelavic latched onto a long ball from Felli. He somehow used his hands to control the ball. The referee though did not see it. Took a shot, but was palmed away by the goalkeeper. The ball rebounded back to Jelavic who expertly hit the ball beyond the goalkeeper. Everton 2-0 Newcastle.
Everton is in ascendency and Newcastle has barely an answer to Everton's onslaught.
Newcastle has made two substitutions at half time and things looked tighter now for the opposition.
Everton wins the free kick with good shielding by Jelavic. Gibson takes the freekick and Heitinga was there to power home the third goal! Everton 3-0 Newcastle.
The Dutch goalscorer is rested and on come Distin.
But Everton felt charitable and with Howard off the line, Hibbo heads it into the empty net. Did Howard even call for the ball? Everton 3-1 Newcastle.
Timmy comes in for Neville.
Everton still looked strong and a freekick by Gibson was palmed away by the goalkeeper. It rebounded off Timmy and it could so nearly go in. But it headed towards the hands of the goalkeeper.
Final substitution - Strac on for Jelavic, to the standing ovation of the crowd.
Ossie so nearly scored with his quick feet but it's off the post!
But things were marred at the end of the game when Timmy went ballistic. He grabbed the neck of a Newcastle player and rightly got sent off. What a dampener!
Score: Everton 3-1 Newcastle
Scorers: Pienaar, Jelavic, Heitinga
Assist: Gibson
Subs: Distin, Timmy, Strac
