Everton 2 - 0 Newcastle United

Everton 2-0 Newcastle

Updated: May 7, 2005, 5:38 PM UK

Everton are on the brink of the Champions League after a masterful 2-0 win over Newcastle that sparked joyous scenes at Goodison Park.

Goals from veteran David Weir - his first since January 2002 - and another from top scorer Tim Cahill mean the Toffees can start planning for entry into Europe's elite competition for the first time since 1971.

• Moyes looks to Europe

Newcastle made the task easy. They had Shola Ameobi sent off for lashing out at Cahill and produced a limp, disinterested display, even though Cahill could easily have been sent off himself for a string of offences.

For referee Barry Knight it was another unfortunate brush with Newcastle. His only previous red cards in the Premiership this season had been the three Newcastle players he sent off in the infamous game at St James' Park earlier in the season that saw Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer dismissed for fighting each other.

But none of that mattered to Everton. Their fans sing of their history with a line that goes 'we don't care what the red side say,' and it could not have been more apt considering the long debate over whether Everton or Liverpool should take the fourth Champions League spot.

As the team went on a lap of honour, that place among Europe's elite is all but there after a miraculous season.

Boss David Moyes saluted the packed house as the fans sang 'Champions League, we're having a laugh.'

Everton had Tony Hibbert back in defence, while midfielder Cahill had recovered from a back injury to play in the club's final home league game of the season.

They could have been ahead on seven minutes when Cahill, having been fouled by Jermaine Jenas, jumped up to take the free-kick himself and sent a 25-yarder arrowing for the top corner before Shay Given superbly turned the ball away.

But for much of the first period Newcastle had greater possession and carved out a string of reasonable chances.

They wasted a glorious one when Charles N'Zogbia nudged the ball into Darren Ambrose' path. The midfielder was clear, but his first touch was dreadful and it allowed Nigel Martyn to save.

Patrick Kluivert then dragged a shot across goal from a good position, Ameobi had a shot from 30 yards charged down, and when James Milner cut in from the right, Martyn smothered the effort at the second attempt.

Newcastle went even closer after Lee Carsley was booked for a foul on Ameobi. Milner lifted the free-kick to the far post and Kluivert saw a close-range header drop inches wide of a post.

Newcastle should have been ahead in a blistering spell that saw Weir block a thunderous drive from Ambrose after a fine break by Ameobi and N'Zogbia. Seconds afterwards, Kluivert's neat touch put Milner clear in the box and Martyn turned the fierce shot over the bar.

But after being stretched for a lengthy period, Everton hit back to take the lead on 42 minutes after a debatable free-kick given against an angry Stephen Carr out on the left for a foul on Kevin Kilbane.

When Mikel Arteta lifted the set-piece into the box, Weir arrived on the far post to head past Given. Jean-Alain Boumsong was at fault for dreadful marking in allowing the Scot a free header.

Newcastle were under immediate pressure after the break, although Cahill was fortunate to get away with just a warning after stupidly jumping into Given - knocking him into the net - with the ball already high over the bar from a deflection.

And then Newcastle's task was made even more difficult on 47 minutes when Ameobi was sent off. He had been fouled by Cahill, but was daft enough to lash out at the Aussie and referee Knight instantly brandished a red card. Cahill, after a lengthy warning, was given a yellow.

A minute later the Aussie virtually settled things. He found himself onside and clear in the box after an Arteta shot had been deflected to him. He was able to take his time and lash the ball past Given for Everton's second.

Everton replaced Duncan Ferguson with James Beattie, the party by now in full swing all around Goodison.

Newcastle were barely contesting tackles as Everton dominated the pitch, Jenas apart. But when he challenged Cahill and got a swing of the arm for his troubles, his appeals to the Kent official brought no reaction.

Everton brought on James McFadden for Bent on 74 minutes and they maintained an embarrassing spell of keep-ball to further delight their fans.

Alan Shearer came on for the final minutes, but it was a forlorn gesture.

Moyes turns to Europe

David Moyes tonight insisted Everton will match whatever Liverpool can manage in the final week of the season to claim a Champions League spot.

Moyes said: 'It was a nervy day for us. We knew what we had to do and we were much better in the second half when we sorted out our tactics. We were comfortable after that second goal.

'We know we actually haven't achieved anything yet, but we wanted to win our last game in front of our own supporters and reach 61 points.

'Now we have two games to play and we are six points ahead of Liverpool. It means we have done better than two seasons ago and that has to be progress.

'It is all about the players, not me, because they have done everything that has been asked of them.

'It's a big task now for Liverpool to win at Arsenal [on Sunday], but if they do and if they win their last game too then we will go out and get the one point we need from our last two games to make sure of fourth spot.''

But while Moyes was contemplating Europe next term, Newcastle boss Graeme Souness bitterly attacked referee Barry Knight again after a match that saw the Kent official send off another Newcastle player, this time Shola Ameobi.

Knight was at the centre of the three red cards to Newcastle stars earlier in the season during the infamous clash with Aston Villa that ended with Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer dismissed for fighting each other.

Souness claimed a bad penalty decision in that game caused the original friction and he again hit out at Knight, saying: 'The referee was apologising to some of our lads before the game for the penalty he gave in that Aston Villa match. It was outside the box and he said that.

'That was the game when we had three players sent off out of extreme frustration. But Mr Knight escaped without any criticism that day and this time he has given a free-kick to Everton that wasn't and it changed the game.

'There were other decisions he got wrong. We feel hard done by again because of Mr Knight. I won't defend Ameobi for what he did and when he was sent off the game was over but Boumsong says it wasn't a foul on Bent when they scored their first.''

Souness added: 'We dominated the first half and were guilty of not taking our chances. Then we conceded a bad goal we didn't deserve to let in, and after that Everton's fans got behind their side and we were very subdued.

'It could have been a very different game. But football is about reality. It should have been 0-0 at half-time because the referee got it wrong again.

'The last time we had him against Aston Villa he got it wrong there. And the same thing happened this time. We keep picking the tab up. It hurts, it bloody hurts.''

Everton were happy to brush aside such controversy and celebrate a tremendous performance, in which David Weir scored his first goal for two- and-a-half years.

The Scot said: 'It was nice to score. Everybody keeps telling me I do not score enough. It was a big day for us so I was delighted to do my bit to help us out.

'You are judged over the season. There have been bad spells but we have always responded. If we have a sticky spell we always come out of it and we have shown that again.''