Snatching a late point at Newcastle will feel like a win for Everton and Sean Dyche, writes CRAIG HOPE, while Eddie Howe will need ear defenders if Alexander Isak continues his blistering form

They still haven’t won since before Christmas, but a draw from a match they should have lost – and a first goal since October for Dominic Calvert-Lewin – will on some level feel like a win for Everton and Sean Dyche.

The Toffees boss even smiled when Calvert-Lewin slipped and took him out on the touchline moments after the substitute’s 88th-minute equalizer from the penalty spot.

Dyche refrained from a playful blow to the head this time, because the striker deserved a pat on the back.

Calvert-Lewin arrived after a run of 23 games without a goal and held the nerve to beat Martin Dubravka to end a three-match losing streak with Everton looking over their shoulder.

It’s just a point, but it felt like one was made on a night when they were in second place for the majority but refused to give in to pressure at home.

Everton defender Ashley Young was wrestled to the ground by Newcastle substitute Paul Dummett

Striker Calvert-Lewin kept his composure and scored his first goal in 24 games from the spot

Training on Alexander Isak’s attack in the first half and with just one shot on target, Dyche responded with a treble substitution on the hour mark that turned the game.

They still needed – literally – the helping hand of another substitute, Newcastle defender Paul Dummett.

He struggled with Ashley Young in an attempt to stop his fellow veteran from getting on the end of a cross and although it required VAR intervention, the correct penalty decision was ultimately made.

But until the arrival of Calvert-Lewin and Co, it seemed that facing an injured and exhausted opponent, Everton would simply help them get back to health.

Newcastle could have named an absent XI stronger than the starters. The hour before kick-off brought news of three more injuries, with Tino Livramento and Miguel Almiron set to miss the entire month of April and Kieran Trippier most of it. They are down to the bare bones and cling to the marrow.

But St James’ still bounced from the start. A continuation of the noise from Saturday’s win over West Ham? Or an atmosphere fueled by the incendiary presence of Jordan Pickford? It was more the latter.

The former Sunderland goalkeeper had the first laugh – and ultimately the last – as he made a brave and brilliant block from Harvey Barnes inside two minutes. But by the 15th the smile had disappeared from his face.

If Newcastle eye Jarrad Branthwaite as a summer target, Isak will have at least shaved £5m off his asking price by scoring the opener.

After being released into the area by Harvey Barnes and still having work to do, Isak sat down with Branthwaite as if he were putting a child on the carpet for a story time.

Everton were awarded a penalty late on after referee Tony Harrington watched a replay on the pitch screen

Isak came in from the left and fired his shot past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford

Dan Burn scored from close range, but his effort was disallowed for offside in the build-up

And this was a schooling, as he pretended to shoot before stepping past his sitting opponent and rolling past Pickford into the bottom corner. ‘Who put the ball in the Mackem net?’ chorused Toon Army.

Howe said this week that the club will not listen to offers for the Swedish striker. If he continues in this form, they may need earmuffs. This was his fifth goal on the spin at St James’ and while Branthwaite’s value may have been shortchanged, Isak’s value was multiplied. He almost had another in first-half stoppage time when he smashed narrowly over the crossbar after a ringing run.

There was a stoppage in play in the 20th minute that allowed Everton trio Amadou Onana, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye to break their fast for Ramadan. They may well have felt like praying at the same time, such was their team’s constant struggle to score goals away from home. Before that it was three games out of eight and they couldn’t have asked for a more hospitable defense in Newcastle. The Magpies have alleviated much of the opposition’s drought this season.

But by half-time Everton had managed one shot on target, and even that was nothing more than good practice for Dubravka, a goalkeeper with little self-confidence. So much for photographing by sight. By the hour mark, Dyche had seen enough and responded with that treble swap. One of them, James Garner, soon cracked the post with a measured curling iron when half of the away dugout was already festively empty.

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford can only watch as the ball bounces off the post

Everton midfielder James Garner saw his shot bounce off the post in the 66th minute

James Tarkowski squandered a great early chance as he aimed his header over the crossbar

Newcastle fans display a giant banner of Anthony Gordon before the game against his former club

Newcastle’s lead was therefore precarious.

Their best bet was another goal – as has been the case all season – and they would have done so had Vitaliy Mykolenko not crossed the line from Isak’s close-range stab. Barnes hit wide moments later and Pickford saved well from Bruno Guimaraes.

They were misses that Newcastle would come to regret.