Everton 0-0 Newcastle: Anthony Gordon sees penalty saved by former Toffees team-mate Jordan Pickford after Abdoulaye Doucoure has goal ruled out on busy night for VAR

Former Everton player Anthony Gordon saw his penalty saved by Jordan Pickford as Newcastle missed the chance to climb into the top four.

In a match dominated by the visitors, Gordon squandered their best chance after 35 minutes when James Tarkowski pulled Bruno Tonali to the ground.

Gordon, booed by home fans over his acrimonious departure from Goodison Park in 2023, marked his kick and England’s No.1, parried to his left, sparked wild celebrations.

Everton also felt they should have taken a penalty themselves in the second half, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s appeal for a Dan Burn foul was turned down as home players angrily surrounded referee Craig Pawson.

It will not have helped Everton that Pawson was the referee who failed to send off Ibrahima Konate in last season’s Merseyside derby – a decision branded ‘ridiculous’ by Blues boss Sean Dyche.

Newcastle No.10 Gordon saw his tame effort from twelve yards saved by keeper Jordan Pickford

Pickford was congratulated by his Everton teammates after denying Gordon from the spot

The irony of Gordon’s crucial miss was that his all-round performance was good and was a false nine due to injuries to Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.

In manager Eddie Howe’s 300th Premier League game, he was instrumental in the best early chance of the match, with Bruno Guimaraes blocked on the line by Iliman Ndiaye as he threatened to curl into the corner.

Everton, who recorded their first league win of the season against Crystal Palace last weekend, showed their attacking teeth for the first time after 15 minutes when Dominic Calvert-Lewin beat Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn but sent his shot straight at Nick Pope.

The home fans were happy with it and Sean Dyche’s men thought they had taken the lead after 18 minutes. James Garner, playing out of position at right back, broke forward and delivered a perfect cross for Abdoulaye Doucoure to head in.

Unfortunately for the big midfielder, he ventured offside, which was noticed by the VAR.

Last season Newcastle were beaten 3-0 at Goodison, with defender Trippier guilty of a couple of goals.

This was a much improved performance against the hosts who were missing key defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

They also got a helping hand from Tarkowski, whose struggle with Tonali led to the Italian being dragged to the ground. Referee Pawson was sent to the monitor before pointing to the spot, but Everton’s misfortune turned into delirium as Pickford made the save and was mobbed by teammates.

No. 16 Abdoulaye Doucoure seemed particularly delighted after Pickford’s penalty save

Doucoure had earlier headed the ball into the Newcastle net in the 18th minute of the match

Everton’s players celebrated Doucoure’s goal, but it was ultimately disallowed by VAR

It was the first senior penalty Gordon has missed following his conversion against Bournemouth and Manchester City earlier this year.

At 46 years and 311 days, Howe became the second-youngest manager after David Moyes to reach the milestone of 300 Premier League games. But there was no sense of celebration as he put his hands in the pocket of his tracksuit and thought about a missed golden opportunity.

Gordon also squandered the final chance of the first half, choosing to nod to Joelinton when he had a good chance to head in from a few yards.

Gordon beat Ashley Young early in the second half to set up Joelinton’s, whose nod to Tonali resulted in a shot brilliantly blocked by Tarkowski.

The away side’s dominance continued as Guimaraes found space on the edge of the penalty area but converted the chance. Substitute Miguel Almiron was then denied by Pickford at the near post.

Several VAR reviews were required during Saturday evening’s match in the Premier League

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (left) was denied a penalty after coming under pressure from Dan Burn

Everton manager Sean Dyche was animated on the sidelines at several points on Saturday

Everton felt wronged again midway through the second half when Calvert-Lewin was denied by a one-handed save from Nick Pope and collided with Dan Burn as he rushed to grab the rebound.

The home side furiously surrounded referee Craig Pawson, but he remained unmoved and VAR did not intervene, explaining that the Everton striker had initially kicked the back of Burns’ leg.

It did not appease Dyche and his players, although Idrissa Gueye could have ended the controversy by not firing the loose ball over.

There was still plenty of time for Gordon to redeem himself. He was played in diagonally by Almiron, lifted his right leg back as Pickford had to beat – and fired home to leave Everton with the league’s first clean sheet of the season.