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 out on the chance to climb into the top four.

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

Gordon, booed by home fans throughout because of his acrimonious departure from Goodison Park in 2023, signposted his kick and the England No1 parried to his left spark wild celebrations.

Everton also felt they should have had a spot-kick of their own in the second half but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s appeal for a foul by Dan Burn was turned down with home players angrily surrounding referee Craig Pawson.

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

Newcastle No 10 Gordon saw his tame effort from 12 yards saved by keeper Jordan Pickford

Pickford was congratulated by his Everton team-mates after denying Gordon from the spot

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

On manager Eddie Howe’s 300th Premier League game, he was instrumental in the game’s best early chance which saw a Bruno Guimaraes blocked on the line by Iliman Ndiaye as it threatened to creep into the corner.

Everton, who registered their first league win of the season last weekend against Crystal Palace, 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.

It lifted the home fans 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’d ventured offside which was spotted by VAR.

Last season, Newcastle were thumped 3-0 at Goodison with defender Trippier culpable for a couple of goals.

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

They were also given a helping hand by Tarkowski whose grappling with Tonali led to the Italian being dragged to the floor. Referee Pawson was sent to the monitor before pointing to the spot but Everton’s unhappiness turned to delirium as Pickford saved and was mobbed by team-mates.

No 16 Abdoulaye Doucoure looked especially delighted following Pickford’s penalty save

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

The Everton players celebrated Doucoure’s goal but it was eventually disallowed by the VAR

It was the first senior penalty missed by Gordon after converting earlier this year against Bournemouth and Manchester City.

At 46 years, 311 days, Howe became the second-youngest manager after David Moyes to reach the landmark of 300 Premier League games. But there was no sense of celebration as he stuffed his hands into his tracksuit pocket and contemplated a golden chance missed.

Gordon also squandered the last chance of the first half opting to nod down to Joelinton when he had a good chance of heading in from a few yards.

Gordon beat Ashley Young at the start of the second half to set up Joelinton’s whose nod-down to Tonali resulted in a shot brilliantly blocked by Tarkowski.

The away side’s dominance continued as Guimaraes found room at the edge of the box but scooped the chance over. Substitute Miguel Almiron was then denied by Pickford at the near post.

Multiple VAR reviews was called for during Saturday evening’s game in the Premier League

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

Everton manager Sean Dyche was animated on the touchline at multiple points on Saturday

Everton felt unjustly done again midway through the second half when Calvert-Lewin was denied by a one-handed save by Nick Pope and collided with Dan Burn as he raced to get the rebound.

The home side furiously surrounded referee Craig Pawson but he was unmoved and VAR didn’t intervene with the explanation that the Everton striker had initially kicked the back of Burns’ leg.

It didn’t placate Dyche or his players though Idrissa Gueye could have ended the controversy by not firing the loose ball over.

There was still enough time for Gordon to redeem himself. Played in at an angle by Almiron, he lifted back his right leg with Pickford to beat – and fired over to leave Everton with their first league clean sheet of the season.