- Newcastle vs Everton

Match report

Newcastle United ended 2014 on a high by coming from behind to earn a 3-2 Barclays Premier League win over Everton at St James' Park to end a four-match losing streak.

Papiss Cisse, Ayoze Perez and Jack Colback grabbed the goals to ensure Alan Pardew's men are sitting in the top 10 heading into the new year. Both teams entered the match desperate to recapture their best form, with Newcastle having lost their last four and Everton their previous two.

The visitors looked to be in pole position to bounce back as they flew out of the blocks, taking the lead thanks to a well-taken Arouna Kone goal after five minutes. But Newcastle came back impressively and headed into the break level as Cisse, back in the XI as one of three alterations, found the net.

That preceded a dominant second-half showing, with Perez and Colback putting Pardew's men in the ascendancy. Everton substitute Kevin Mirallas set up a thrilling finale with a goal six minutes from time, yet Newcastle hung on to claim three points.

Everton, having made seven changes due to a glut of injuries to the likes of Tim Howard and John Stones, flew out of the blocks and took the lead in just the fifth minute. Aiden McGeady's through-ball freed Seamus Coleman and the right-back sent in a centre that Kone side-footed beyond Jak Alnwick expertly.

Moussa Sissoko was again looking the most threatening Newcastle player, although he was undone by a poor first touch after being put in on goal by Cisse's lovely cushioned header. That opening did, though, did herald an improvement from the hosts as they pressed hard for a leveller.

That came in the 34th minute as Cheick Tiote sent in a cross to the back post and, after Mike Williamson had sidefooted the ball down, Cisse slotted a superb volley into the net despite the ball being behind him.

Everton introduced Ross Barkley at the interval in an attempt spark a change, although Newcastle quickly picked up where they left off. Sissoko was again at the centre of their best work, sending in a cross that was poked goalward by Yoan Gouffran, only to be denied by a fine Joel Robles save.

The home side did not have to wait much longer to move ahead, Perez producing a cool finish after being slid in by the Tiote.

Everton almost found a way back into the game from nowhere in the 64th minute, only for Samuel Eto'o to blaze over having been picked out by a Leighton Baines pass.

The away side’s hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 68th minute when Colback netted in a Newcastle shirt for the first time.

Barkley was at fault, making a wayward touch at an attempt to control Daryl Janmaat's ball and leaving the midfielder clean through and Colback deftly poked the ball between the legs of Robles and into the net.

It looked like there may be a twist in the tale when Baines' through-ball set up Mirallas's cool chipped finish. But despite Mirallas going close with a 25-yard free-kick, Newcastle, who almost grabbed a fourth when Perez rattled a post, took all three points.

Newcastle United assistant manager John Carver: "It's nice to get a result after a tricky few games. We got off to a bad start but looked a different team after the first five minutes. We took the game to Everton and got a deserved win. When you have had a run of games were you haven't won, it's very important to get the win.

"We've got back-to-back home games with Burnley coming up. They had a great result today so we know it's going to be a difficult game."

Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "I thought we started really well. Everything that we wanted from the start of the game we had – we were really threatening and scored a very good goal from open play. I thought we looked like a team that was going to go on and get the second and win the game. That’s how comfortable we looked. Obviously we then had period when you would expect Newcastle to put a lot of balls into the box and hope for some sort of pressure. I don’t think in that period we should concede. That’s a disappointment. We shouldn’t concede from the second phase of a dead-ball situation. It’s a cheap way to give a lot of hard work away.

"Again, in the second half, the goals that we have given away are cheap. As a team, when you are in a period where nothing goes in your favour, you need to be strong in certain basics. You cannot get caught in possession or give the goals away cheaply like we did. Now, more than ever, we need to get back to being a strong side with a good defensive record. We do need to start gaining a good momentum in the league."