Everton 0 Newcastle United 0: Toffees salvage a point in dour draw

This was far from a classic and although a point is obviously better than none, Everton really needed to win the match.

Sean Dyche had several important selection decisions to make as Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko were unavailable through injury.

That meant the manager had to re-shuffle his defence having only just got his first-choice players back for the previous game against Crystal Palace.

As expected Micheal Keane came in for Branthwaite while Ashley Young moved over to left-back in the side that started against Newcastle.

It was a hectic match with effort being much more commonplace than quality with both teams struggling to find a way though.

The Toffees had a couple of chances but once again couldn't take them and score although Abdoulaye Doucoure had the ball in the net but it was ruled out by VAR.

Iliman Ndiaye also had an effort cleared off the line as Everton were frustrated in their attempts to open the scoring.

After half an hour came the main moment of the match as James Tarkowski conceded a penalty for pulling back Magpies forward Sandro Tonali.

Up stepped Anthony Gordon on his latest return to Goodison Park since his transfer to Tyneside.

Despite his best efforts to put Jordan Pickford off the England number one held his nerve and saved the penalty.

Pickford continued to perform heroically during the match as the Blues battled to ensure they would not be undone again at home, as they have so often this season.

Later on Dominic Cavlert-Lewin had a claim for a penalty but this time VAR did not come to his aid and the penalty was not given.

That was pretty much it and the match petered out to a frustrating end with neither team frankly doing enough in the attacking third to win the game and take all three points.

While that point could and probably would be seen by most as representing a pointy gained - given that Newcastle had a penalty - and it was also a welcome first clean sheet of the season.

However, there are huge concerns over the lack of offensive threat Everton are able to offer and there is a sense that Dyche may possibly be reverting to a very defensive posture to stabilize things and get results.

But while that might work in the short-term ultimately, the Toffees will have to be more effective in front of goal to make any real and sustained progress up the Premier League table.

Maybe the new owners - when they finally step through the doors at Finch Farm - will put some serious money on the table when January comes round, and perhaps a new manager will be in charge of that budget too.