Ian Carter and Jim Beglin discuss Everton's victory (Radio 5 Live)

A Michael Ball penalty gave Everton a priceless first home Premiership victory in a grim battle between two of the top flight's most goal-shy teams.

Ball's 18th minute strike was only the second league goal scored by the Blues at Goodison this season.

But it was no surprise that the winner came from the spot.

Neither side presented much of an attacking threat in a game dominated by sloppy passing and pedestrian build-up.

Gary Speed holds off Richard Dunne's challenge

Newcastle, in particular, never really looked like scoring their first Premiership goal since September 19.

The shrew money before the game would have been on a goalless draw, with both sides robbed of the services of their leading frontmen. Newcastle's Alan Shearer was still sidelined through injury and Everton were without the suspended Duncan Ferguson.

The decisive moment in a dour tussle came in the 18th minute, when Everton midfielder Don Hutchison raced onto David Unsworth's long ball. As Hutchison took the ball around Carl Serrant, the Newcastle full-back chopped him down just inside the box.

Serrant fouls Hutchison and Ball scores from the spot (Radio 5 Live)

Referee Neale Barry pointed straight to the spot and Ball duly blasted a fierce penalty past a flailing Shay Given.

In open play, however, chances were few and far between.

Newcastle lacked anything like a cutting edge and the only genuine opening that came their way fell to Paul Dalglish as early as the 10th minute - but the young striker's half-hit shot was straight at Everton keeper Thomas Myhre.

Everton's attacks were proving more incisive.

Nicos Dabizas tackles Ibrahim Bakayoko at full stretch

Ibrahim Bakayoko could have doubled the lead on the half-hour when he brushed Laurent Charvet off the ball and fired in a shot, but Given did well to save from close range.

A minute later the Ivory Coast striker came even closer, as his diving header from Hutchison's right wing cross flashed just past the far post, with Given beaten.

The second half fare proved little better, as both teams tried speculative long shots, most of which blazed way off target, as the frustration at the lack of openings began to grow.

Newcastle boss Ruud Gullit threw substitute Dietmar Hamann into the fray on 69 minutes and the German midfielder tried his luck with a low 25-yard free kick, which Myhre did well to get down to keep out.

That proved the Magpies' last hope of getting on the scoresheet, as a forgettable contest petered out to a predictable conclusion.

Teams:

Everton: Myhre, Ball, Watson, Unsworth, Collins, Hutchison, Short, Grant, Bakayoko, Dunne, Cadamarteri. Subs: Simonsen, Cleland, Bilic, Jeffers, Milligan.

Newcastle: Given, Barton, Serrant, Batty, Charvet, Dabizas, Lee, Gillespie, Andersson, Dalglish, Speed. Subs: Harper, Albert, Hamann, Solano, Brady.