BBC News | FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP | Dyer dazzler lights up drab contest

Everton 0-2 Newcastle

Substitute Kieron Dyer illuminated Goodison Park with a magnificent solo goal as Newcastle completed a hit-and-run job over Everton.

A dull game between two of the Premiership's mid-table teams looked destined to finish as a predictable goalless draw.

Dyer slips past Xavier and scores a stunner

But Newcastle went ahead 11 minutes from time through a piece of opportunism from full-back Aaron Hughes.

And with just two minutes on the clock, the points were secured for the Magpies in sensational fashion.

Rising England star Dyer picked the ball up on half-time, then embarked on a searing run into opposition territory.

He glided past three desperate lunges from England defenders before beating keeper Paul Gerrard with a sublime chip.

It was a stunning solo goal by the former Ipswich player and will have done him no harm as he looks to seal a place in England's Euro 2000 squad.

Upwardly-mobile Magpies

The win lifts Newcastle to 11th in the Premiership table - their highest position of the season - and they are now just two points behind arch rivals Sunderland.

Aaron Hughes: Set Newcastle on the way

Defences dominated for almost all of the game and the paucity of the attacking play was such that the two goals were the only shots on target in the entire 90 minutes.

There were few chances in the first half of a contest that was dominated by the return of two Goodison old boys and the home debut of one of the biggest names in the game.

Duncan Ferguson, who left for Newcastle in November 1998, received a warm welcome by the home fans - but another ex-Everton star, Gary Speed, was given a hostile reception and was booed throughout.

The Everton faithful were far more supportive of their new striker, Mark Hughes, former Manchester United veteran and now Wales boss.

Mark Hughes made his home debut for Everton

It was Speed who came closest to breaking the deadlock four minutes before the break when he powered a header just over from Nolberto Solano's corner.

Solano wasted a good opportunity in first-half injury time when David Unsworth misjudged Kevin Gallacher's pass to allow the Peruvian a sight of goal, but he shot well wide.

Both sides continued to battle for the advantage after the break but again chances were few and far between.

Both managers opted for change as they attempted to break the stalemate, Everton boss Walter Smith replacing Joe Max Moore with the pacy Danny Cadamarteri, while Didier Domi and Dyer came on for Gallacher and Solano.

Duncan Ferguson was back at Goodison for the first time with Newcastle

It was Bobby Robson's Newcastle substitutions that proved decisive, however.

With 79 minutes gone the pace of Domi and Dyer caused panic in the Everton defence. David Weir still should have cleared the danger, but Northern Ireland international Hughes appeared from nowhere to rob him on the edge of the six-yard box and slot the ball past Gerrard.

Everton were now demoralised and Dyer took advantage to deadly effect, blazing a trail through a battered home defence.

Teams:

Everton: Gerrard, Unsworth, Weir, Gough, Xavier, Pembridge, S Hughes, Collins, Barmby, M Hughes, Moore.
Subs: Myhre, Ball, Gemmill, Dunne, Cadamarteri.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Dabizas, Howey, Barton, Gallacher, Speed, Lee, Solano, Ferguson, Shearer.
Subs: Domi, Goma, Dyer, Harper, Ketsbaia.

Referee: G Barber (Tring, Herts)


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