Newcastle unrest grows as Barry and Everton give Jaissle another headache

Jack Grealish will do well to get back into the Everton starting lineup when he returns to the squad – as David Moyes’s side are doing just fine without him.

Newcastle were condemned to a second defeat in five days by Moyes’s young team, with a second-half goal from Thierno Barry giving Everton victory against 10 men at St James’ Park after the substitute Jacob Ramsey’s late red card.

And there are still more questions than answers about Matthias Jaissle’s new-look side following a summer of transition at the club, and supporters again voiced their disapproval at the end of the game.

Related: Newcastle United 0-1 Everton: Premier League – live

Moyes was reluctant to talk about Grealish’s situation, stating simply that the winger was “unavailable” for a second successive game following a breach of club discipline. But, pressed if there was a way back for the winger, he added: “Of course there is.”

Asked about the resilience of his youthful team, Moyes added: “They’re so good, they give everything they’ve got. They’re a brilliant group of players. We beat Newcastle on Thursday night, and to beat them again today, it’s not an easy thing to do for any club.”

Jaissle acknowledged the reaction of Newcastle supporters to the performance and the result. “Big frustration, big disappointment,” he said. “Of course, the fans, they get frustrated like we are. We need to analyse it now in detail. It’s also clear that I have the responsibility, and I also take that as manager of this club. We need to do things better.”

Newcastle fans had made their feelings about the 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat away to Everton last Thursday clear to Jaissle, who has found himself under pressure early in his tenure. By the time he had gone on to the pitch at Hill Dickinson Stadium to acknowledge their backing, most of the 7,732 travelling supporters had headed for the exits, and St James’ Park emptied just as quickly after the home loss.

Eddie Howe was always going to be a hard act to follow given what he achieved in his first four years as head coach at St James’ Park, but the summer departures of big-name players, and his own 11th-hour arrival, has made the job even harder for Jaissle.

Frustration bubbled away beneath the surface at St James’ Park, a stadium which can be a cauldron when fans are given something to shout about. But the decibel levels were rarely raised in the first period. Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes cut inside late in the half, and an awkward deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite momentarily had Jordan Pickford worried, but, in truth, neither he nor Lukas Hornicek in the home goal were troubled in the first 45 minutes. Jake O’Brien and Harrison Armstrong had chances for Everton late in the half, but both shot wide.

Hornicek, however, was finally tested early in the second half – and a mistake from him handed Barry a goal. The goalkeeper let a shot from the left from Tyrique George squirm under his body, and Barry gratefully tapped the ball into an empty net.

Newcastle have given a number of soft goals away this season, and Jaissle conceded that his team had been caught “sleeping” by Everton, who pressed for a second goal before Yoane Wissa and Sean Steur were sent on by Jaissle.

Steur, after a hugely promising start to life at St James’ Park, has found himself on the bench in recent games to the bemusement of some supporters given how well he performed early in the season following his move from Ajax. Soon after Steur’s introduction, Barnes delivered a ball from the left which was met by Anthony Elanga at the back post. The ball rolled along the line, but did not fully cross it, and Everton cleared the danger.

By now, St James’ Park had livened up, but the home team’s performance still lacked conviction in the final third.

Jaissle sent on Ramsey and Jacob Murphy for the last 15 minutes, but Newcastle found themselves pinned back by Everton, who were a threat on the break.

Half-chances came and went for Newcastle – who did not have a shot on target until the 86th minute, and also had Ramsey sent off for two stoppage-time yellow cards – as the travelling fans made themselves heard high up on Level 7.

The question some Newcastle fans are asking is just how high this team can finish above the Premier League’s relegation zone, as there are still big issues for Jaissle to address at both ends of the pitch ahead of what looks like being a challenging winter.

“The only way is togetherness, showing unity, and then the belief comes,” said Jaissle.