Garth Crooks slams Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for his performance against Newcastle United

Follow us on Google Discover

Everton suffered a damaging defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.

Garth Crooks has slammed Jordan Pickford for his ‘three big errors’ as Everton fell to a 3-2 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon at St James’ Park.

The senior Everton player had a game to forget as he made a number of costly mistakes, including conceding a penalty, which he ended up saving when his team were still leading the game 1-0.

In the end, Salomon Rondon and an Ayoze Perez brace saw Rafa Benitez’s side mount a stunning fightback from two goals down and snatch all three points.

Speaking to Final Score on BBC One (09/03/2019 at 4:40 pm), Crooks didn’t hold back on his criticism of Pickford and questioned whether he is now England’s best man between the sticks.

“The best keepers take a sting out of that ball by dropping it in front of them [in regards to Miguel Almiron’s shot which led to Perez’ first goal],” Crooks told Final Score. “He hits it well. But he puts it back in the danger area.

“He has made three big errors today. One was that cost a penalty, which Newcastle missed. Another one where he and Ki nearly clash that nearly causes them a goal. And this particular error here [Newcastle’s equaliser].

“I think tonight there will be a big analysis about Jordan’s performance and the big talking point will be is he still England’s number one?”

Everton opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a wonderfully placed header.

Then the home team were awarded a penalty when Pickford flapped at Matt Ritchie’s cross, with the ball falling to Rondon, but he was unable to shoot because the Toffees goalkeeper ended up rugby tackling him to the ground – Pickford was not sent off and he ended up saving the penalty.

With the game at 2-1, Miguel Almiron attempted a long-range effort which was too hot to handle for the England international as Perez equalised before sealing all three points six minutes from time.

As a result of that defeat, Silva’s side drop to 11th in the table, while the Magpies move up to 14th position as they are now only three points behind the Merseyside club.