Jordan Pickford responds to bizarre ridicule as Everton goalkeeper gets last laugh over Newcastle

Jordan Pickford had the last laugh on the fans that treat him with such bizarre ridicule as Everton’s goalkeeper produced an outstanding display that thwarted the ambitions of his nemesis.

The 30-year-old, whose every touch was greeted with a crescendo of boos, silenced tens of thousands of home fans when, with the last one of the game he threatened to send his side forward then fell to his knees to preserve a valuable point.

It was a joke that spurred the away end, so impressively, passionately vocal throughout this fight despite the struggles of their team, into a rendition of “England’s number one”. When the final whistle then blew it was Pickford’s name that was on the lips of frustrated Newcastle supporters as they disappeared to the concourses.

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That last gasp mockery may have seen Pickford toy with his arch foes but the reality is that for the 99 minutes preceding it, his brilliance allowed Everton to stay within this battle. He was helpless when Alexander Isak sauntered through his defence to give his side an early lead. But big saves from Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes kept his side in this while they struggled to keep pace with the European-chasing hosts.

Even then, it took more than Pickford’s saves for Everton to seal a valuable point at St James’ Park. Seasons can be defined in split second moments and Everton’s may well have been saved by the barest of margins, twice, in the second half. When Barnes hit the byline and found Isak in space, yards out, the striker looked destined to send this game beyond the grasp of the Blues. Instead Vitalii Mykolenko, somehow, flung his head at the