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England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was at the heart of a 13-man scuffle as tempers flared after after Everton’s victory over Newcastle at Goodison Park on Thursday night.
The Toffees had won the game 3-0 to lift themselves out of the relegation zone for the first time since their 10-point deduction and former Sunderland man Pickford riled up the Magpies at every opportunity.
The 29-year-old clashed with Newcastle duo Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar on the pitch at full-time, throwing his gloves dramatically to the ground as if to beckon the Brazilian to fight.
Guimaraes ace was seen pointing in the face of Pickford, who made a point of showing he was up for a clash before then grinning broadly. Other players then piled in, though the conflict was short-lived with Pickford and Guimarares led away by team-mates.
Pickford then exchanged words with Newcastle defender Schar and was later seen heading back down the tunnel – but not before he’d shown off some shadow boxing for the cameras following the altercation on the pitch.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford clashed with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes
Pickford had wound up the Newcastle centre midfielder with his antics in the game
The Everton stopper dramatically threw his gloves down to the ground
Pickford is a former Sunderland academy graduate who clearly took joy from the win
Pickford also exchanged words with Newcastle defender Schar after the final whistle
It was not clear what sparked the bust-up but Pickford, a Sunderland fan who played in their academy from the age of eight, could have angered Newcastle’s stars with his wild celebrations.
Joelinton refused to let the argument lie as he also had to be dragged away by Newcastle’s coaching staff.
Players from both sides then got involved in the middle of the pitch with as many as 13 men embroiled in the row.
Pickford was led by his team-mates.
Joelinton, Anthony Gordon, James Tarkowski were also involved in the melee.
Players from both sides then got involved in the middle of the pitch on Thursday night
Pickford could not hide his delight after the vital victory lifted Everton out of the drop zone
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe later played down the post-match scuffle as ‘just emotions’.
He said: ‘The game was there for us to win in the second half after an even first half,’ he said. ‘I don’t think we played particularly well.
‘I thought we had them penned in and then conceded the first goal and that changed the momentum. It was a frustrating evening, a missed opportunity.’
Dwight McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Beto scored in the final 11 minutes as the Toffees took the spoils at a raucous Goodison Park
