Despite the importance of the fixture and the limited options at his disposal, and the playmaker’s subsequent return to training, manager Moyes demonstrated that no player is bigger than the club by banishing the 31-year-old from the game.
Everton secured victory against Newcastle to set up a trip to Fleetwood, despite the absent Grealish dominating the pre-match buildup after the club announced his omission for disciplinary reasons. Grealish is understood to have missed training on Monday without permission.
Newcastle appeared to pause, waiting for the free-kick, and were punished when Barry clipped over a cross for Hackney to volley home from close range. Garner, a growing influence, intercepted a pass from Dedic and released Dewsbury-Hall behind a static Newcastle defence.
Dewsbury-Hall spun away from Burn before embarking on a determined run that was halted by a trip from behind by Ramsey. Earlier, the Everton keeper reacted sharply to launch a quick throw towards Dewsbury-Hall in the centre circle.
A triple half-time substitution from Jaissle was an unmistakable sign of discontent with Newcastle’s ineffective display at both ends of the pitch. The visitors were ultimately punished when Everton made the game safe in devastating style.
Andy Burnham was among the many Evertonians in attendance grateful for Newcastle’s generosity.
Newcastle dominated spells of the fourth round tie and the stats – registering 28 shots to Everton’s 11, although only nine visiting attempts were on target – but individual defensive errors and an ineffective attack proved a ruinous combination.
Newcastle dominated the opening 20 minutes to the extent that a two-goal interval lead for Everton would have seemed inconceivable.
But it was the absent Grealish who dominated the buildup after Everton announced he had been dropped for disciplinary reasons.