AHEAD of kick-off Everton unveiled a new ‘vanilla’ strip, but after defeat to Newcastle slipped into something far less comfortable.

Languishing in the Premier League relegation zone after just five games is hardly reason to panic, but the manner in which the side plunged further into a worst start to a season in 16 years is reason for real concern.

To add insult to the injury caused by Hatem Ben Arfa’s drilled strike just before half-time, the Goodison Park side lost an unbeaten run on their home patch which dated back to derby defeat last November. Slender may have been the margin of victory but the difference in the two sides on Saturday was stark as Everton’s failings were exploited by Chris Hughton’s newly promoted team with ease.

The toothless nature of Everton’s attack was once again laid bare as Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu toiled for 45 minutes each but the downfall of David Moyes’ men at the weekend lay elsewhere as Newcastle’s midfield reigned supreme.

Such was United’s dominance at the heart of the battle Joey Barton, the man who once dropped his shorts in front of the Goodison Park crowd, simply showed Everton a clean pair of heels.

Everton were desperately poor on the ball, conceding possession with worrying ease and even a late improvement which saw chances fashioned for Yakubu and then Marouane Fellaini could not mask a performance from the home side which made life comfortable for their North East visitors and left the home faithful with a feeling of unease.