Everton manager Sam Allardyce defended his side's style of football as the Toffees laboured to a 1-0 victory over Newcastle on Monday.

Theo Walcott scored his first goal since January as the hosts moved up to eighth in the Premier League.

Some fans have criticised Everton's performances under Allardyce, but the ex-Newcastle boss felt his side played well against his former team.
"What was wrong with our style?" he said to Sky Sports.
"You can't knock our football. You can knock some of our passing that went astray, but you can't knock me for that. I don't pass the ball.
"Apart from the last 10 minutes we dominated the game and there was only going to be one winner."
A dull first half bore all the hallmarks of an end-of-season mid-table encounter with goalscoring opportunities at a premium.
However, the deadlock was broken soon after the break when Yannick Bolasie's cross deflected off DeAndre Yedlin to Walcott, who took a touch before driving the ball into the roof of the net.
The game briefly opened up after that and Newcastle substitute Dwight Gayle should have done better when he hooked a shot over from close range before Seamus Coleman made an important headed clearance in stoppage time.
Ultimately, a lack of quality in the final third proved Newcastle's undoing as they spurned several other opportunities to create something and Everton recorded a first win in four games to move onto 45 points.
Newcastle remain 10th on 41 points and need just one more point to be mathematically safe from relegation.

A win, but is it enough for Everton fans?

Allardyce has taken Everton to mid-table safety from just above the relegation zone, but there has been growing discontent among some supporters at what they perceive to be a negative playing style.
There were calls for Allardyce to be sacked during the 1-1 draw at Swansea earlier this month, with some fans unhappy with their side's display, and his critics were unlikely to be appe
ased by this performance.
Everton seemed uncertain how to break down a disciplined Newcastle side, while Cenk Tosun found himself far too isolated from his team-mates in attack.

The hosts failed to manage a shot on target in a drab first half and it was one moment of quality from Walcott that proved decisive in a game both sets of fans will be keen to forget.
Everton are now on course for a top-eight finish and Allardyce added: "I think eighth in the league compared to fifth from bottom tells you we're getting the players better.
"We've moved up the league one place again, so we're on the right track and moving in the right direction."
But former Toffees midfielder Leon Osman, commentating on the game for BBC Radio 5 live, said: "This may be a victory but it is hardly an exciting one.
"Sam Allardyce sends his teams out to win, he is not always fussed about performances. He will be delighted with a win and a clean sheet.
"People expect a standard of performance. The three points will be important but the crowd come to be excited. There was hardly a chance in this game but not enough excitement. That is the story of the season for Everton."

Man of the match - Theo Walcott

 

'Final ball missing' - what they said

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez: "I am pleased with the effort of the players but this final pass in the final third can make the difference.
"We are really strong. Just to stay in the Premier League was the target and we are really pleased with that."

A first in 98 years for Everton - the stats

• Everton have won five consecutive top-flight games against Newcastle for the first time since January 1920.
• This is the first time that Everton have kept five consecutive clean sheets against a single opponent in the Premier League.
• Everton scored with their only shot on target of the match against Newcastle.
• Newcastle have won just one of their past 14 Premier League trips to Goodison Park (D3 L10).
• Theo Walcott has been directly involved in 10 goals in his past nine Premier League games against Newcastle (five goals, five assists).
• This was Rafael Benitez's 100th game in charge as Newcastle manager in all competitions (W48 D21 L31).

What next?

Everton travel to Huddersfield on Saturday, 28 April (15:00 BST), while Newcastle host West Brom at the same time.