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• Winless Pompey Cannon fodder as Stoke star nets four in Pelach's first victory

  Four-goal Tom Cannon fired Stoke City to a 6-1 win over Portsmouth on Wednesday, their first triumph under Narcis Pelach extending Pompey's own wait for a Championship victory.

  Stoke entered this encounter at the bet365 Stadium just two points better off than their winless visitors and without reward for the bold decision to replace head coach Steven Schumacher with Pelach last month.

  But an explosive display from on-loan Leicester City forward Cannon provided what could be a pivotal victory in the Potters' season.

  Cannon scored only three times in all competitions for Leicester last term but bettered that tally inside the opening hour of his fourth start for Stoke.

  Portsmouth were on level terms approaching half-time after Mark O'Mahony cancelled out Cannon's opener, but the Republic of Ireland international restored Stoke's lead before Sam Gallagher added a third in first-half stoppage time.

  Cannon completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot three minutes after the restart and scored again another three minutes later, with Andrew Moran completing the rout shortly afterwards.

  Portsmouth were promoted as League One champions last season but are the only team still without victory in the second tier and saw another struggling side move clear of them on Wednesday as Preston North End beat Watford 3-0.

  Watford had been level on points with Sheffield United just outside the play-off places, but the Blades climbed to third with a 1-0 win over Swansea City, while rivals Sheffield Wednesday drew 0-0 with Bristol City.

• In-form McNeil releshing central role at Everton

  Dwight McNeil is relishing playing in a central role in Everton's attack, as he aims to get Sean Dyche's team up the Premier League.

  McNeil scored twice in the space of seven minutes, with his first being a wonderful strike from outside of the box, as Everton came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday.

  That marked the Toffees' first league win of the season, with Newcastle United next up at Goodison Park.

  McNeil, who scored and assisted in Everton's 3-0 win in the corresponding fixture against Newcastle last season, has created 21 chances in the Premier League in 2024-25, more than any other player. Only Bukayo Saka (nine) and Cole Palmer (seven) have created more big chances than the 24-year-old's six, too.

  His form has picked up since moving from the left flank into a role behind striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and McNeil is enjoying the positional switch.

  McNeil told evertonfc.com: "Every time I've played centrally I've enjoyed it, because I feel like I'm always involved in the game.

  "I've really enjoyed it. I know there is still a lot of work to be done – in and out of possession – for me to improve in that position, but I'm doing that in every game. For me, I've always found the best way I learn and improve is by actually playing and experiencing it for real.

  "The stats, I don't really focus on them. For me, I think stats, at times, can overshadow what players actually do on the pitch. I find stats difficult because rule number one for me is to always just play well, and I know myself if I've done that or not. If I'm playing well and enjoying my football, all of that stuff comes with it. 

  "My focus will always be on playing well, helping the team in any way I can and enjoying it, and, of course, getting on a winning run. That's the biggest thing for me – helping the team win games."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Everton - Ashley Young

  Young has assisted a goal in each of his last two Premier League appearances, which is as many assists as he got in his previous 117 games combined.

  At the age of 39, Young is the oldest player in Premier League history to assist a goal in consecutive games.

  Newcastle United - Anthony Gordon

  Former Everton winger Gordon has been involved in 13 goals in 23 Premier League appearances in 2024 for Newcastle (seven goals, six assists).

  However, Gordon is yet to score or assist against his old club and has only scored one goal in his last 15 games at Goodison Park, which came against Crystal Palace in October 2022.

  MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE WIN

  Everton have lost just three of their last 20 Premier League home games against Newcastle (W12 D5), though two of those defeats have come across their last four such meetings (W2), including a 4-1 victory at Goodison Park in April 2023.

  Newcastle have won five of their last eight Premier League meetings with Everton (D1 L2), as many as in their previous 24 against them (D6 L13). However, they failed to win either meeting with the Toffees last term (D1 L1).

  Only Aston Villa and Manchester City (seven) have picked up more points from losing positions in the Premier League this season than Newcastle (five) – the Magpies have only lost two of their last seven games when conceding first (W2 D3), having lost 11 of their previous 13 games when going 1-0 down.

  After losing their first four Premier League matches this season, Everton have picked up four points in their last two games (W1 D1). Dyche's side are looking for consecutive wins for the first time since April.

  Newcastle have won 11 points in their six Premier League games this season (W3 D2 L1), their most at this stage of a top-flight season since 2011-12 (12) and Eddie Howe’s best start to a league season since 2010-11 in League One with Bournemouth (11 points).

  Everton have won six of their last eight Premier League matches at Goodison Park (L2). Since the first game in this run on April 6, the Toffees have won more home points than any other Premier League side (18).

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Everton - 30.9%

  Newcastle - 43.9%

  Draw - 25.2%

• Newcastle United 1-0 AFC Wimbledon: Schar settles rearranged EFL Cup tie

  Newcastle United saw off AFC Wimbledon with little fuss as Fabian Schar's penalty sealed a 1-0 win in the EFL Cup.

  Tuesday's tie was rearranged and moved to St James' Park following flooding damage at the Dons' home ground last week.

  And despite relying on a spot-kick from Schar in first-half stoppage time to get over the line, Newcastle never looked in danger of offering the lower-league visitors a sniff of an upset.

  Miguel Almiron won the penalty after he was fouled by Joe Pigott, though referee Darren Bond needed a lengthy consultation with his assistant before he pointed to the spot.

  Almiron, Sean Longstaff and Harvey Barnes could have added to Newcastle's lead, though Eddie Howe's team were not made to pay for their profligacy, with the Dons not managing to get a shot on target.

  Newcastle will host Chelsea in the fourth round later in October.

  Data Debrief: A gulf in class

  It was as comfortable as it can get for Newcastle, who had 18 shots and finished with 2.05 expected goals (xG) to Wimbledon's 0.07.

  Since losing 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday in 2015-16, Newcastle have now progressed from their last five ties in the EFL Cup third round without conceding a single goal, although they needed a penalty shoot-out in 2022-23 after a 0-0 stalemate with Crystal Palace.