'Why not believe?' – Branthwaite eyes European place with Everton
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Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has urged his side to believe they can finish in the European places after their dramatic win over Newcastle United.
Branthwaite scored his first Premier League goal since April 2024 to open the scoring at St. James' Park, before Jacob Ramsey and Beto exchanged goals before the break.
Thierno Barry then scored the winner 74 seconds after Jacob Murphy equalised at the other end, moving Everton five points behind sixth-place Chelsea, who face Arsenal on Sunday.
Everton recorded their second-highest xG of the season in this match (2.1), behind only their 2.9 against Bournemouth earlier this month.
And after their thrilling win at Newcastle, Branthwaite was not afraid to talk about their European ambitions.
"That's our aim," said the defender. "We want to be in Europe, and we've got to pick up points. Why not believe?
"It's a massive win. We knew coming here was going to be difficult, but we had to get a result. We dug in, and then the way we bounced back from conceding."
JP1 feeling the love at St James’ Park pic.twitter.com/p8XtULJFoi
— Everton (@Everton) February 28, 2026
Newcastle almost scored a third equaliser when Sandro Tonali volleyed goalwards in stoppage time, but Jordan Pickford pulled off an incredible save as he pushed the strike onto the crossbar.
"The best save I've ever seen, I don't know how he has pulled it off," added Branthwaite.
"We know how much of a top goalkeeper he is. When he does things like that, it's magic; he's kept us in the game at the end of the day."
It was another impressive away win for the Toffees; only Arsenal (29) have won more away points than Everton (24) in the Premier League this season.
And since David Moyes' first away game back in charge of Everton in January last year, no side has won more Premier League games on the road than the Toffees (12).
"It's been a big part of our game this season, playing away from home," said Branthwaite.
"We need to change that to the home form, and we can push right up the table, so we've got to keep going the way we are."
