Everton fans did not waste any time in targeting former Goodison Park star Anthony Gordon in their crunch fixture against Newcastle United.
Gordon was making his return to Merseyside for the first time in Newcastle colours since his £45million move from Everton in January. And was roundly booed by Everton fans as he made his way out for the warm-up.
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However, Newcastle fans quickly threw support his way when chanting his name. Gordon was not named in the starting line-up and was only handed a role as sub at his old stamping ground. Gordon warmly applauded Geordie fans back as the countdown to kick off continued.
Everton boss Sean Dyche spoke of the Gordon sale before the match and said: "To lose a player like that, there must have been a reason for it, but by the time I got here it was done.
"I’m learning more and more about the depth of the club, the good and the bad, but it’s still not relevant. It’s only relevant from the day I came in. I couldn’t affect that [sale] and we couldn’t affect the transfer window. "I saw how hard everyone was working but once it’s done you have to move forward."
Gordon was chased out of Goodison Park as he attempted to drive away from the stadium in January. His decade-long career at Everton ended under a cloud days later when the club released a short statement announcing his departure.
“It did hurt me, I’m not going to lie to you," Gordon replied when addressing the club's farewell. "I’m a 22-year-old lad, I’m not going to handle every situation in life perfectly, but as a club with thousands of people working for them…
"After the part I played keeping them up — I won player’s player, manager’s player of the year — for them to not show me any credit or thank me, it hurt me a little bit.”
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