Scapegoating has reached impressive levels where a vocal minority of Newcastle United fans are concerned.

When things have gone wrong at times this season, all too often we have seen the blame game.

Not just one or two Newcastle United players targeted, indeed many more, though some have proved far more 'popular' than others.

What I am meaning with scapegoating in this context, is a number of Newcastle United fans losing all perspective, wanting to single out one or more players to pile all the blame on, when in reality it is pretty much always more complicated and nuanced than simply one person's fault for the outcome of any match.

Apparently Paul Dummett was shocking when he came on, indeed always has been for Newcastle, is useless, why on earth is he still at the club, all his fault NUFC didn't win against Everton etc etc.

Like all big lies, there is a grain of truth in SOME of this.

As in, Dummett's mistake was obviously part of the reason why Newcastle didn't win against Everton BUT he wasn't ALL of the reason!

Newcastle United should have had the game won long before that late penalty and at 3-0 or 4-0 nobody would have cared if Everton scored a late undeserved consolation.

It is ironic that whilst we are seeing the scapegoating of Paul Dummett for last night, many of these same people are also full of praise for Dan Burn's display last night. This is the same Dan Burn who has been one of the very most 'popular' targets for the scapegoaters this season.

I find the total lack of respect difficult to accept, the way some of these Newcastle United 'fans' speak about some of our players. Indeed, some of our very very own, as in lifelong fans such as Dummett and Burn.

Not to mention of course Sean Longstaff, who is targeted relentlessly with over the top criticism. When in reality he does loads of unselfish work for the team / cause AND as Eddie Howe has made clear, has continued to play on this season despite needing painkilling injections in a foot injury ahead of matches.

Paul Dummett is now in the very outer reaches of this Newcastle United first team squad and wouldn't even be close to the matchday squad with everyone fit, never mind the team.

However, clearly Eddie Howe values his behind the scenes and training ground input AND he has done a great job previously when called upon this season.

Clean sheets against Man City and Man U in the League Cup when he started both games at centre-back, helping in restricting each of those to only two efforts on target each.

Some fans live in a fantasy world where they accept FFP restrictions are in play but at the same time think we should be signing players for decent fees and wages to be fifth or sixth choice left-back or whatever.

So long as players do their best then that is all I ask of them, Paul Dummett made a mistake last night, that is it.

Stats via BBC Sport:

Newcastle 1 Everton 1 - Tuesday 2 April 7.30pm

Newcastle United:

Calvert-Lewin 88 pen

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Everton 42% (38%) Newcastle 58% (62%)

Total shots were Everton 10 (4) Newcastle 18 (10)

Shots on target were Everton 3 (1) Newcastle 6 (4)

Corners were Everton 3 (0) Newcastle 7 (4)

Referee: Tony Harrington

Newcastle team v Everton:

Dubravka, Krafth, Schar, Burn, Hall (Dummett 79), Longstaff, Bruno, Anderson (Willock 71), J Murphy, Isak, Barnes

Unused subs:

Karius, Gillespie, Ritchie, White, Diallo, A Murphy, Parkinson

Newcastle United confirmed Premier League matches to mid-April 2024:

Saturday 6 April 2024 - Fulham v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 13 April 2024 - Newcastle v Spurs (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Wednesday 24 April 2024 - Crystal Palace v Newcastle (8pm)

Saturday 27 April 2024 - Newcastle v Sheff Utd (3pm)

Newcastle United fixtures, including to be confirmed matches:

Saturday 4 May 2024 - Burnley v Newcastle

Saturday 11 May 2024 - Newcastle v Brighton

Sunday 19 May 2024 - Brentford v Newcastle (4pm)

***Man U v Newcastle waiting for rearranged date

Wednesday 22 May 2024 - Tottenham v Newcastle (at MCG - Melbourne Cricket Ground)

Friday 24 May 2024 - A-League All Stars team v Newcastle (at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne)