Jordan Pickford is one of Marco Silva's many problems in an Everton side stuck in reverse

Pickford is an international goalkeeper, but on his return to the north east, he did not show the stature of one

The walk was a little bit Connor McGregor, a slight exaggeration in the arm and shoulder movement. The embers of a raucous and at times chaotic game were still glowing as Jordan Pickford headed towards the tunnel at St James’ Park.

His had been an afternoon to forget; dropped crosses, rugby tackles and questionable on two of the second half goals Newcastle scored in a rousing comeback that so ignited the stadium.

The context of defeat was huge. Historically, it was only the second time Everton had ever led a league game two-nil at half-time and lost. In terms of Marco Silva, who by that point was berating the referee Lee Mason, a question mark over his future had got a bit bigger.

In November, following a home win against Cardiff, Everton went sixth in the Premier League table. On January 13, following a 2-0 victory against Bournemouth, Silva’s new side were still in the top 10. They were 12 points clear of Newcastle, who at that stage were third from bottom.

By the time a red-faced Silva was chewing the ear of Mason and Pickford was preening himself, the gap between the two sides was just four points and Everton were outside of the top ten.

Pickford should probably have been more focused on the manner of defeat and the pressure it puts on his manager and his club side, who have now won only once inside the last six games.

Instead, there was a flick of the head towards those fans in what looked a joking offer to take things outside. It capped off an afternoon in which Pickford played the occasion, rather than the game. He is 25 now, a seasoned international footballer. There are 15 caps.

Pickford had been a young Sunderland player when he first became embroiled in a row on social media with Newcastle’s supporters, following their relegation in 2016. ‘We’re staying up, they’re going down. #whatachant #safc #gettheravon,” he tweeted.

Jordan Pickford gestured towards the Newcastle supporters (Getty)

It has rumbled on ever since and it was one of the major factors in Newcastle’s win. By the game’s finish, he had been beaten three times inside 19 minutes. He punched the ground in anger after the second.

It will not be an afternoon he looks back on fondly, and he has now conceded 42 league goals this season.

There had been a wild clearance before his 29th minute aberration, when his afternoon fluctuated as wildly as his mood.

Then he came for a fairly innocuous left wing cross from Matt Ritchie, stretched his arms in the air and had a moment of horror in which the ball went from his grasp. At that point it looked like Salomon Rondon was about to score, from around eight yards, so Pickford, in panic, rugby tackled the forward, putting both his arms around his legs and hauling him to the ground.

The Everton goalkeeper was very lucky to stay on the pitch (Getty)

That looked like the end of his afternoon, but Lee Mason, in the middle of an erratic display himself, did not show either the expected red card or even a yellow. Pickford then saved the resulting penalty from Ritchie.

Within 71 seconds Everton added a second and when the goalkeeper dived to his left to deny Ayoze Perez in the 41st minute it looked very much like it was his day. At half-time he was all smiles as he headed down the tunnel, stopping even to chat to Simon Smith, the Newcastle goalkeeping coach.

In the second half an aggrieved and raucous Gallowgate End seemed to cast a shadow over him. In the 57th minute he was lobbed by Salomon Rondon, 12 yards from his line. When the ball bounced narrowly wide he stuck his tongue out towards home supporters.

The first goal from Rondon, cleverly worked though it was, went under his body. There was an acrobatic save from Paul Dummett but then in the 81st minute he could only parry a fairly straight 30-yard drive from Miguel Almiron into the path of Perez, who equalised.

By the time the third came, the lack of authority in the visitors’ penalty area - offside appeal withstanding - was such that two defenders ran into each other right in front of Pickford. That uncertainty had spread from a player caught up in a regional spat.

He is an international goalkeeper, but on his return to the north east, he did not show the stature of one.