Premiership:
Nobby's style
Newcastle 2 Everton 0
Two second half goals from Nobby Solano made it an impressive five games unbeaten since the departure of Graeme Souness.
Solano's double also put an end to Everton's own run of seven games unbeaten - which included six wins - as two sides in form squared up for the tea-time kick-off.
Once again we were without attacking options, as Alan Shearer failed in his attempt to make the starting line-up, leaving Shola Ameobi being supported by Emre and Lee Bowyer.
The Turkish midfielder once again ran the show in midfield ably assisted by Scott Parker but it was Emre's two goal line clearances from David Weir headers that kept it blank at the break.
Solano had a late first half effort saved by stand-in 'keeper Sander Westerveld and Shay Given had tipped over a dipping Mikel Arteta free-kick.
The Toffees were lucky to still have a full side on the pitch after the odious Tim Cahill somehow escaped a red card from referee Graham Poll.
Poll had any number of dives, kicks and assaults to see off the deeply unpleasant Australian but having already booked him for a foul, Cahill then sent Bowyer sprawling as he approached the Everton box.
Incredibly no foul was given and you have to say that the referee bottled it, knowing that he would have had to have sent off the notorious midfielder. A sneaky knee to the side of Charles N'Zogbia's head as he fell should have had Cahill already seeing red.
And it was N'Zogbia who, once again, was the architect of our opening goal, picking up an Emre pass before striding into the box and sending over a low cross for Solano to slide into the net from a few yards out.
The lead could have been doubled minutes later when Bowyer almost finished off an excellent flowing move but it wasn't long before Solano made the game safe.
Our passing was slick around the edge of the visitor's box and when Bowyer found Solano on the right, he cut inside and clipped a glorious right-footed curler beyond Westerveld into the far corner of the Leazes goal.
Beattie and Yobo went close near the end but the victory never looked in serious doubt as the toothless Toffees only briefly threatened to ruin Glenn Roeder's fourth clean sheet in five games.
We moved above Charlton and Everton to a giddy 11th in the Premiership and whisper it quietly but a UEFA Cup place isn't beyond us if we can get messrs Owen and Shearer back on the pitch.
Full match report to follow.
