EPL: Newcastle 0-1 Everton
Rooney pounced on a loose ball to tap home
Everton's resurgence under Sam Allardyce continued as an error from Karl Darlow allowed Wayne Rooney to secure a 1-0 win over 10-man Newcastle at St James' Park.
Darlow spilled Aaron Lennon's header in the 27th minute, with Rooney pouncing on the loose ball to tap home from a yard out.
The Magpies twice struck the woodwork in the first-half as Matt Ritchie and Mikel Merino both hit the post with long-range efforts.
But Rafael Benitez's side ran out of ideas in the second period and Jonjo Shelvey compounded their misery as he received a second yellow card for a foul on Idrissa Gueye deep into second-half stoppage time.
The result means Everton strengthen their hold on 10th place in the Premier League table having extended their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions, but for Newcastle it is a seventh defeat in eight games.
It was the hosts who began the brighter of the two sides and they were very nearly rewarded as Ritchie cut inside from the left before seeing his fierce shot crash back off the woodwork with Jordan Pickford beaten.
But just over a minute later, Everton were ahead as a fine interchange between Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Rooney led to the former crossing for Lennon to head towards goal and after Darlow failed to gather, Rooney was on hand to slide in the rebound.
It means that Rooney has now scored more Premier League goals against Newcastle (15) than against any other team.
Newcastle were inches away from equalising in the 37th minute when Merino was afforded space 30 yards out but the Spaniard's shot cannoned off the inside of the post and went wide.
Having weathered the storm in the first half, Everton were largely untroubled following the interval as Florian Lejeune's header towards the far post narrowly evaded the right boot of Mohamed Diame.
The Toffees could have extended their lead as Ashley Williams rose to meet Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick only to be denied by the outstretched Darlow.
And as Newcastle's frustration grew, Shelvey received his marching orders for scything down Gueye in the closing stages.
The Magpies twice struck the woodwork in the first-half as Matt Ritchie and Mikel Merino both hit the post with long-range efforts.
But Rafael Benitez's side ran out of ideas in the second period and Jonjo Shelvey compounded their misery as he received a second yellow card for a foul on Idrissa Gueye deep into second-half stoppage time.
The result means Everton strengthen their hold on 10th place in the Premier League table having extended their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions, but for Newcastle it is a seventh defeat in eight games.
It was the hosts who began the brighter of the two sides and they were very nearly rewarded as Ritchie cut inside from the left before seeing his fierce shot crash back off the woodwork with Jordan Pickford beaten.
But just over a minute later, Everton were ahead as a fine interchange between Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Rooney led to the former crossing for Lennon to head towards goal and after Darlow failed to gather, Rooney was on hand to slide in the rebound.
It means that Rooney has now scored more Premier League goals against Newcastle (15) than against any other team.
Newcastle were inches away from equalising in the 37th minute when Merino was afforded space 30 yards out but the Spaniard's shot cannoned off the inside of the post and went wide.
Having weathered the storm in the first half, Everton were largely untroubled following the interval as Florian Lejeune's header towards the far post narrowly evaded the right boot of Mohamed Diame.
The Toffees could have extended their lead as Ashley Williams rose to meet Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick only to be denied by the outstretched Darlow.
And as Newcastle's frustration grew, Shelvey received his marching orders for scything down Gueye in the closing stages.