Standing in for David Moyes, Everton no. 2 - and former Newcastle coach - Steve Round said:

"It was the response we wanted from midweek, it was a result we needed to bounce back from. The players felt we’d let the supporters and the football club down by not progressing in the cup. 

"But there was a real determination on Saturday to show to true Everton and get a win. This was a big win in terms of bouncing back after midweek. The players were very low in midweek and got the motivation to go and win themselves. We didn’t really have to say anything at all to try and put it right.

"We’ve got a run of fixtures coming up and want to see how many points that gets us. The story of our season has been turning that final pass into the net. You always get the feeling on the bench that you need the third goal because you know what it is like when you come to a place like this. The fans get behind them, they throw the ball in the box and it is always going to be difficult to hang on. We didn’t get the third goal but the pleasing thing was the way we created the chances.”

"Mikel (Arteta) was outstanding, he was creative, elusive and his work ethic was outstanding. He was only a whisker away from maybe creating two more goals. Mikel is effective wherever he plays, if he’s in that type of form. We made a conscious decision to move him to that side because we felt he’d get more room because of the way Newcastle play, and he did. It was a bonus for us with Joey Barton failing a fitness test because he had even more room down there. He came to the fore today and was outstanding.”

"The only goal is for us to win the next game and see where that takes us. It’s a strange league. Last season we got 61 points and that got us eighth. Sixty-one points this season will get you in the top six, even the top five. The goal really is just to win the next game and see how it goes."

Leon Best's sixth goal of the season wasn't enough to ensure that United collected maximum points, as they ended a run of three successive home draws by sliding to defeat against the Toffees on Saturday. And rather than reaching for the dizzy heights of the top six, the Magpies were left glancing over their shoulder despite remaining in ninth spot - after results elsewhere made the race to avoid relegation ever more open.

Shola Ameobi made a return to playing action wearing his protective face mask, but neither Joey Barton or Stephen Ireland were included in Alan Pardew's match day 18 and Jose Enrique left the field with a first half injury. Despite naming Danny Guthrie in his squad though, Pardew preferred to push Danny Simpson into the right midfield spot left vacant by the injured Barton and the suspended Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor return to the starting lineup as one of three central defenders in a 3-5-2 formation.

Without an away league win in their last six attempts and lacking both Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini due to injury, the visitors had shaded the first quarter of the game before Newcastle scored from their first cohesive attack. For the second successive Saturday though, United were unable to retain the lead for long and this time were pegged back within seven minutes, before further deficiencies and confusion in the home backline were highlighted once again just five minutes later, as Everton snatched what proved to be the winner. 

United's sole response before the interval was Mike Williamson's snap shot at the far post that slithered agonisingly wide, but by then though a further reshuffle had been prompted when Jose Enrique limped off.
Simpson was posted to left back as Ameobi appeared to partner Best in a revised 4-4-2 lineup, Taylor at least theoretically filling in at right back. 

Twenty minutes after the restart though - with Harper still the busier of the two goalkeepers - Simpson returned to his usual right back berth, Shane Ferguson coming on to play at left back as Steven Taylor made way. The performance of 19 year-old Northern Ireland international Ferguson was pleasing, capped by one neat forward surge that only ended when he was fouled.

Newcastle were seemingly edging towards a leveller, with Nolan seeing sight of goal in the box but having his shot charged down. Best then had the ball in the back of the net with a powerful header, but increasingly unpopular referee Howard Webb ruled that Jagielka was fouled.

An increasingly niggly encounter had already seen some friction between the two benches, although not on the level of this week's Glaswegian faceoff. And that spread to the field shortly after the arrival of Everton substitute Victor Anichebe, the recipient of an out-of-court settlement from United in recent days for an injury sustained during a game at St.James' Park in 2009.

That had been caused by Kevin Nolan and within ten minutes of Anichebe's first return to Gallowgate, both he and the United captain had been booked after squaring up to each other - although the visiting player looked fortunate to stay on after twice lifting his hands.

Also getting the benefit of the doubt was ex-Magpie defender Sylvain Distin, who attempted to test out Ameobi's new facial protection with a meaty elbow. Louis Saha meanwhile missed several good opportunities to find the net against his former club, including one late chance from close in to finish it.

By that point the home side were throwing everything forward, with Shefki Kuqi on in place of Best (Nile Ranger wasn't on the bench) and Williamson staying upfield. Having perhaps used up our luck against Arsenal though, no breakthrough came despite a steady stream of crosses from the left from Gutierrez - who was clearly limping after a heavy challenge, but stayed on with all three substitutes used.

By the end Newcastle looked bone weary and lacking any sort of creative spark or inspiration - Lovenkrands forced to stay on for the full game but very much a spent force. Fixture list vagaries now mean we don't play for a fortnight and then have another two week break. Given our fitness issues though, for once that looks opportune, giving opportunities to regroup before the last lap.

Biffa