Newcastle United clambered out of the relegation zone for the first time since September on a glorious night at St James' Park.
This was another night when serious questions were asked and Eddie Howe and his players answered them in fantastic manner.
They could have folded after going 1-0 down but responded with three goals to seal three huge points.
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Howe's players put their bodies on the line with Jamaal Lascelles - who scored at both ends - putting in some monster challenges in one of his best games of the season.
However, it was the calm guidance of man of the match Kieran Trippier who helped ease the Magpies through the game before putting the seal on the victory with a moment of real class with a free-kick that will be talked about for some time.
Then there was Jonjo Shelvey who put in a mature performance after picking up a yellow card in the first half.
But rather than go under and get frustrated, he managed to keep his nerves and put in a huge display with competition for places now bubbling away nicely.
United did not need to rely on new signing Bruno Guimaraes for no longer than a cameo introduction.
He will play his part in the coming weeks but for now, Howe will be delighted that his side have managed back to back wins.
Newcastle registered the game's first shot at goal on two minutes when Jonjo Shelvey got free on the right but fired over Jordan Pickford's crossbar.
The midfielder tried his luck again after a pass from Allan Saint-Maximin on the 10 minute mark but Pickford - taunted by the Toon faithful - gathered comfortably.
Everton's first effort arrived on 12 minutes when Richarlison spun past Fabian Schar but his shot fizzed wide.
The first yellow card of the night was issued to Mason Holgate after a strong challenge on Ryan Fraser.
Andros Townsend's deflected effort earned Everton a corner with 19 minutes on the clock but Everton failed to make the most of it.
The Toffees were forced into a change with just 25 minutes gone as Dele Alli replaced Demarai Gray to get an earlier than expected debut for the visitors.
Alli could easily have been lining up for Newcastle had the Magpies not been in pursuit of Man United's Jesse Lingard in what could be one of the season's sliding doors moments.
Shelvey collected a yellow card 10 minutes before half-time for what was deemed a foul on Holgate.
But Everton were forced into a second change when Jarrad Branthwaite came on for the injured Yerry Mina.
Frank Lampard was jumping for joy on 36 minutes though as sub Alli struck a shot which was cleared off the line before it bundled in off skipper Lascelles to hand Everton the lead.
But that advantage was short-lived as the Magpies responded immediately with the captain towering high from a Kieran Trippier corner before the ball rolled in off Holgate to tie things up.
Moments later, another Trippier corner ended up at the feet of Fraser who saw his shot loop up for Chris Wood to head straight at Pickford.
Newcastle should have gone in with the lead at half-time when Saint-Maximin cut the ball back across the face of goal but Joelinton's effort incredibly hit his own head in the box when it looked easier to score.
After an intense 45 minutes, the two sides went in level but Newcastle should really have been ahead.
Schar joined Shelvey in the book on 49 minutes when he took a swipe at Richarlison following a bursting run down the right.
Dubravka then needed to be focused to gather Anthony Gordon's curling effort down the opposite flank.
Yet the decibel levels went up a notch on 56 minutes when Joelinton slipped in Saint-Maximin who crossed for Fraser before he touched it towards goal and Andros Townsend helped it over the line.
A dangerous free-kick followed immediately but Richarlison's low effort struck the wall before Branthwaite's powerful effort needed Dubravka's full attention.
Saint-Maximin drove into the box on 62 minutes but his effort rolled across the face of goal with nobody getting the vital touch.
Newcastle put themselves within touching distance of three points when they won a free-kick 25 yards from goal with just 10 minutes left.
After a short pause, Trippier stepped up and whipped the ball venomously over the wall and beyond Pickford to make it 3-1.
With the home crowd screaming for new boy Bruno Guimaraes to make his debut Howe instead turned to Jacob Murphy as his first change of the evening with the winger replacing Fraser.
And Murphy should have put the game well and truly beyond doubt after Saint-Maximin rolled the ball to the former Sheff Wed winger but his effort struck the bottom of the post, and Willock could only strike it straight at Pickford.
Then came the moment the fans had waited for as Bruno replaced Willock for his debut.
And there was also a huge ovation for Trippier as he went off for Javier Manquillo in stoppage time.
Saint-Maximin was in the mood by this time and he skipped through in the closing stages only to see his effort pushed away by the Everton and England keeper.
If Newcastle can pick up where they left off here on Sunday against Aston Villa they could be on their way to the greatest of escapes in the Premier League.
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