Wayne Rooney scored a first-half winner as Everton moved further away from the bottom three with victory at Newcastle United.
Rooney, making his 100th Everton appearance, scored from close range to hand the Toffees a third win in four Premier League matches.
Newcastle almost took the lead at St James' Park when Matt Ritchie's driven shot came back off the post.
Everton took the lead from the resulting counter-attack, Karl Darlow spilling Aaron Lennon's header into the path of Rooney, who poked in on 27 minutes.
Newcastle were denied by the woodwork again when Mikel Merino's long-range strike rattled the post.
It left Rafa Benitez's side without a win in eight Premier League matches and a point and two places above the relegation zone.
See: Newcastle report | Everton report
Next fixtures
Newcastle: 16 Dec v Arsenal (A)
Everton: 18 Dec v Swansea (H)
