Allan Saint-Maximin stretched out his arms, walked towards the Gallowgate End and sang along as 'Hey Jude' played over the public address system at full-time. This felt like more than a win for Newcastle United against Everton. It was so much more than just three points.
Not only had Newcastle moved out of the relegation zone for the first time since October following a 3-1 triumph at St James' Park; the Magpies had claimed back-to-back victories for the first time this season and, also, come from behind to win a game for the first time in 2021-22.
Was it any wonder that part-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi was 'still smiling' an hour after full-time after watching the game from the directors' box with Amanda Staveley, Jamie Reuben and a certain Gareth Southgate?
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Encouragingly, even without talisman Callum Wilson, Newcastle scored three goals after having nine shots on target, which was three times as many efforts as Everton managed despite the Toffees having the lion's share of possession. For context, Newcastle had scored just six goals in their previous 10 games in all competitions.
Howe will privately feel it is another step forward, another potential turning point, but the Newcastle boss will not let his players get carried away. There was no dressing room photograph uploaded to Instagram this time. The squad will be back in on Wednesday for a recovery session and to review the game and look ahead to Sunday's visit of Aston Villa.
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Perhaps, injuries permitting, it would be a surprise if Howe made any major changes to his side for that game after his decision to stick with the players who triumphed at Leeds paid off on Tuesday night.
Although Howe was keen to see all of his five new signings play, the Newcastle head coach wanted to reward those who claimed a spirited win at Elland Road 17 days previously.
As a result, Howe only made one change and, even then, that was enforced as debutant Matt Targett came in for the injured Paul Dummett.
Supporters flocked to St James' in the hope of seeing Bruno Guimaraes start, but the Brazil international had to be content with a place on the bench alongside fellow new arrival Dan Burn.
However, given how Guimaraes only trained with his new team-mates for the first time last Friday, and Burn had an infected toenail ahead of the game, perhaps, Howe's decision should not have come as a huge surprise.
These players may end up costing a combined £55m but, clearly, Howe was not going to put any big-money arrivals ahead of the team. It felt like a statement of sorts.
Howe instead threw down the gauntlet to the old guard to prove they merited such backing just days after Jonjo Shelvey admitted that the new signings created 'that bit of uncertainty in terms of you don't know where you're going to be playing'.
That is the bonus of bringing new players in. Competition for places has not been this intense at Newcastle for some time now and even summer signing Joe Willock and captain Jamaal Lascelles knew they needed to deliver against Everton to keep their places.
The duo were among those who ultimately responded in style on Tuesday night - Willock put in a tireless shift while Lascelles made some remarkable tackles at the back - but it was far from a straightforward game for Newcastle in the opening stages.
In fact, it was the visitors who struck first in the 36th minute. Anthony Gordon's free-kick was flicked on to Mason Holgate, whose close-range effort was cleared off the line by Targett, but the clearance bounced off Lascelles' chest into the net.
While Lascelles had his hands on his head, the Newcastle captain soon made amends at the other end just a minute later.
It is not an exaggeration to say the black-and-whites would have crumbled after conceding a goal like that just a few weeks ago, but Kieran Trippier's corner was headed onto the crossbar by Lascelles and the ball came back and hit Holgate on the line and nestled in the net.
The pendulum swung once again and, rather than celebrating, Lascelles immediately urged his side back for the kick-off as Newcastle went in search of a second before the break.
Trippier's delivery again caused problems in the 40th minute as the England international's corner was only half-cleared to Ryan Fraser inside the box.
Although Fraser's effort was blocked, the ball looped onto the head of the unsuspecting Chris Wood, whose weak header was comfortably claimed by Pickford.
Half-time perhaps came at a good time for Everton, but Newcastle players rightly sensed that they had the Toffees on the 'backfoot' - and they had to capitalise in the second half.
Newcastle were soon ahead after the break. A decent team move involving Willock, Wood and Joelinton culminated in Saint-Maximin standing up a cross from the byline in the 56th minute.
With Pickford caught in no man's land, the pint-sized Fraser was there to hook home and score his first league goal for the club.
Rather than being content with a one-goal advantage - Newcastle's decision to drop off with a similar lead against Watford proved costly last month - the Magpies knew they needed a killer third.
That goal duly arrived late on when Trippier curled a stunning free-kick past Pickford from 25 yards out to seal a priceless victory.
That was the cue for Guimaraes to warm up one last time ahead of the midfielder entering the fray in the closing stages to top the night off for supporters as they got their first glimpse of the new signing in action after chanting his name throughout.
On this evidence, the Great Escape is very much on.
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