Newcastle United have moved four points clear of the relegation zone following a 1-0 win against Aston Villa at St James' Park.
Kieran Trippier broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with yet another free-kick and the gritty Magpies managed to hold firm to claim a priceless victory.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
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'Monster' Kieran Trippier steps up once again
It's remarkable to think that Kieran Trippier has only played five games for Newcastle United. It seems like the England international has been at the club for years after making such a huge immediate impact.
As well as offering Newcastle so much with his crosses and set-piece delivery, Trippier is a leader and organiser who has helped breathe confidence into his team-mates. As Ryan Fraser put it, the 31-year-old is a 'monster'.
Few right-backs in world football have such an influential role on and off the field so you can see why Eddie Howe wanted to make a late call on Trippier after he hobbled off in the closing stages against Everton five days previously with a calf issue.
Trippier was ultimately fit to start and, although Jonjo Shelvey is usually the stand-in skipper, tellingly, the new signing captained the side for the first time after captain Jamaal Lascelles was unwell.
Trippier is supposed to be a defender but the full-back stepped up in front of goal when Newcastle needed a moment of magic in a tight game in the 35th minute.
VAR had just overturned referee Craig Pawson's decision to award Newcastle a penalty, after Joe Willock was fouled by Callum Chambers, so the Magpies were instead awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area.
Just as he did against Everton, Trippier converted the set-piece with aplomb as, this time, he opted for power to leave goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with no chance.
The only downside for Newcastle on Sunday was the sight of Trippier hobbling off with a foot injury after half-time and his absence will be sorely felt if he is set for a spell out.
Dan Burn looks like he's never been away
Naturally, when it comes to Newcastle's January business, Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier have dominated the headlines but Dan Burn had the best debut of all of Newcastle's five signings.
Eddie Howe had been keen to sign a new centre-back last month and, while moves for Sven Botman and Diego Carlos ultimately failed, Burn already looks to be a very astute signing.
The Blyth native, who was released by the club as a youngster nearly 20 years ago, looked like he had never been away as he slotted into the side alongside Fabian Schar.
At one point, in the first half, a startled Tyrone Mings even had to get a new shirt from the bench after Burn appeared to rip half of the centre-back's jersey off during a tussle.
Burn was an assured, calming presence at the back in all respects: making three clearances; winning possession on four occasions; and completing 81% of his passes.
Gritty Newcastle hold firm
Despite a host of different combinations, and a lucky escape with a VAR call, Newcastle's defence ultimately held firm against a decent Villa side.
With skipper Jamaal Lascelles unwell, Dan Burn came in to make his debut for the club while Javier Manquillo replaced the ineligible Matt Targett in the starting line-up in Eddie Howe's only changes from the side that beat Everton.
If that was not already a significant shake-up at the back, then, during the game, Manquillo and Kieran Trippier both hobbled off in the 45th and 48th minutes respectively as Paul Dummett and Emil Krafth were parachuted into a testing situation against a Villa side boasting plenty of firepower.
Villa found joy down Newcastle's right after Trippier went off as Krafth lost the ball and then looked to have played Ollie Watkins onside for what Villa thought was a legitimate equaliser after the hour mark, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR check.
That was the cue for Howe to switch to a 5-4-1 as Krafth moved inside to right-sided centre-back and Ryan Fraser slotted in at wing-back, and Newcastle managed to, ultimately, keep Villa at bay and see the game out.
Newcastle have now conceded just three goals in their last five league games; in contrast, in their previous five, the leaky Magpies shipped 12 goals.
St James' is a fortress once again
Newcastle is a united club once more and never is that more apparent than on a match day at St James' Park.
The fans' remarkable support is making a difference. in turning the stadium into a real fortress again. Indeed, it is not an exaggeration to say the players took immense encouragement from how the supporters stuck with them after going behind against Everton on Tuesday night.
Rather than heads dropping, the players were lifted by the fans and went on to come from behind to win a game for the first time this season.
After what felt like a European night on Tuesday, Newcastle fans still nursing hangovers returned to St James' once again and, again, they made their presence felt.
For example, when VAR overturned referee Craig Pawson's decision to award a penalty, the supporters roared in defiance before chanting 'Kieran Trippier, over the wall', knowing that this was still a great opportunity to break the deadlock.
When Villa came back into the game, and enjoyed a dominant spell in the second half, Newcastle fans continued to back their side and carried the players over the line.
Perhaps, then, it is not a surprise that 13 of the 16 points Howe have picked up since taking charge of Newcastle have come at home. In fact, Newcastle have only suffered one home defeat in the league under Howe and that was against champions Man City.
The Great Escape is very much on
Newcastle were five points off safety when Eddie Howe took charge in November and while there was not necessarily an immediate new manager bounce in terms of results, the fruits of the work on the training ground are really starting to pay off.
Yes, Newcastle were Europe's biggest spenders in January, but only three of those five new signings started against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Instead, Howe has got so much more from those players he has inherited, whether it is Fabian Schar, Joe Willock or Ryan Fraser, who are all playing with renewed belief.
To sum up that turnaround, Newcastle have now won three league games in a row for the first time since 2018.
Having enjoyed a memorable week on Tyneside, it is crucial Newcastle now build on these victories on the road against West Ham and Brentford before the month is out.
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