Newcastle United have suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since December after the Magpies were beaten 1-0 by 10-man Everton at Goodison Park.
Everton lost Allan to a red card in the 83rd minute after the midfielder was sent off for a meaty challenge on Allan Saint-Maximin after referee Craig Pawson consulted his pitchside monitor. However, despite being a man down, Alex Iwobi popped up with a late winner in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
READ MORE: Everton vs Newcastle highlights
Not even VAR can save Newcastle
Frank Lampard called Allan Saint-Maximin 'unplayable' following the reverse fixture back in February and the substitute quickly made an impact after drawing a heavy challenge from Allan in the 83rd minute. Allan was ultimately sent off for serious foul play after referee Craig Pawson consulted his pitchside monitor, leaving Everton fans incensed as they chanted 'You're not fit to referee!'
It felt like a big moment not only in the game but, also, these sides' season. Everton had been on top up until that point in the second half and Anthony Gordon had forced Martin Dubravka into a fine save just a few minutes previously with an effort from just outside the area.
The officials worked against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge, when Trevoh Chalobah's shirt pull on Jacob Murphy was not even checked last week, but, this time, VAR appeared to come to Newcastle's rescue. Yet, remarkably, Everton still looked the likelier of scorers when 14 minutes were added on after a protestor tied himself to a goal post earlier in the half.
Alex Iwobi duly popped up with the winner in the ninth minute of stoppage time after Newcastle's defence was cut open by some smart link-up play between the winger and substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
This was a timely warning that Newcastle still have work to do yet after the away end taunted: 'Going down, going down, going down' to Everton fans earlier in the game.
Newcastle have work to do yet as poor second half proves costly
This was a real test for Newcastle in so many ways. Not only were Newcastle having to bounce back from their first league defeat since December, but the Magpies were also coming up against an Everton side in desperate need of a win.
Boyhood Everton fan Jamie Carragher called it the Toffees' biggest game for 20 years' after hammering the players for being 'an absolute disgrace' as the club risked being relegated for the first time since 1951. Brittle Everton may have picked up just 22 points - their lowest return ever at this stage in a top-flight season - but Frank Lampard's side hardly needed any further motivation.
Eddie Howe rightly predicted that it would be a 'very big occasion' with a 'lot of emotion' at Goodison, but Newcastle were certainly ready for the fight after becoming a nastier side under the head coach. Jacob Murphy, for one, admitted that the manner of the defeat against Chelsea, and that penalty decision, had added 'a lot of fuel to the fire' and vowed Newcastle were 'going to be so up' for it.
Newcastle frustrated Everton for large periods in the first half - the visitors took their time with restarts - and the black-and-whites dominated possession and won a host of corners. However, Newcastle, playing their fourth game in 12 days, tired as the game went on and the Magpies never rediscovered their rhythm after the game was halted for eight minutes early in the second half after a Stop Oil Now protestor tied himself to one of the posts.
Seamus Coleman's dig misses the point
Everton captain Seamus Coleman appeared to be aiming a dig of sorts when he said 'this is a different Newcastle United to the team we were due to face earlier in the season' in his programme notes ahead of the game after the original fixture was rescheduled. Yes, Newcastle had a major financial advantage compared to other sides in the bottom half in January, but there was no guarantee that it would pay off. Indeed, you only have to look at Everton to realise that.
Everton are set to record the biggest losses of any team in English football over the past three years and the Toffees' January recruitment drive, under two very different managers, summed up all that is wrong at the club. After Rafa Benitez sanctioned the £29m spent on Vitali Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson - two players aged 22 and under who will need time to adjust to the Premier League - successor Frank Lampard pushed for moves for the more experienced Dele Alli and Donny van de Beek.
While van de Beek's modest loan fee was hardly eye-watering, Everton could end up paying £40m for Dele, who was a player Newcastle also looked at. Missing out on Dele may end up proving a blessing in disguise; the former England international has yet to even make his full debut for Lampard's side. Patterson, meanwhile, has yet to feature in the Premier League while Mykolenko has only made one top-flight start under Lampard.
In contrast, Newcastle's decision to target hungry characters and leaders has already paid dividends. Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood have all slotted in rather seamlessly while Bruno Guimaraes, who was the only player signed without Premier League experience, has bought into the team-first mentality at the club and taken his chance after patiently waiting for his opportunity.
Bruno offers another glimpse of what is to come
There were few positives for Newcastle to take from this game, but Bruno Guimaraes did offer another glimpse of what he will bring to this side. The Brazil international constantly demanded the ball and dictated the tempo from the middle of the park in the first half. One clever switch of play in the 11th minute picked out Ryan Fraser out on the left, who created a decent opportunity for Chris Wood, but Asmir Begovic easily dealt with the striker's header.
Off the ball, too, Bruno caught the eye and, at one point, when he lost the ball to Adboulaye Doucoure, the Brazil international chased back and won back possession literally a second later, which led to his name being sung by the away end. That sort of commitment bodes well as Bruno settles into the cut and thrust of the Premier League.
Newcastle owner's reaction provides perspective ahead of Dubai trip
Unlike the last time Newcastle went on a warm weather training break, back in January, the Magpies will head to Dubai off the back of a defeat. You would imagine it will be a quiet flight, but the fact remains that Newcastle are nine points clear of the relegation zone and still have the influential Callum Wilson, Kieran Trippier and Jonjo Shelvey to return.
Perhaps attending part-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi summed it up best when he tweeted: 'Disappointing result tonight. But we’ll take stock, re-focus and come back stronger.'
A handful of players - Martin Dubravka, Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth, Bruno Guimaraes and Miguel Almiron - will miss the trip to Dubai because they are on international duty but Howe hopes this break could mirror the Magpies visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
As well as this being a chance to train at state of the art facilities at the Nad Al Sheba sports complex, the break will also give players and staff the opportunity to spend an extended period of time together as Newcastle look to finish the season strongly and bounce back from back-to-back defeats.
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