Everton needed a hero on this night, of all nights.
Down to ten men, aggrieved by decisions that had gone against them and under the cosh from an opponent in a strong run of form - they needed to find any way.
Step up, Alex Iwobi.
Arguably, the narrative couldn't have been more fitting. This is someone who has been maligned in some quarters from his arrival at Goodison Park, someone who has struggled to regularly make his mark under multiple managers.
He might have felt a little unfortunate to have been dropped under Frank Lampard for recent matches, and perhaps that gave him a point to prove on Thursday evening.
It would be unfair to call this a "zero to hero" story, because the winger's stock wasn't as low as that before this game.
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But my goodness, he stood up to be counted when everyone in the stadium needed it most.
Dancing past one opponent before playing the ball to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the winger continued his run hoping that the striker would be able to hold up the ball effectively.
He hardly broke stride as he collected the return pass from his teammate, and was faced with a clear shot at goal.
A clear shot, perhaps, but not an easy one - especially on his wrong foot.
But he didn't care. He was the coolest man in the stadium as he swung his left foot on the ball and casually placed it into a large amount of space on the far side of Martin Dubravka's goal.
He was even the most calm Everton-related head in the stadium for his celebration, posing in front of the Park End with a beaming smile on his face as those in front of him went delirious.
Goodison hasn't seen scenes like that for a long, long time. Far too long.
And the truth of the matter is that the Nigeria international fully deserved all of the praise that was about to come his way.
A few remaining fans in the Main Stand near the press box, as the stadium was nearly empty, were still singing "Oh Alex Iwobi" to the tune of Seven Nation Army as they headed back home.
Could you have pictured that a few months ago? A few weeks ago? Well, truth be told, even a few hours before kick off?
But it would be wrong to boil his display down to just a goal.
He showed great energy throughout the match, never giving up on any cause - however lost - making sure those inside the stadium knew he was there for the fight.
In fact, he almost took that a little too literally in the second half when an opposing player looked to square up with Anthony Gordon, with Iwobi running a good 20 yards to push the Newcastle man out of the way.
But his efforts were being appreciated by the crowd. He overran an attempted dribble inside the first few minutes, and received a wide amount of applause for his effort rather than dismay at the failure.
Perhaps the winger typifies the change that Evertonians were desperate to inspire in their players more than anyone else.
Over the course of his time at the club, he has shown bright flashes of the player that Blues supporters hoped he could be.
Those who looked at his underlying stats believed there was always a talent to be unlocked in there, but inconsistent performances held him back from fully realising that ambition.
How many Everton players can that realistically relate to?
But, the fans have been clear over recent weeks that they will not be getting on the backs of their squad.
At times in recent months and years, when supporters have actually been allowed in their seats, there has been something of a tendency for the ground to turn pretty toxic when things were not going the way of their side.
Not recently, though. There's been a dramatic shift in attitude off the pitch, with a huge focus on increasing positivity even in these darkest times.
On the pitch, though, confidence still seemed to be at a premium.
Only the likes of Gordon were regularly proving that they had the belief to try and drag his side to the points they need, but others were lacking in that department.
Iwobi is often described in those terms. He has the ability, but a perceived lack of confidence perhaps stops him from adding the consistency to his performances that Evertonians need.
His end product is also something that has been criticised in the past, and quite rightly so in a lot of respects, but it absolutely didn't let him down when it mattered the most.
It's not worth speculating whether this could be a turning point for his career on Merseyside. We've been on this road a few too many times in the past.
And, of course, this is but one game. It's important to not get ahead of things, especially with the fight that is coming ahead.
But the release of pure, unadulterated emotion and relief that was generated by that one moment of quality - right at the end of a dire match - could very easily be a massive point of Everton's season.
They needed to win this game, despite how often Frank Lampard might have denied that fact.
They did, thanks to one of their most unlikely heroes.
Initially it seemed as if this match was going to have everything, without the crucial goal and points that Everton really needed it to.
The hosts began the match well and Ben Godfrey got an early shot on target with a header from a corner, but it ended up being a comfortable save for Dubravka.
Newcastle then grew into the match and began to dominate the rest of the opening 45 minutes, with the Blues looking too open at the back and too frantic at the top end of the pitch.
The visitors couldn't take advantage, however, and both sides went into the break level - with Craig Pawson and his officiating team heading back down the tunnel to a chorus of boos after some decisions were perceived to have gone against Everton.
Shortly after the restart, the game was delayed for a long period of time after a protester attached himself to the post in front of the Gwladys Street with a zip-tie around his neck.
Despite some comedy-sized bolt cutters being quickly ran onto the pitch, it took a long time for that protestor to eventually be carried off by numerous stewards.
That effected the atmosphere in the stadium somewhat as many didn't know what they'd just seen, but it was knocked into fever pitch once more as Allan saw a red card in the 83rd minute.
After Pawson had originally given a yellow for his challenge on Allan Saint-Maximin, the referee was told by VAR to check his monitor and overturn the decision - which was met with visceral anger from the stands.
But, with nerves rising and the atmosphere reaching boiling point - Iwobi produced the show-stopping moment.
In a match that had essentially everything it was his desire, composure, and one moment of quality which was the most important of it all.
Sit back and enjoy it, Alex. You've earned it.
