Newcastle United edged out relegation-threatened Aston Villa with a 1-0 victory at St James' Park for what was the Magpies' first home win under John Carver.
Papiss Cisse's first-half strike proved enough to give United all three points and just their second victory in 2015.
The defeat piles more pressure on Villa, meanwhile, as Tim Sherwood's side stay 19th in the table and remain without a victory in 12 Premier League outings.
Here, Sports Mole looks at how the game was won in the North-East.
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Match statistics
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Shots: 14
On target: 5
Possession: 49%
Corners: 9
Fouls: 16
ASTON VILLA
Shots: 13
On target: 3
Possession: 51%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 6
Was the result fair?
In the end, yes it was. Villa dominated the opening half and might have considered themselves a little unlucky to be behind, but they never looked the same side after the break and, in truth, Newcastle could have won by a greater margin. The game was not quite as evenly matched as the statistics would suggest; the best chances in the encounter fell to the hosts, and they deserve to boast the only stat that matters.
Newcastle's performance
In truth, Newcastle would have thought themselves fortunate to carry a 1-0 lead into the break after being second best for much of the first half. They rode their luck a little in defence and counted on Villa missing a few chances, before Cisse hit them with a sucker-punch on 37 minutes. They looked relatively comfortable from that point on, however.
They failed to add to their slender lead but it was not for the lack of trying, as Gabriel Obertan passed up a superb chance to double the advantage, while second-half substitutes Ryan Taylor and Ayoze Perez also went close - the latter of whom struck the post.
Carver's side did not have much to contend with at the other end in the second half either, with centre-back pair Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini turning in excellent defensive performances to add to Christian Benteke's goalscoring woes.
Overall it was just what the doctor ordered after losing 5-0 to Manchester City last week, and Carver will be delighted in a week where he championed himself to earn the job next season.
Aston Villa's performance
If Sherwood was under any illusions over how hard it would be to keep Aston Villa in the Premier League then the reality would have slapped him across the face following this result. There were signs of improvement for Villa, who were the better side for 37 minutes, but Cisse stifled their momentum with his ultimately decisive goal and they never quite looked the same team after that.
They looked relatively solid at the back throughout the first half, and looked surprisingly dangerous at the other end as the division's lowest goalscorers regularly threatened Tim Krul's goal, with Benteke at the forefront of the siege, but it didn't quite last.
There were some positives, and Sherwood will realise it once the gloom subsides, but overall there were mostly reminders of how difficult it will be to preserve the club's top-flight status.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Papiss Cisse: There were no stand-out candidates for man of the match, but it probably has to be Cisse; not only for his decisive goal but the Senegal hitman regularly threatened Villa's rearguard throughout the occasion. Honourable mention to Williamson and Coloccini.
Biggest gaffe
It has to be Cleverley, who missed Villa's best and only real chance in the second half by drilling a left-footed shot straight at Krul from an excellent position. Reflecting on that missed opportunity will make the 200-mile trip back to Birmingham feel a little longer for the ex-Manchester United midfielder.
Referee performance
Lee Mason had a busy afternoon, booking six players in total - five of whom were Villa men - but he did not have any major decisions to make. He looked to make the correct decision with each of the bookings, and managed to call a few penalty appeals correctly, too. Decent game.
What next?
Newcastle United: Things do not get much easier for Newcastle as Carver and co gear up for the visit of Manchester United on Wednesday.
Aston Villa: Sherwood's side are back in action on Tuesday as they host West Bromwich Albion in a West Midlands derby.
Shane Callaghan
