Wayne Rooney scored another vital goal as Everton beat Newcastle United.
On his 100th Blues appearance, Rooney bundled home an opener early in the first half after Karl Darlow had fumbled Aaron Lennon’s original headed effort.
It marked the forward’s second strike in four days as well as extending his overall tally over the Magpies to 15 goals in the Premier League.
Here were the key talking points from St James’ Park:
Allardyce has Blues believing again
Whether it is until the summer or for his entire 18-month deal, Sam Allardyce can already consider one aspect of his Everton tenure a resounding success.
At St James’ Park, he has ensured the Blues are an increasingly well-drilled outfit with the ability to hold onto winning positions even with narrow margins.
Essentially, it is what the brochure promised from the former England boss but he is prospering where both Ronald Koeman and Roberto Martinez failed.
Most players have also elevated their performance levels to the point that even Cuco Martina and Ashley Williams already appear to have vastly improved.
Going back to basics had left most Evertonians averse to Allardyce’s appointment but it already looks set to propel them back up the Premier League table.
Rooney downs his old enemy again
In an alternate universe, Wayne Rooney would be the Gallowgate’s sweetheart rather than its greatest scourge.
Newcastle’s ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful bid to land the forward in 2004, prior to leaving Everton, has come back to haunt them time and again.
This was the 15th time that Rooney has scored against the Magpies in the Premier League – a statistic which is unrivalled by any other opponent.
His Goodison Park homecoming may not have been a resounding success but no one can say that the 32-year-old’s hit rate has lost its ruthless streak.
Rooney’s nine goals this season have come from just 12 shots on target – not bad for a player who is supposedly past his best.
Sigurdsson finally showing his class
Gylfi Sigurdsson is finally beginning to look like a player that took up most of Everton’s time and money in the summer transfer window.
The Icelandic playmaker’s formative months at Goodison were supposed to deliver far more than a series of underwhelming showings and brief flashes.
Fast-forward to the trip to the North East and Sigurdsson is a player reborn.
His link-up play with Rooney flew in the face of claims that two no.10s cannot play together while he was the architect for a prospective second Everton goal.
Had Karl Darlow not been at an outstretched best to deny Williams’ header from his free kick, Sigurdsson would have chalked up another long-awaited assist.
An end to Toffees’ travel sickness?
Good things come to those who wait and Everton have been more patient than most in their search for a Premier League win on their travels.
If fans had been told that they would have spent 11 months before the late January victory at Crystal Palace was matched, they would not have believed it.
Seamus Coleman’s late strike at Selhurst Park will have felt far longer than late January before Rooney bundled home the ball from Darlow’s fatal fumble.
Most will have wanted the Merseyside derby to herald that end but Allardyce’s ability to judge fixtures should finally see Everton’s travel sickness banished.