An early second-half strike from Theo Walcott was enough for Everton to beat Newcastle 1-0 in the Premier League on Monday and send the Toffees into eighth place
In a game of few chances at Goodison Park, Walcott converted Wayne Rooney's cross in the 51st minute to give Everton their first win in four games
Rafa Benitez was not able to fashion a victory in his 100th game as Newcastle manager, with Dwight Gayle - who started the game on the bench - going closest in the 64th minute for the visitors
The win sees Everton leapfrog Leicester into eighth spot, although they are eight points behind seventh-placed Burnley, while Newcastle remain 10th
Everton could have nabbed an early goal inside three minutes when Walcott darted into the box before his intended pass to Rooney was poorly intercepted, but Cenk Tosun was unable to capitalise on the loose ball as his effort flashed across the face of goal
Everton went close for a second time 30 minutes later
 Newcastle failed to clear a corner, allowing Rooney to whip the ball into the area which was headed towards the back post by Michael Keane
 His effort found Phil Jagielka, but he could only put his stretching volley over the crossbar from close range
But Everton did find the breakthrough six minutes into the second half, as Yannick Bolasie pumped a ball into the area from the right to pick out Walcott at the back post
 The former Arsenal forward then found himself a pocket of space before lifting the ball over goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and into the roof of the net
Newcastle could have scored an equaliser in the 64th minute in one of their rare chances in the game
 Jonjo Shelvey's corner met the head of Jamaal Lascelles, who directed the ball towards the back post for substitute Gayle, but the striker could not get the right connection as his volley went over the bar from inside the six-yard box
The visitors saw the better of the ball in the closing stages as they looked to snatch a point, and they nearly succeeded in the last minute of injury time, but Jacob Murphy's cross was headed behind strongly by Seamus Coleman as the Magpies' four-match winning streak came to an end
We completely dominated the game, out-passed the opposition in their half
 We found it very difficult to break them down because they had all 10players behind the ball in their own half and you have to be patient
 We were patient and got the winner
 Some of our passing went astray but in fairness you can't really blame me for that can you? I don't pass the ball out there, the lads do
" "We didn't take our chances and that is the difference when you have Walcott or Rooney or players on these wages that can make a difference
 We did really well to be here to play against this team
 To expect that we have to beat them easily is impossible
 They have very good players and they can make the difference
 We battled and we fought until the end so we had the chance to draw, but we lost against a good team and that's it
"It was a well taken goal from Walcott that sees him take the man-of-the-match plaudits, and when Everton were on the attack, he was mostly involved as he played off the left wing in the second half as well as making the most sprints in the game (80)
His strike was his fifth Premier League goal against Newcastle, and he has only scored more against West Ham (six)
 His strike was the third goal he has scored since joining the club in January
 After the game, Walcott said: "It was a much-needed three points after a disappointing run of results
"Everton will be in action again on Saturday when they travel to Huddersfield in the Premier League with Newcastle also playing on the same day when they welcome West Brom to St James' Park
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