Two second-half goals by Nolberto Solano, the second a brilliant, bending shot from outside the box, ensured that Roeder remains unbeaten in the five matches he has presided over since taking over from Graeme Souness in a caretaker capacity. This was his fourth victory in that period.

By ending Everton’s own unbeaten run, and supplanting them in 11th place, the former West Ham United manager is now being touted as an outsider for the job on a permanent basis. “I am not even thinking about that,” he insisted. “There is no change to anything I said at the beginning. The chairman always tells me to prepare the team for the next game. We’ll see what he says after this.”

However similar the personnel, Newcastle are a different side to that which laboured under Souness. More organised at the back, wider in attack, and keener to harness their most technical players, the European place that seemed beyond them a few short weeks ago is back on the horizon. “Everyone is loving it,” said Roeder. “If I was not enjoying what was happening here, there would be something wrong with me. There are lots of happy faces at the moment.”

No little effort was required to overcome stubborn opponents who showed why they have been rejuvenated of late. Everton’s manager, David Moyes, was satisfied with his players’ performance, if a little frustrated that they had wasted several scoring opportunities. One defeat in eight matches isn’t bad for a side whose list of absentees is even longer than Newcastle’s. Injuries to Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble and Alan Shearer, as well as the ongoing absence of Michael Owen, signalled a return to the theme of Newcastle’s season.

Everton, meanwhile, had the added handicap of suspensions for Phil Neville, Duncan Ferguson, Tony Hibbert and Iain Turner.

Moyes gave a debut to Sander Westerveld, the Dutchman on a month’s loan from Portsmouth. And Joseph Yobo, back in the side after his sojourn to the African Cup of Nations, looked uncomfortable at right-back on a bitter, blustery night.

The unusual challenge with which Yobo was confronted came in the shape of Emre, who is more accustomed to pulling the strings in midfield. Utilised up front in place of Shearer, he was full of industry from start to finish.

The little man with the gloves and short sleeves had no sooner orchestrated something at one end than he was thwarting his opponents at the other. In a forgettable first half that barely persuaded a frozen crowd to warm their hands, his most important interventions were on his own goalline. Twice he was in the right place at the right time to block headers by David Weir.

Only in the closing minute of that opening period was either goalkeeper called into action, although each was to be commended for his response after a period of numbing inactivity. Shay Given was first to show that the temperature had not stiffened his muscles.

Mikel Arteta, brought down by Lee Bowyer, made and took the dipping free kick that forced the Irishman to spiral upwards and tip it over the bar.

A few seconds later, Westerveld proved to be equally alert. After Charles N’Zogbia had danced through a couple of challenges down by the touchline, his cutback picked out Bowyer in the penalty box. The midfielder’s first-time shot was as instinctive as the goalkeeper’s block.

Bowyer has been the biggest beneficiary of Shearer’s recent absence, occupying the midfield berth vacated by Emre. He was on the end of a few crosses here, but the connection was too often slight.

With both sides demonstrating impressive discipline, a break from deep seemed to offer the best chance of a goal. When Mikel Arteta sent a weighted ball into the path of Leon Osman, the midfielder should have done better than whistle his drive past the wrong side of the post. Arteta, whose service had been imaginative throughout, deserved better.

In a game so tight, an explosive burst was required, and N’Zogbia was the man who obliged 19 minutes into the second half. After accepting the ball from Emre in a deep position, the young Frenchman surged into the box, skipped past Weir and centred a low ball across the six-yard area. Solano slid in ahead of his marker to divert it over the line.

The breakthrough served to lift Newcastle, who proceeded to play with more invention. That was typified by Emre, Solano and Bowyer, whose one-touch triangle almost set up a spectacular second. Then Scott Parker, their midfield anchor, dipped a volley narrowly wide of the post.

Their newfound confidence was underlined by Solano’s second. After Bowyer had laid the ball into his path, the Peruvian cut inside the full-back, took one look at the far corner of the net, and found it courtesy of a curling shot delivered with the outside of his right boot. “As good it was, he scored a better one in training yesterday,” said Roeder, who is loving every minute of it.

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