Sitting pretty - that's Sir Bobby Robson's 'home bankers' who chalked up a sixth successive Premiership win at St James' Park to move into that all important fourth spot in the table.
With Liverpool not in action until Sunday against relegation-haunted Blackburn Rovers at Anfield, Sir Bobby's words of warning that three points were crucial from this game were more than heeded as his side moved two points clear of the Reds.
And not for the first time in his career, the man who finally killed off the plucky Merseysiders was skipper Alan Shearer, with a two-goal second-half haul to nicely set up Newcastle for Thursday's UEFA quarter-final tie in Holland against Sir Bobby's former club PSV Eindhoven.
However it was not all plain sailing for United against a gallant Everton side who were without suspended strikers Duncan Ferguson and Wayne Rooney and in desperate need of the points to prevent them slipping deeper into relegation turmoil.
Newcastle have got off to a few flying starts at home recently and that trend continued as Everton were caught flat-footed after just five minutes.
Not for the first time it was a goal that stemmed from the trusty 'Route One' tactic that has proved so rewarding this season.
In fact it turned out to be a good ploy as Everton central defenders David Unsworth and Joseph Yobo found it difficult to contain the aerial threat of Shearer all afternoon.
Shay Given launched the ball forward and despite Unsworth's attention, Shearer still managed to nod Bellamy into the clear.
Having found himself in a similar position at Bolton last Sunday and placing his shot wide, the pressure was well and truly on the pacey striker Lightning was not to strike twice however, as Bellamy invited Toffees keeper Nigel Martyn to make his move before dancing around the former England man to fire in his fourth Premiership goal of an injury-hit season.
Firing on all cylinders, United piled on the pressure and the fit-again Kieron Dyer saw a shot beaten away by the overworked Martyn.
With the home fans warming to Newcastle's exciting brand of play, more goals looked theirs for the taking before Thomas Gravesen drilled in a shock equaliser after 12 minutes.
Tomasz Radzinski did the initial damage down the left before cutting inside and picking out Gravesen, whose run had not been tracked, and the Danish international gave Given no chance.
But for a timely Jonathan Woodgate tackle on the troublesome Tobias Linderoth after 18 minutes, United could easily have found themselves behind.
However, three minutes later it was smiles all around again as Newcastle celebrated a collector's item - that most rare of occurrences - a headed goal from Dyer.
When Darren Ambrose crossed from the right, Dyer was first to react and his downward header bounced into the ground and looped over the despairing Martyn to give the Magpies a deserved half-time lead.
The warning signs were posted within seconds of the resumption when Yobo saw an effort crash against the bar and fly over - enough to let Newcastle know the match was far from over.
In fact, former United old boy Steve Watson almost levelled it up when Titus Bramble allowed a Linderoth cross to flash across the face of the goal, with Watson sliding in at the back post just failing to make contact.
It was a costly miss as Newcastle stormed straight up front and charged into a 3-1 lead with Shearer's 20th Premiership strike of the campaign.
When a throughball was missed by the over-worked Yobo, Shearer awaiting any such error was quickly onto the ball. Typically he sized up the situation and as soon as Martyn committed himself he fired through the keeper's legs.
That should have been enough, but Newcastle once again showed their defensive frailties and what often becomes the sloppy and unnecessary side of their play.
They were very fortunate after 67 minutes when Gravesen's deep cross from the right was met perfectly by Watson who sent a fierce header flying beyond the stranded Given and into the net, only to harshly have his celebrations curtailed by an offside flag.
United responded with purpose and a quick break had Everton in all sorts of trouble when Bellamy swivelled quickly onto a Gary Speed pass and was unlucky to see his goal bound shot canon to safety off the back of Unsworth.
There were more than a few anxious home faces when Everton forced their way back into the game with a second goal just nine minutes from time with Yobo on target.
But Shearer was on hand to dispel those fears with a typical finish in what was time added on.
Much was owed to the industrious running of Bellamy who kept the ball alive down the left before finding the ever-willing Dyer. Lee Bowyer picked out by Dyer, only to see his shot hit a defender and drop invitingly for master predator Shearer who wrapped it up and helped United's goal scoring tally into the bargain.
The importance of the result was not lost on Robson, who admitted: "We knew it was a big game which we had to win, and we did exactly that.
"It was a tough game but we got off to a great start with Craig's goal, and we wrapped up near at end with Alan Shearer's second goal.
"In between it was tough, Everton kept pressing and they were never really out of it. They caused us a few problems and kept plugging away at us, so we're delighted with the points and happy to be back in fourth place." Disappointed Toffees boss David Moyes complained: "You can't make the mistakes that we made because this is the Premier League and you have to be Premier League players.
"We didn't deserve to lose and I thought we played quite well today. We actually made more chances than Newcastle but they were ruthless at both ends and got the goals." Man of the Match: Alan Shearer If Captain Fantastic stands by his pledge to retire at the end of next season it will be a massive loss not only for Newcastle but English football in general.