Everton clinched fifth place and UEFA Cup qualification as Ayegbeni Yakubu ended the season with 21 goals for the Goodison Park club.
Everton led at the break thanks to Yakubu’s header, but Michael Owen’s penalty had Newcastle level and nerves jangling, especially with sixth-placed Aston Villa then leading at West Ham.
But Joleon Lescott scored his 10th goal of the season before Yakubu fired home a penalty after Leon Osman was brought down.