Demba Ba ensured Newcastle's losing streak in the English Premier League would end at four matches, scoring a brace to help his side to a 3-0 win over 10-man Wigan.
The Magpies have been a shadow of the team that was competing for the European places last season, with injuries and suspensions ravaging the side that were again tipped to challenge for a top-four spot.
However, Alan Pardew kept faith in his side, and they came through with all three points at St James' Park, albeit aided by a red card in the 13th minute. Maynor Figueroa bundled over Papiss Cisse inside the box, leading to referee Mike Jones pointing to the penalty spot as well as sending off the away team's defender.
Ba stepped up and calmly slotted it past goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi to make it 1-0, before doubling the scoreline eight minutes later. Davide Santon made a driving run, before taking a long-range strike, which Al Habsi could only parry straight onto Ba's path, with the striker making no mistake in placing it into the back of the net.
Gael Bigirimana added the gloss in the 71st minute, curling in a long-range effort as Pardew heaved a huge sigh of relief.
"It's been difficult for the players and staff," Pardew told Sky Sports. "We've had so many knocks with injuries -- game after game -- and it was nice to get a break and it was a break.
"We've had to work very hard for that win. It's been four defeats in a major football city and that puts a lot of pressure on us."
"It's a massive win for us," goalkeeper Tim Krul added. "Tonight, we knew we needed three points. The pressure was on us.
"I don't think we've had many breaks this season. We've lost a lot of players to injuries and luck has not been on our side.
"But I think we put a lot of effort in and I think we can be proud and take a lot of confidence out of that.
"It's been hard. Injuries and losing games - it's a new experience for us especially as we had a great season last season.
"We're coping well -- we need to stick together and I think tonight we showed what a quality team we are. We needed this."
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was pleased by his players' reaction in the second half, with the Latics making a good fist of it to try and get back into the game, despite being a man down.
"It became a very difficult game in 10 minutes when you give a two-goal cushion and go a man down," Martinez said.
"But I was pleased with was the reaction of the players in the second half. It would have been very easy to feel sorry for ourselves.
"I was extremely proud with the reaction of my players. We gave a real feeling of fear to the Newcastle side. We got on the ball. Unfortunately we couldn't get that early (second-half) goal that you need."
