Everton clinched fifth place and UEFA Cup qualification as Ayegbeni Yakubu netted a brace in their 3-1 win over Newcastle at Goodison Park. The £11million that boss David Moyes paid for Yakubu has clearly paid off, with Everton back into Europe for the third time in four seasons.
He took his tally for the campaign to 21, and became the first Everton player to top 20 since Peter Beardsley 16 years ago.
Yakubu's first was a powerful header, and his second a late penalty. In between Joleon Lescott had settled Everton's nerves by putting them ahead again after a Michael Owen penalty had taken Newcastle level just seconds into the second-half.
At one stage Aston Villa - struggling to overtake Everton - were leading at West Ham, but that game ended 2-2 and Everton were already home and dry having held fifth place since the new year.
Everton were without injured pair Tony Hibbert and Andrew Johnson for this final game of the season, with player of the year Lescott passed fit but knowing he will need treatment on a knee problem during the summer.
Everton brought in Victor Anichebe up front while Newcastle were missing Geremi, Joey Barton, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins from the side that lost at home to Chelsea on Monday. Damien Duff, Alan Smith, Charles N'Zogbia and Andrew Carroll came into the Geordies' line-up.
Sun-drenched Goodison Park was packed and with a tremendous atmosphere. This was due in no small measure to the constant chanting from the Newcastle hordes, much of which was in support of Kevin Keegan.
It was 20 year-old Carroll - making his full league debut - who had the first shot, an effort on the turn that forced Tim Howard into a save to his right.
Manuel Fernandes fired over from 20 yards for Everton, while Yakubu saw a low drive just miss the far post, with Anichebe just inches away from a connection.
Referee Peter Walton had been lenient over a few tackles and some blatant holding but booked Damien Duff for pulling back Fernandes.
Fernandes got up to take the free-kick himself, and lifted it into the box for Yakubu to power a header past Steve Harper, his 20th of the season, after 28 minutes.
Newcastle's response was a 25-yard free-kick from N'Zogbia that dipped a foot over Howard's bar, but they were penned back from then on.
Yakubu had the ball in the net again with a close-range header, set-up by Lescott's nod back into the six-yard box. But Lescott was judged marginally offside and the effort was ruled out.
Harper punched away from Fernandes and Leon Osman curled a 20-yarder just wide as Everton sought to make the most of possession and territorial advantage.
Then Harper managed to save a Yakubu effort at full stretch, before fumbling the ball behind as he lay on the pitch.
The barrage continued when Anichebe saw a powerful header fly just over before Harper saved well from an Osman drive. Newcastle were hanging on now for the break and only a Harper kick away from Steven Pienaar avoided more trouble.
Newcastle replaced the injured Abdoulaye Faye with Claudio Cacapa at the break, and they were level within 30 seconds of the restart.
Joseph Yobo, caught off balance by a swerving run by N'Zogbia, sent the Newcastle forward flying in the box, and referee Walton pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Michael Owen to fire home the penalty, to become the first visiting player to score in four successive appearance at Goodison Park since Tom Finney in the 1950s.
Three of those have been for Liverpool, and now it was the former Anfield star who was threatening Everton's path into Europe.
Storm clouds were now enveloping, with accompanying thunder and lightning, as Harper superbly tipped over a swerving Fernandes free-kick. The atmosphere was very different now.
Alan Smith was booked for a foul on Pienaar after 65 minutes, Everton now having nothing like the grip on the game they had in the first-half.
Anichebe broke away and fired across goal, Yakubu not being close enough to turn it home.
But Everton were ahead again after 70 minutes when Fernandes' chip into the box was flicked on by Steven Taylor, and there was Lescott to role the ball into the far corner.
Harper had to save at Anichebe's feet before Everton got their third.
Osman's run into the box after 82 minutes was met with Taylor's challenge, taking man and not ball and referee Walton evened up the spot-kicks with one for Yakubu to drill home.
Everton sent on Leighton Baines and Thomas Gravesen with six minutes left for Yobo and Anichebe. Gravesen, whose loan will not be renewed, got a tremendous reception from fans on his last appearance for the club.
Lee Carsley was next to make way - for teenager Jack Rodwell - to another ovation for a player who may not sign another contract at the club. Peter Ramage replaced Taylor for Newcastle.
By now Everton fans were in party mood, the position secured and European football back at Goodison again next term.
