A first-half Wayne Rooney goal has given Everton a 1-0 win over 10-man Newcastle United in Wednesday night's Premier League meeting at St James' Park.

The hosts began brightly and won a free kick on the edge of the Toffees' box in the first minute, which Matt Ritchie rifled against the wall.

Newcastle then appealed for a penalty in the 18th minute after DeAndre Yedlin went down under pressure in the area, which was waved away by the referee, and two minutes later Ritchie forced a save from Jordan Pickford from the edge of the box.

On 25 minutes the Magpies threatened with their best chance as a counter-attack culminated in Ritchie smashing a shot against the top left-hand post.

No sooner had Newcastle hit the woodwork than Everton went down the other end as the ball was played in and headed goalwards and, although Karl Darlow saved the header, Rooney pounced on the rebound and slotted home.

In the 38th minute, Rafael Benitez's side rattled the goal frame once again, Mikel Merino taking aim from range and lashing a ferocious effort which beat Pickford before hitting the post and rolling away to safety.

Newcastle stepped up their game after the restart and had the visitors penned back on several occasions, although they struggled to fashion any opportunities in the final third.

Everton were second best in the second half but did manage a handful of opportunities at the other end as Gylfi Sigurdsson fired over and Ashley Williams saw a header skilfully saved by Darlow.

Nevertheless, the hosts were unable to drag themselves back into the game and finished the match with 10 men after Jonjo Shelvey was given a second booking in the fifth minute of injury time.

The result means that Newcastle's winless streak now stretches to eight games as the club sit just one point above the relegation zone, while Everton continue to improve and are now four points clear of 11th place.

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo; Merino (Perez 86'), Shelvey; Atsu, Diame (Joselu 67'), Ritchie (Aarons 74'); Gayle

Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Kenny, Holgate, Williams, Martina; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Lennon (Vlasic 61'), Rooney (Davies 77'), Sigurdsson (Jagielka 85'); Calvert-Lewin