NEWCASTLE climbed into second place in the Premier League table – at least for a couple of hours – with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Everton.

The Magpies were made to dig deep at a packed St James' Park, but despite the loss of both Yohan Cabaye and Sylvain Marveaux to injury, the hosts extended their unbeaten start to the season to 11 league games.

Leading 2-0 thanks to an own goal from Jonny Heitinga and a spectacular strike from Ryan Taylor, Newcastle saw their advantage trimmed when Jack Rodwell scored with a header on the stroke of half-time.

Former Newcastle striker Louis Saha hit a post for the Toffees, but United withstood plenty of second-half Everton pressure to claim yet another creditable win.

Newcastle were without the injured Gabriel Obertan, but still picked up where they had left off at Stoke on Monday with a bright opening spell.

Danny Guthrie fired an early strike straight at Tim Howard, before the Magpies claimed the lead in the 12th minute.

Guthrie released Danny Simpson down the right-hand side, the full-back delivered a testing low cross, and Everton defender Heitinga turned the ball into his own net.

Newcastle continued to press, although there was a scare when Saha lashed over the crossbar after Phil Jagielka's long ball caught the Newcastle defence napping.

The Magpies remained on top though, and Ryan Taylor doubled their lead shortly before the half-hour mark with one of the goals of the season.

The full-back controlled Rodwell's headed clearance on his chest, and dispatched a fantastic half-volley that looped into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

At that stage, the hosts looked to have assumed complete control, but the complexion of the game changed somewhat when the influential Cabaye was forced off through injury in the 37th minute.

Saha had already drilled a low shot against the base of the post at that stage, and an increasingly dangerous Everton reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time.

Rodwell stole ahead of Simpson to meet Royston Drenthe's right-wing corner and plant a powerful header past Tim Krul.

Newcastle suffered another injury setback at the start of the second half with Marveaux hobbling off, and Everton appeared to have a decent penalty shout turned down when Saha's 54th-minute strike deflected wide off Dan Gosling's arm.

However, while the visitors continued to press throughout the second half, Newcastle defended with the same spirit and resolve that has stood them in such good stead during the opening three months of the season.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, R Taylor; Marveaux (Sammy Ameobi 54), Guthrie, Cabaye (Gosling 37), Gutierrez; Best (Ben Arfa 73), Ba.

Subs (not used): Elliot (gk), Santon, Perch, Lovenkrands.

EVERTON (4-1-4-1): Howard; Hibbert (McFadden 81), Heitinga (Cahill 56), Jagielka, Baines; Neville (Distin 41); Coleman, Rodwell, Osman, Drenthe; Saha.

Subs (not used): Mucha (gk), Bilyaletdinov, Stracqualursi, Velios.