Duncan Ferguson returned to Everton to a hero's welcome - but it was youngsters Aaron Hughes and Kieron Dyer who stole the headlines.

Northern Ireland defender Hughes and England winger Dyer condemned Everton to their first home league defeat since April last year as they struck within eight minutes of each other to secure all three points for the Magpies.

Everton-Newcastle clashes have traditionally yielded few goals in recent years and this one looked no different for the majority of the match.

The goals were the only two shots on target in the 90 minutes on a day when defences held sway in a sometimes bruising and rarely pretty encounter.

The win lifted Newcastle to 11th in the Premiership table - their highest position of the season - and just two points behind arch-rivals Sunderland.

Everton brought back defender David Unsworth in place of Richard Dunne following the 1-0 defeat at Coventry in midweek as veteran striker Mark Hughes made his home debut for his latest club.

Former Toffees favourite Ferguson was named in an unchanged Newcastle line-up and was warmly welcomed onto the pitch by the home fans, who were left furious by his shock sale to United in November 1998.

Dyer had to make do with a seat on the bench after missing last weekend's 1-0 win over Watford with flu and he was joined by French defender Alain Goma, who had been out through injury since October 12.

Newcastle, who had not been at their best in recent weeks, started confidently with another former Evertonian Gary Speed to the fore despite another hostile welcome from the home fans.

Abel Xavier and David Weir both had to intercept crosses inside their own penalty area as Nolberto Solano and Kevin Gallacher exploited the space on the flanks.

Richard Gough, as expected, found himself having to deal with the dual threat of Ferguson and Alan Shearer at regular intervals.

But the former Scotland defender found himself inside the Newcastle box on 12 minutes to get his head to Xavier's cross and Shay Given was called upon to intervene for what proved to be one of the few occasions on which either keeper was needed before the break.

Rob Lee's fine pass put Solano in space on the right three minutes later and although Gough headed away the initial cross the home defence struggled to clear their lines as the Newcastle support arrived in force.

But the Merseysiders began to warm to their task and it took a vital tackle by Steve Howey to deny Joe-Max Moore a clear run at goal on 20 minutes after John Collins and Mark Pembridge carved a path through the United rearguard.

As the tempo increased, referee Graham Barber found himself increasingly involved and Speed and Ferguson both went into the book for late tackles.

Nikos Dabizas kept his side level eight minutes from the break when he slid in to dispossess Stephen Hughes inside the penalty area.

But it was Speed who came closest to breaking the deadlock four minutes before the break when he powered a header just over from Solano's corner.

Solano wasted a good opportunity in injury time when David Unsworth misjudged Gallacher's pass to allow the Peruvian a sight of goal, but he dragged his shot well wide.

Both sides continued to battle for the advantage after the break but again chances were few and far between.

Warren Barton had to get in a good block to keep out Mark Hughes on 50 minutes as the striker ran on to Collins' fine ball over the top, but Xavier had to be just as alert seconds later and Solano linked with Ferguson from a Barton throw.

Solano was guilty of wasting two good opportunities when he failed to hit his men with free-kicks in promising positions, but it was Everton who carved out the better openings.

Collins found Barmby down the right on 56 minutes and he sent a deep cross towards Stephen Hughes, but Lee got there first to head away.

Unsworth crossed deep towards Barmby two minutes later and as the Newcastle defence slept momentarily it was Given who had to come to the rescue as the midfielder turned the ball back across the face of goal.

Ferguson got his first real sniff at goal with 68 minutes gone as he met Solano's corner, but he could not direct his effort at goal.

Both managers opted for change as they attempted to break the stalemate, Walter Smith replacing Moore with the pacy Danny Cadamarteri and Didier Domi and Dyer coming on for Gallacher and Solano respectively - but the breakthrough came from an unlikely source.

The pace of Domi and Dyer caused panic in the Everton defence with 79 minutes gone but Weir looked to have things under control.

Hughes, though, appeared from nowhere to rob him on the edge of the six-yard box and poke the ball past Paul Gerrard with the outside of his right foot to give his side a precious lead.

It was 2-0 three minutes from time when Dyer surged away from the cover in the middle of the field and drew Gerrard before expertly lifting the ball over him.

Teams

Everton: Gerrard, Unsworth, Weir, Gough, Xavier, S. Hughes (Ball 77), Pembridge, Collins, Barmby (Dunne 85), M. Hughes, Moore (Cadamarteri 66).

Subs Not Used: Myhre, Gemmill.

Booked: Xavier, M. Hughes.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Dabizas, Howey, Barton, Gallacher (Domi 68), Speed, Lee, Solano (Dyer 77), Ferguson,Shearer.

Subs Not Used: Goma, Harper, Ketsbaia.

Booked: Speed, Ferguson, Howey.

Goals: Hughes 79, Dyer 87.

Att: 32,512

Ref: G Barber (Tring, Herts).