IT is said that what goes around comes around and that all good things should come to an end.
Everton's seven-match unbeaten run in the Premiership began and finished in the North East and the luck that helped inspire the late victory at Sunderland on New Year's Eve was missing at St James' Park on Saturday as the tables were turned.
At the Stadium of Light, David Moyes' side weathered the storm of numerous goal-scoring opportunities from the hosts before sneaking a fortuitous win which set them off on a rapid rise up the table - briefly securing a top-half berth.
At St James' Park, it was the Blues who for long periods looked like the only likely scorers but who were ultimately left to rue several missed chances - the best two of which were cleared off the line by Emre - Newcastle's talented playmaker who Moyes had tried to bring to Goodison Park last summer to add some Turkish delight to Everton's midfield.
But while the Premiership copybook has been blemished for the first time since the 3-1 derby defeat, much has changed at Everton over the past two months to suggest that the Blues can look forward to the spring sunshine with optimism after those dark December days.
Whichever of the five goalkeepers Moyes has now been forced to call upon is selected, Everton's defence looks far more solid than they did in the season of goodwill when both Bolton and Aston Villa were given four presents apiece.
It is no coincidence that this new-found solidity has come with the return of prodigal son Alan Stubbs - a man who I was informed was 'finished' by a Sunderland supporter at the Stadium of Light on December 31 when he was warming the bench for the top-flight's worst side.
Goals may still be painfully lacking but with much more confidence and coherence now running through the side - one may often be enough between now and the rest of the season in several more straightforward assignments than Newcastle away.
At St James Park' the prospect of springtime on the horizon couldn't have seemed more further away though as bone-chilling winds swirled into the stadium.
Rain somehow lashed down onto the stands despite what must be one of the largest roofs in world football and the dreary conditions must have contrasted sharply to the sunshine of Miami beach where Everton had trained less than a week before.
While Newcastle had played out a goalless stalemate with Charlton at home just three days earlier, Everton, playing their first game in a fortnight made four changes from the side that overcame Blackburn with 10 men for 81 minutes on February 11.
