Michael Owen's 13th goal of the season turned out to be nothing more than a consolation for Kevin Keegan's side, with Yakubu scoring twice and Joleon Lescott also finding the net in a 3-1 win for the Toffees.

The result guaranteed David Moyes's men fifth place, while Newcastle ended the season in 12th, and having equalled their worst-ever Premier League tally of 43 points.

Keegan had made four changes from the side beaten by Chelsea a week earlier, with Andy Carroll, Alan Smith, Damien Duff and Charles N'Zogbia coming in for Mark Viduka, Geremi, Joey Barton and Obafemi Martins.

He ditched the 4-3-3 system of the previous eight games in favour of a 4-4-2 formation, with Owen and Carroll leading United's attack.

And Carroll - who looked a handful in the early stages - had Newcastle's first real chance in the seventh minute, but his low shot was easily gathered by Tim Howard.

Three minutes later Everton almost broke the deadlock themselves.

Victor Anichebe skipped past Nicky Butt and Damien Duff, and struck a left foot shot which ran narrowly wide after Yakubu failed to get a touch on it.

Abdoulaye Faye needed treatment in the 20th minute after colliding with team-mate Steve Harper and Lescott, and Keegan quickly had his three substitute central defenders - Peter Ramage, Cacapa and Ben Tozer - warming up. Faye, however, was eventually able to continue.

Everton were coming more into the game as it wore on, and there was an inevitability about their 28th-minute opener.

Damien Duff conceded a free kick 25 yards from goal, and Steven Pienaar swung in an inviting delivery which was powerfully headed into the bottom left-hand corner by Yakubu, who had lost his marker.

Six minutes later the former Middlesbrough striker had the ball in the net again, only for it to be ruled out by the assistant referee, with Lescott offside in the build up.

Moyes's side - by now well on top of their visitors - continued to crank up the pressure, and Harper did well to deny Manuel Fernandes in the 36th minute.

Two minutes later he fumbled a shot from Anichebe, only for it to bounce just wide of the right-hand post.

It was Joseph Yobo's turn next, the defender heading over from a right-wing Phil Neville cross, and Keegan will have been counting the minutes to the half-time interval.

And Keegan will have been relieved United made it to the break without conceding another goal.

Cacapa replaced Faye for the second half to make his first appearances since the February 9 away defeat to Aston Villa.

Seconds into the half N'Zogbia was brought down by a clumsy Yobo, who stuck a leg out inside the box, and Walton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot to the delight of Newcastle's 3,000-strong travelling contingent.

Owen stepped up to coolly stroke the ball home for his 13th goal of the season, and Everton - who had been unlucky not to have gone into the break three goals to the good - looked stunned at the setback.

United's goal coincided with a thunderstorm, with dark clouds having moved above what had been a sun-baked Goodison Park.

With the stadium now floodlight, Harper did well to tip a Fernandes free kick over the bar in the 53rd minute, and Everton continued to press as the sound of thunder continued to rumble overhead and forks of lightning sporadically dotted the horizon.

Smith was booked for a foul on Pienaar in the 65th minute, and a minute later a moment's hesitation from a rusty Cacapa on the left let in Anichebe, but Yakubu was unable to get on the end of his low cross-cum-shot, which ran just wide.

However, it wasn't long before Everton got themselves back in the lead.

Lee Carsley rolled a free kick to Fernandes, who clipped the ball into the box. Steven Taylor didn't get enough on his header, and the ball dropped to Lescott, unmarked at the far post, and the makeshift left-back calmly sidefooted the ball past a helpless Harper to make it 2-1.

Anichebe almost struck a third for Everton in the 75th minute, with Harper turning his shot wide.

Everton themselves were awarded a penalty in the 81st minute after Taylor brought down Osman, and Yakubu stepped up to convert it for his second goal of the game.

Peter Ramage replaced Steven Taylor for a last appearance in black and white in the 90th minute.

And there was no way back for Keegan's side, who ended a rollercoaster campaign on a low.

EVERTON: Howard; Neville, Yobo (Baines, 85), Jagielka, Lescott; Fernandes, Osman, Carsley (Rodwell, 90), Pienaar; Yakubu, Anichebe (Gravesen, 85). Subs not used: Wessels, Gosling.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper; Beye, Taylor (Ramage, 90), Faye (Cacapa, 46), Enrique (LuaLua, 79); Duff, Butt, Smith, N'Zogbia; Carroll, Owen. Subs not used: Forster, Tozer.

Goals: Yakubu 28, 81, Owen 47 pen, Lescott 70

Bookings: Duff 28, Smith 65

Sent off: None

Attendance: 39,592

Referee: Peter Walton