Goals from Blackpool's Charlie Adam and new signing DJ Campbell brought Newcastle back down to earth.
'Keeper Gilks keeps Magpies at bay with magnificent performance
Goals from Charlie Adam and new signing DJ Campbell brought Newcastle back down to earth as Blackpool snatched three priceless points at St James' Park.
Adam converted a late first-half penalty after Luke Varney had been tripped by Alan Smith to break the deadlock.
And Campbell celebrated his return to the Seesiders by wrapping up the win with a cool finish in the final minute.
Pool goalkeeper Matt Gilks kept the Magpies at bay with a string of stunning saves to deny Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, substitute Peter Lovenkrands and Andy Carroll.
Magpies defender Mike Williamson came closest for the hosts when his header hit the post.
But Ian Holloway's side will be delighted to have secured another vital victory as they climbed up to the heady heights of fourth spot in the Premier League.
Determination
Five months ago, Blackpool had arrived on Tyneside as one of the few sides to have beaten the Magpies in the Championship, and left on the wrong end of a 4-1 beating which was every bit as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests.
They returned to the North East knowing that Aston Villa had been sent packing as Newcastle romped to a stunning 6-0 victory 24 hours after Blackpool had lost by the same score at Arsenal.
But there was a determination about Holloway's men from the off that they would not be blown away, and when referee Lee Mason sounded the half-time whistle, few inside St James' Park could have argued they were value for their 1-0 lead.
Had it not have been for a superb double save by Steve Harper, their lead might have been even bigger.
The home defence was carved open by Adam's 12th-minute through-ball and the keeper had to block Campbell's effort at point-blank range before turning Brett Ormerod's follow-up around the post.
Newcastle's response was swift and wingers Wayne Routledge and Jonas Gutierrez took up the gauntlet, but it was defender Williamson who came closest to giving them the lead.
He met Barton's 25th-minute free-kick with a looping header which evaded Gilks' dive, but came back off the post.
Gilks did intervene, however, seven minutes later when he won a one-one-on duel with Nolan after the midfielder had run on to Carroll's flick-on. But just as it looked as though the home side were ready to reply they were caught by a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time.
They looked to have enough men back to cover Varney's surge into the box, but Smith's challenge was untidy and when the midfielder went down, the referee pointed to the spot.
Adam beat Harper with the minimum of fuss and then unveiled a T-shirt bearing the message "4 Parky" - a tribute to youth team coach Gary Parkinson, who is critically ill in hospital
Blackpool started the second half in positive mood, but were almost caught within six minutes when Nolan helped the ball on for Carroll. The striker attempted to round Gilks, but the keeper managed to grab the ball in the nick of time to deny him.
Holloway's men were gradually retreating as the home side started to mount a concerted onslaught. But for all their possession, Newcastle were able to create little in the way of clear-cut chances with Carroll, Fabricio Coloccini and Williamson all coming close to meeting Barton's 59th-minute free-kick, but not close enough.
Rescue
Gilks had to come to the rescue three minutes later when Barton muscled his way into the box and looked certain to score until the keeper threw out a hand and Nolan saw a 68th-minute volley partially blocked.
Hughton handed a debut to France international Hatem Ben Arfa in place of Gutierrez. Time was running out fast and the tension grew as Lovenkrands fired straight at Gilks, who then collected Carroll's looping header before seeing Jose Enrique shoot wildly over after cutting into the box.
Gilks preserved his side's lead once again with 12 minutes remaining when, after Carroll had played Lovenkrands through, he got down well to palm away his firm drive.
However, he saved the best for last when he blocked Carroll's goal-bound shot with his foot two minutes from time.
Newcastle's despair was complete at the death when, as they pushed men forward, they were caught on the break as Adam found Campbell and he fired unerringly across Harper and into the bottom corner.
