Kieron Dyer signalled an end to his injury nightmare as he fired Newcastle United into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season, defeating Southampton 1-0.
The England midfielder, who replaced injured skipper Alan Shearer in attack, struck on 68 minutes to seal a tie which the Magpies should have had sewn up before the break, but might have lost as Southampton rallied after it.
Dyer, making his first start since August 28, slotted past goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, who was later carried off on a stretcher, after running on to Charles N'Zogbia's through-ball to ease the nerves at St James' Park.
A crowd of 40,975 saw the home side dominate the opening 45 minutes, but then looked on as keeper Shay Given kept out a goal-bound Kenwyne Jones effort.
The win gave caretaker boss Glenn Roeder his third in succession since replacing Graeme Souness and kept Shearer's trophy dream alive.
Newcastle, for once this season, went into the game justifiably brimming with confidence after successive Premiership victories over Portsmouth and Aston Villa.
Even the absence of talismanic skipper Shearer, who damaged a calf muscle in the 2-1 win at Villa Park last weekend, did little to dampen spirits with Dyer's return a welcome antidote.
And for the opening 45 minutes, Roeder could have had few complaints as his side played attractive football, dominated the game, defended resolutely and looked as if they would win at a canter.
The only problem was that they could not take the chances which came their way.
In their defence, their finishing was not particularly poor, although in 18-year-old Pole Bialkowski, they came up against a man in inspired form.
Bialkowski pulled off three saves in the first half, blocking a goal-bound effort from Nolberto Solano and diving to keep out Dyer's 22nd-minute strike after he and Solano had twice exchanged passes.
However, he saved the best until two minutes before the half-time whistle when he somehow managed to turn Shola Ameobi's blistering drive over the crossbar from point-blank range to keep his side in it.
Ameobi had earlier seen a shot clip the outside of the post and go wide and defender Jean-Alain Boumsong headed against the underside of the crossbar, but there was to be no breakthrough for the Magpies.
However, as Newcastle left the pitch, they knew if they continued in the same fashion it would arrive with Dyer in devastating form and skipper-for-the-day Scott Parker and Emre imperious in the middle of the field.
Burley made a double change at the break when he replaced skipper Claus Lundekvam, who only made the starting line-up after a fitness test on a rib injury, and Marian Pahars with Darren Potter and Nathan Dyer.
Whether the change was to blame, Newcastle were ragged as the second half got under way, and although Ameobi rightly had penalty appeals turned down after going to ground under Alexander Ostlund's challenge, they were almost caught out on 48 minutes.
Robbie Elliott carelessly gifted the ball to Jones, and although he blazed his shot high and wide, warning had been served.
It was a warning, however, which was not heeded, and when Jones and strike partner Peter Madsen played a neat one-two on the edge of the box, it took a fine save from Shay Given to keep out Jones' powerfully-struck shot.
Defender Darren Powell headed wide from the resulting corner, but the Saints were in again on 58 minutes, this time Madsen shooting over the top with just Given to beat after Ostlund had found space on the right.
Newcastle needed to respond and they did as Dyer played in Ameobi, although the striker could not collect his through-ball, and then almost squeezed fast advancing defender Titus Bramble in.
Emre wasted a good opportunity when he curled a 35-yard free-kick high over, but the opening goal was to come seconds later.
Dyer had being playing deeper than in the first half as he looked for the ball, but he was in an advanced position on 68 minutes to collect N'Zogbia's through-ball and race clear of the cover to tuck it under Bialkowski.
His celebrations were understandable, although they cost him a booking as he made his way towards the crowd at the Gallowgate End.
Roeder immediately replaced Ameobi with £9.5million Spaniard Albert Luque, who had not figured in either of his previous two matches in charge, and he was quickly followed by Dyer, who made way to rapturous applause for Lee Bowyer.
But it was Saints substitute Dexter Blackstock who had the most eventful conclusion to the game when, four minutes after replacing the injured Jones, he took over in goal after Bialkowski was carried off on a stretcher and made a fine save to keep out Luque's audacious 89th-minute free-kick.
