Manager John Carver was grateful for Newcastle's decision not to sell striker Papiss Cisse in January after he fired the club to their first home win of 2015 against Aston Villa.
The Senegal international was the subject of interest from the Middle East during the winter transfer window, but the Magpies hierarchy supported Carver's desire to keep him and were rewarded when he struck to secure a 1-0 victory at St James' Park with his 11th goal of the season.
Carver said: "His goal ratio is fantastic -- but we have got to provide him with the service. If we don't provide him with the service, then he won't score goals, so I need to make sure that the team provides him with service because he is valuable to us.
"This season, he has probably scored more scruffy goals than he ever has, but I am not bothered because he is actually scoring goals. That's why it was important to keep him here and that's why it was important to get him in the team and put him in the right area."
The decisive moment arrived against the run of play with 37 minutes gone, with the quality of Daryl Janmaat's cross and Cisse's control and finish, if not Jores Okore's defending, out of keeping with a poor game.
Substitute Ayoze Perez might have added a second with a 76th-minute header which came back off the post, but, had it not been for two Tim Krul saves from Christian Benteke and Tom Cleverley either side of the break, Villa would have emerged with something to show for their efforts.
It was just Newcastle's second league win in eight attempts under Carver and, while it was unconvincing, it was definitely welcome.
The coach said: "The one thing I will so is we did actually show that professionalism that we didn't show against Stoke City when we conceded the late goal, so maybe the guys have learned from it.
"Let's not hide the fact that today has not been a classic, has it? It's not been a proper classic.. But I'll tell you what, the thing that's pleased me is we have kept a clean sheet, we have had players who have put their bodies on the line -- and I have to mention Fabricio Coloccini in particular.
"His block towards the end of the games was outstanding. That's as good as scoring a goal at the other end."
Meanwhile, Carver revealed that the knee injury which forced left-back Massadio Haidara off on a stretcher is not thought to be too serious.