Friday's victory at Leicester confirmed Newcastle would be playing Premier League football next season, but the atmosphere was the best at an away game for many a long year.
The Toon Army did us proud.
Yeah, the maths say we are not quite safe yet, but the prospect of Cardiff winning all of their fixtures must be 1,000,000/1
The Foxes started confidently, having won their previous four matches under Brendan Rodgers, but they struggled to play through the United defence.
Salomon Rondon almost handed the Toon a spectacular lead when he struck the crossbar with a powerful free-kick from 35 yards.
Newcastle remained resolute and were rewarded when Perez struck the decisive blow with over half-an-hour played.
The Spaniard rose well inside the Foxes' box to meet Matt Ritchie's cross and nod the ball over Kasper Schmeichel.
Rodgers' first home defeat as Leicester boss sees his side remain in seventh, although eighth-placed Wolves are level on points with two games in hand.
Martin Dubravka saved well after a solo run by Harvey Barnes and a right-footed strike by Ben Chilwell as Leicester tried to force the initiative early on, but it was the visitors who posed the greater threat on the counter attack - and Rondon's 15th-minute free-kick almost brought spectacular reward.
Benitez' side were rigid in their shape and targeted Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who lost the ball nine times in the first half, before springing clear in attack.
Ritchie whipped in two testing crosses with his excellent left foot before Newcastle took the lead, as Leicester failed to heed the warning.
The visitors pinched the ball deep in the Leicester half once more before Ritchie delivered an accurate cross for Perez to convert for his seventh Premier League goal of the season - securing just Newcastle's third win on the road.