Newcastle won a Premier League home game for the first time since October with a surprise victory over second-placed Manchester United.
Matt Ritchie scored the only goal in the second half as the Magpies climbed out of the relegation zone and left the visitors 16 points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
Debutant Martin Dubravka was excellent in the Newcastle goal, denying Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, Ashley Young and Michael Carrick.
And the hosts could have had a first-half penalty when Chris Smalling tripped Dwight Gayle.
Defeat for Manchester United raises the prospect of Manchester City being crowned champions when the teams meet at Etihad Stadium on 7 April.
Should both teams win all of their league matches prior to that, City would only need to draw with their fierce rivals to secure the title that day.
Smalling was penalised for a dive that allowed the impressive Jonjo Shelvey to send in a free-kick. The equally eye-catching Florian Lejeune headed it down, and Ritchie collected Gayle's flick to shoot past David de Gea.
That ended a run of 43 shots without a Premier League goal for Ritchie - and gave Newcastle their first home win in the league since 21 October.
Prior to the match they were just one point better off than in their 2015-16 relegation season, but this win moved them up to 13th - and only three points behind 10th-placed Bournemouth.
Overall, the visitors had the better chances but were thwarted by Dubravka, who notably stuck out a leg to deny Martial as he latched onto a wonderful, defence-splitting pass from Nemanja Matic in the first half.
Had that chance - or a header from the French forward - gone in, there may well have been a different outcome.
Instead, with Spurs and Liverpool increasing the pressure on them, Mourinho's side must assert more aerial dominance and show better focus at the back.
Dubravka enjoyed an assured debut after his loan move from Sparta Prague
The stats:-
◾Mourinho has never won a Premier League match at St James' Park (P7 W0 D3 L4) and has managed more away league games at Newcastle without winning than at any other club in his career.
◾Mourinho has lost six times against Benitez in all competitions. Only against Pep Guardiola (nine) has he suffered more defeats as a manager.
◾Newcastle enjoyed their first win in nine Premier League home games (D3 L5), since beating Crystal Palace in October.
◾Manchester United have lost five games in the Premier League this season, equalling their tally for the whole of last season.
◾Ritchie ended a run of 43 shots this season without scoring in the Premier League, which was the longest such run in the division.
◾Gayle has had a hand in a goal in both of Newcastle's Premier League matches against Manchester United this season, scoring at Old Trafford in November before assisting Ritchie here.
◾The Red Devils have won only one of the nine Premier League matches this season after conceding the opening goal of the game (D3 L5) - a 4-1 win over Newcastle in November.
◾Manchester United have had three players booked for dives in the Premier League this season (Valencia, Herrera, Smalling), a joint high along with Bournemouth.
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez said: "We worked as hard as other games, but against a team like Manchester United every ball is important, they can punish you, so you work like them. Amazing effort.
"They are dangerous, but the teamwork we showed to fight for every ball was amazing. I am pleased for the players and the fans. Because we won here at home.
"We had games in past when conceded late. We got lucky with some shots, but we showed the character, the commitment and the desire today."
On Martin Dubravka's debut: "He can buy the lottery and win today. He was composed and that gave confidence to the team. All the players worked hard, so it is not fair to say just the goalkeeper played well."
NEWCASTLE 1 MAN UTD 0 (Ritchie)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diamé, Kenedy (Atsu 84), Pérez (Hayden 90+4), Gayle (Joselu 80)
Subs: Murphy, Manquillo, Merino, Darlow
CRYSTAL PALACE 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Diamé)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Diamé (Hayden 65), Shelvey, Kenedy (Atsu 57), Pérez (Merino 80), Gayle
Subs: Murphy, Dubravka, Manquillo, Lejeune
NEWCASTLE 1 BURNLEY 1 (Lascelles)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu (Murphy 64), Diamé, Merino, Kenedy (Ritchie 72), Pérez (Gayle 85), Joselu
Subs: Shelvey, Gayle, Hayden, Manquillo, Woodman
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Darlow, Manquillo (Murphy 77), Mbemba, Lascelles, Clark, Haidara, Hayden (Atsu 83), Saivet, Shelvey, Ritchie, Gayle (Joselu 64),
Subs: Dummett, Diamé, Yedlin, Woodman
MAN CITY 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Murphy)
Darlow, Manquillo (Yedlin 66), Hayden, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Murphy, Shelvey, Diamé, Atsu (Pérez 64), Joselu (Gayle 76)
Subs: Elliot, Ritchie, Merino, Haidara
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 1 (Joselu)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey (Merino 82), Diamé, Ritchie, Pérez, Atsu, Gayle (Joselu 64)
Subs: Elliot, Murphy, Hayden, Manquillo, Haidara
FAC NEWCASTLE 3 LUTON TOWN 1 (Perez 2, Shelvey)
Woodman, Manquillo, Lascelles (Hayden 30), Clark, Dummett, Murphy, Shelvey (Diamé 71), Merino (Saivet 81), Ritchie, Pérez, Gayle
Subs: Aarons, Joselu, Haidara, Darlow
STOKE CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Perez)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo, Shelvey, Diamé, Murphy (Dummett 82), Atsu (Gayle 64), Ritchie, Pérez (Hayden 90).
Subs: Joselu, Merino, Haidara, Woodman
NEWCASTLE 0 BRIGHTON 0
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (Pérez 72), Hayden, Merino (Shelvey 76), Atsu, Joselu (Murphy 84), Gayle
Subs: Diamé, Mbemba, Manquillo, Woodman
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 1
Elliot, Yedlin, Mbemba (Merino 77), Lascelles, Dummett, Manquillo, Aarons (Atsu 71), Diamé, Shelvey, Murphy, Joselu (Gayle 62).
Sub: Clark, Ritchie, Pérez, Darlow
WEST HAM 2 NEWCASTLE 3 (Saivet, Diamé, Atsu)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo, Ritchie, Saivet (Mbemba 84'), Diamé, Atsu (Murphy 90+1'), Gayle (Pérez 76'), Joselu
Subs: Dummett, Aarons, Haidara, Darlow
ARSENAL 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Murphy (Gayle 67), Merino (Diamé 82), Hayden, Atsu (Ritchie 54), Joselu, Pérez
Subs: Clark, Dummett, Aarons, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 0 EVERTON 1
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Merino (Pérez 86), Shelvey, Atsu, Diamé (Joselu 67), Ritchie (Aarons 74), Gayle
Subs: Elliot, Clark, Murphy, Hayden
NEWCASTLE 2 LEICESTER CITY 3 (Joselu, Gayle)
Darlow, Yedlin, LejeuneBooked, Clark, Manquillo, Ritchie (Atsu 64), Hayden, Merino, Murphy (Pérez 71), Joselu (Mitrovic 88), Gayle
Subs: Elliot, Lascelles, Shelvey, Diamé
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gayle)
Darlow, Mbemba, Lejeune, Clark, Manquillo, Diamé (Shelvey 75), Merino (Yedlin 85), Ritchie, Murphy, Pérez (Hayden 62), Gayle
Subs: Elliot, Aarons, Joselu, Mitrovic
WEST BROM 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Clark, Rondon og)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Mbemba, Hayden (Shelvey 80), Merino, Ritchie, Pérez, Murphy (Aarons 64), Joselu (Mitrovic 73)
Subs: Elliot, Gayle, Diamé, Manquillo
NEWCASTLE 0 WATFORD 3
Elliot, Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Manquillo, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diamé (Merino 69), Murphy (Pérez 77), Gayle, Joselu (Mitrovic 69)
Subs: Aarons, Mbemba, Darlow, Gámez
MAN UTD 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gayle)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Manquillo, Murphy, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie (Aarons 66), Gayle (Diamé 77), Joselu (Mitrovic 71)
Subs: Pérez, Mbemba, Darlow, Gámez
NEWCASTLE 0 BOURNEMOUTH 1
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles (Clark 55), Lejeune, Manquillo, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Atsu (Murphy 82), Gayle, Joselu (Pérez 68)
Subs: Diamé, Darlow, Gámez, Mitrovic
BURNLEY 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Shelvey, Diamé (Gayle 83), Ritchie (Murphy 79), Pérez (Hayden 76), Atsu, Joselu
Subs: Clark, Saivet, Darlow, Gámez
NEWCASTLE 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 0 ((Merino)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Hayden (Merino 56), Shelvey, Ritchie, Pérez (Diamé 66), Atsu, Joselu (Mitrovic 78)
Subs: Clark, Murphy, Darlow, Gámez
SOUTHAMPTON 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Hayden, Perez)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Atsu (Murphy 82), Perez (Merino 63), Joselu (Gayle 69).
Subs: Darlow, Clark, Gamez, Diame.
NEWCASTLE 1 LIVERPOOL 1 (Joselu)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo, Shelvey, Merino (Hayden 74), Ritchie, Pérez (Diamé 90+1), Atsu, Joselu (Gayle 79)
Subs: Murphy, Lejeune, Darlow, Gámez
BRIGHTON 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba (Gámez 83'), Hayden (Shelvey 68'), Merino, Ritchie, Pérez, Atsu, Joselu (Gayle 71')
Subs: Murphy, Diamé, Manquillo, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 2 STOKE CITY 1 (Atsu, Lascelles)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba, Hayden (Shelveyat 69'), Merino, Ritchie, Pérez (Diamé 86'), Atsu, Joselu (Gayle 78')
Subs: Murphy, Manquillo, Lejeune, Woodman
SWANSEA 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lascelles)
Elliot, Manquillo, Clark, Lascelles, Gamez, Hayden (Diame 69), Merino, Ritchie, Perez, Murphy (Atsu 59), Joselu (Gayle 78).
Unused subs: Shelvey, Lejeune, Yedlin, Woodman.
NEWCASTLE 3 WEST HAM 0 (Clark, Joselu, Mitrovic)
Elliot, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba, Merino, Hayden (Diaméat 82'), Ritchie (Murphy 88'), Pérez, Atsu, Joselu (Mitrovic 72')
Subs: Aarons, Saivet. Gámez, Woodman
LC NEWCASTLE 2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3 (Mitrovic, Aarons)
Darlow; Sterry (Lazaar, 58), Hanley, Mbemba, Gamez; Saivet, Barlaser (Hayden, 70); Murphy, Diame, Aarons (Ritchie, 76); Mitrovic (Joselu, 105).
Subs not used: Woodman, Lascelles, Manquillo.
HUDDERSFIELD 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba, Hayden (Diame 76), Merino, Atsu, Perez (Murphy 80), Ritchie, Gayle (Joselu 52).
Subs not used: Saivet, Aarons, Darlow, Mitrovic.
NEWCASTLE 0 TOTTENHAM 2
Elliot, Manquillo, Lejeune (Mbemba 34'), Clark, Dummett (Lascelles 7'), Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie, Pérez, Atsu, Gayle (Merinoat 76')
Subs: Murphy, Aarons, Merino, Darlow, Mitrovic
PRE-SEASON
NEWCASTLE 2 HELLAS VERONA 0 (Perez, Atsu)
Elliot (Darlow 64), Manquillo (Gamez 64), Lejeune (Lascelles 64), Clark (Mbemba 64), Dummett (Merino 64), Ritchie, Shelvey (Aarons 64), Hayden, Atsu (Murphy 64), Perez (De Jong 72), Mitrovic (Diame 64)
WOLFSBERG 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Mitrovic, Ritchie Pen, Atsu)
Elliot (Darlow, 70), Manquillo (Mbemba, 70), Lejeune (Lascelles, 70), Clark, Dummett (Gamez, 70), Ritchie (Murphy, 70), Shelvey, Hayden (Merino, 70), Atsu (Aarons, 70), Perez (de Jong, 70), Mitrovic (Diame, 46).
Subs not used: Colback, Gayle.
MAINZ 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gamez)
Darlow (Woodman 60), Yedlin (Manquillo 27), Clark (Mbemba 46), Lejuene (Merino 79), Dummett (Gamez 46), Colback (Shelvey 60), Diame (Perez 60), Murphy (Hayden 60), Ritchie (Aarons 46), De Jong (Atsu 60), Mitrovic (Gayle 60)
BRADFORD CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 4 (Gayle, Murphy 2, Mitrovic)
Elliot (Woodman, 61), Yedlin (Manquillo, 46), Lejeune (Mbemba, 61), Clark (Saivet, 77), Dummett (Gamez, 61), Atsu (De Jong, 61), Shelvey (Aarons, 61), Hayden (Colback, 77), Ritchie (Murphy, 46), Perez (Diame, 46), Gayle (Mitrovic, 61).
PRESTON 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Mitrovic)
Elliot (Darlow, 46, Woodman, 70), Mbemba, Hanley (Yedlin, 46), Lejeune (Manquillo, 77), Dummett (Clark, 46), Atsu (Murphy, 46), Diame (Colback, 46), Shelvey (Hayden, 46), Aarons (Perez, 46), de Jong (Roberts, 62), Mitrovic (Gayle, 46).
HEARTS 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Elliot (Woodman 63), Aarons(Gamez 46), Clark (Dummett 46), Mbemba (Hanley 62), Lascelles (Lejeune 46), Haidara (Colback 62), Shelvey (Saivet 46), Diame (Armstrong 62), De Jong (Lazaar 75), Atsu (Perez 46), Gayle (Mitrovic 46)
SATURDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2018
Bournemouth 15:00 Newcastle
SATURDAY, 3 MARCH 2018
Liverpool 17:30 Newcastle
SATURDAY, 10 MARCH 2018
Newcastle 15:00 Southampton
FRIDAY, 16 MARCH 2018
Tottenham v Newcastle 20:00