Everton capped a season-defining week with a third successive home victory to secure their Premier League status as Idrissa Gueye scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Brentford.
For the second successive campaign it was a midfielder - a year ago Abdoulaye Doucoure had the honour on the final day - who stepped up to be the Toffees' saviour and ensure their final season at Goodison Park will be in the top flight.
Last Saturday the Senegal international's first goal at the ground since February 2017 paved the way for a crucial win over Nottingham Forest.
And, after a rare victory over Liverpool in midweek, Gueye, who before last weekend had scored just four times in 186 league appearances, made it two in three games when he fired home through a crowd of players to settle an uninspiring affair.
The quality of entertainment will matter little to Everton and their fans, however, as a win by any means took them out of the reach of 18th-placed Luton, beaten earlier in the day at Wolves, as it opened up an 11-point gap with only three matches remaining.
Celebrations were muted at the final whistle in the knowledge that, without two separate deductions totalling eight points for breaches of profitability and sustainability rules, life would have been a lot more comfortable for Sean Dyche's side.
But, with Goodison now deservedly getting a farewell season in the Premier League - their 71st consecutive top-flight campaign - before the move to Bramley-Moore Dock, the club's future now rests on 777 Partners' takeover, which is about to drag into a 10th month.
Alexander Isak took his tally for the season to 23 as Newcastle recovered from a dreadful start to end Sheffield United's stay in the Premier League with a 5-1 victory.
The Blades took a deserved fifth-minute lead through Anel Ahmedhodzic to silence a crowd of 52,196 at St James' Park as the Magpies turned in a dismal first-half performance, yet still went in level at the break courtesy of Isak's sweet strike.
They scored four times inside 18 second-half minutes through Bruno Guimaraes, Isak, Ben Osborn's own goal and substitute Callum Wilson to secure a 5-1 win which relegated the visitors and took their total against them in two games this season to a Premier League record 13 goals following September's 8-0 victory at Bramall Lane.
Luton's bid took another hit as Rob Edwards' men were beaten 2-1 at his old club Wolves.
A week on from the 5-1 hammering at the hands of Brentford at Kenilworth Road, the Hatters fell behind through Hwang Hee-chan's finish just before the interval and a diving header from Toti then doubled the hosts' advantage five minutes into the second half.
Carlton Morris pulled a goal back with 10 minutes of normal time to go but Luton were unable to save themselves from a third successive loss and fifth in six games.
Victorious only once in their last 14 league outings, they remain a point adrift of safety in 18th with three games remaining, one fewer than 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, who host Manchester City on Sunday.
Gary O'Neil's Wolves move up to 10th having ended their six-match winless run in the league.
Jeffrey Schlupp scored an 87th-minute wondergoal as Crystal Palace rescued a late 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Marco Silva's men took a while to get going but they took the lead through Rodrigo Muniz, who took his league tally for the season to nine.
The hosts' lead was stolen late on after substitute Schlupp stunned them with a goal-of-the-season contender which helped Oliver Glasner's side take a point in west London.
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