15 mins A scything ball from Jonjo Shelvey cut open the Albion defence and Matt Ritchie slipped his marker to reach the byline. His low cross from the left was expertly flicked home from close in by Dwight Gayle via a touch from Kyle McFadzean in front of the standing away following.

McFadzean looked to have knocked Gayle over earlier in the move, but the Magpies number 9 was quickly back on his feet and earned his reward 1-0

20 mins The Brewers took advantage of some sloppy defending down the Newcastle left and John Brayford swapped passes with Jackson Irvine before sending over a bobbling cross. That was intended for Lucas Akins but ended up at the feet of Lloyd Dyer, who had snuck behind DeAndre Yedlin to convert at the far post. 1-1

34 mins With plenty of time to weigh up his options, Jamaal Lascelles picked out Gayle with a forward pass to a central area. His first time flick played in Mo Diame, who confidently turned Damien McCrory and slipped the ball past Jon McLaughlin.

Following muted responses to recent efforts at former sides Hull and Wigan, Diame's celebrations were rather more exuberant on this occasion. 2-1

Half time: Brewers 1 Magpies 2

Full time: Brewers 1 Magpies 2

After an absence of almost exactly 119 years, Newcastle belatedly returned to the Staffordshire town of Burton upon Trent to notch up the victory that rounded off another successful week.

The vagaries of the fixture list meant that United had kicked off both of their previous games in second position behind Brighton - only to then secure the victories that put us back on pole.

Today though saw both sides playing old-fashioned 3pm Saturday matches; our winning scoreline matched by Chris Hughton's side 30 miles away at Birmingham City to ensure that Rafa Benitez is number one at Christmas. 

The smallness of the venue and tangible anticipation among both sets of fans made this a Cup tie atmosphere; an over-excited PA chap roaring his head off and pumping out Nessum Dorma at wax-shifting volume and Newcastle fans joining in when a snatch of old favourite "Tom Hark" was played after Burton's goal. 

Good finishes from Dwight Gayle and Mo Diame in the first half gave United the victory, but for a good proportion of the afternoon their lead wasn't a secure one and unlike the midweek success at Wigan, the two goal cushion was never secured.

In-form Dwight Gayle shot his side ahead and then helped them regain the lead with a cute touch to set up Mo Diame, but they were rare efforts on goal on a pitch that seemed to cause us some stability problems. Diame also looked to be feeling the effects of three starts in a week: it can be argued that Rafa is getting maximum benefit from the player before he decamps to the Nations Cup in a few weeks, but a reluctance to play Aleksandar Mitrovic seems evident.

Christian Atsu had replaced Yoan Gouffran in the starting line-up and had wasted one early chance before Gayle struck. However that lead only lasted five minutes before veteran former West Bromich Albion and Leicester City man Lloyd Dyer beat Karl Darlow.

The battling Brewers seemed to have collated the same set of scouting notes as Wigan and focused their attentions on Paul Dummett at left back, but lacked craft or quality and failed to build up a real head of steam during what was a scrappy second half.

There were several nervy moments; Darlow spilling one effort and several balls pumped into our box with Akins blazing over when well placed. Gayle snatched at a chance which flew high and wide in what was almost our sole excursion into the Albion box that half, but it remained 2-1.

The final whistle saw United exit the pitch to the strains of "Local Hero" over the Tannoy (echoing Plymouth's gesture the night the Championship was won in 2010). Next up for the players was a Christmas party and some rest & relaxation after a grueling eight days that brought nine points. 

Victories here and at Wigan weren't as stylish or emphatic as some may have predicted, but that winning habit has been maintained thanks to a couple of classy interludes and some no-nonsense defending. One look at the league table confirms that to be a powerful combination.  

Biffa