12 mins Wiggett header 1-0

38 mins Stephenson shot 2-0

Half time: Blues 0 Black & Whites 2

80 mins Stephenson shot / OG 3-0

83 mins Stephenson cross / shot 4-0

Full time: Blues 0 Black & Whites 4

Dylan Stephenson now has three goals from two PL2 appearances this season, while Charlie Wiggett scored his first Magpies goal.

This was United's most emphatic PL2 away success since a 4-0 victory at Swansea City in February 2020.

No Magpies side had played in the town of Nuneaton previously, either at Borough's Manor Park home (1909-2007) or Liberty Way (since 2007).

The game was scheduled for Birmingham City's St.Andrews' Stadium but relocated once their Carabao Cup tie at home to Fulham was arranged for the following evening. This was City's first competitive game here.

The Blues were playing only their second-ever PL2 fixture, following on from a 1-2 loss away to Stoke the previous week.

Steve Spooner's side had won their last eight home league games en route to the 2020/21 Professional Development League title, playing games behind closed doors at their training ground last season.

Newcastle and Birmingham previously met at reserve team level from 2002/03 until 2005/06 in what was then Premier Reserve League North.

Further re-organisations then saw them go their separate ways until now - tonight Newcastle's first away success following previous unsuccessful attempts at both St. Andrew's and Solihull's Damson Park home.

Interim Coach Gary Caldwell made a winning start to his time in charge of Newcastle's second string on Monday night, watching them score four times without reply in Premier League 2.

Playing at the Liberty Way ground of non-league Nuneaton Borough, United gave early notice of their intentions when Joe White fired against the woodwork after just four minutes.

After Rodrigo Vilca had shot narrowly over, United took the lead on 12 minutes when defender Charlie Wiggett headed in a Remi Savage cross.

What was to be a rare excursion into the Newcastle box ended with Tom Fogarty poking the ball home on 19 minutes, but the effort was rightly chalked off for a foul on visiting goalkeeper Dan Langley.

Magpies striker Dylan Stephenson failed to divert a cross from Ryan Barrett past City goalkeeper Archie Matthews in the 36th minute, but had better luck 90 seconds later following an excellent run and pull back by Matty Bondswell.

Any faint hopes Birmingham had of getting back into the game dissolved three minutes after the interval when Rico Browne received a straight red card after dragging the goalbound Stephenson back - a slightly harsh decision, but one accepted without fuss from the offender.

Enjoying almost total domination of the second half, United belatedly added to their tally with further efforts from Stephenson ending up in the City net on 80 and 83 minutes via home players.

The vital touch for the third came from City captain Caolan Boyd-Munce, while the fourth and final was a cross-shot from Dylan that deflected off a home player and left the goalkeeper helpless.    

An enjoyable night then and some positive performances from the black and whites, who again mirrored the senior side with a three man back line.

While both White and Stephenson were lively, some hints at the promise of Peruvian Rodrigo Vilca were well received, as he looks to make an impact following what was almost a false start in English football due to injury.

Caldwell now takes charge of the U23s at home for the first time on Friday, when Burnley provide the opposition at Whitley Park and fans will finally be admitted.

Biffa