In the first ever meeting between the two sides, hotshot Dwight Gayle produced a deft finish to open the scoring for the Magpies, only for the hosts to reply almost immediately through Lloyd Dyer.

Rafa Benitez’s men were back in front before the break, however, as Mohamed Diame struck for the second game in succession.

Perched just above the relegation zone ahead of the clash, the Brewers huffed and puffed after the interval, but Newcastle held out to move four points clear of second-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, who take on Birmingham City later this evening.

United’s first sight of goal came six minutes in. Jonjo Shelvey picked out Christian Atsu’s run with a superb lofted pass, but Burton ‘keeper Jon McLaughlin was off his line quickly to deny the Ghanaian.

Shelvey himself then took aim after Burton were only able to half-clear a Paul Dummett cross, but the midfielder’s powerful drive flashed just wide of the far post.

It wasn’t long until the Magpies did break the deadlock, however.

Just after the quarter-of-an-hour mark, Shelvey set Matt Ritchie away down the left with an inch-perfect pass, and – after holding off a challenge from Burton captain John Mousinho – the Scot crossed for Gayle to convert at the near post.

Undeterred, the home side continued to probe, and restored parity within the space of five minutes.

John Brayford delivered an inviting cross after a marauding run down the right, and former Leicester City winger Dyer was on hand to net from six yards, United ‘keeper Karl Darlow helpless.

Chris O’Grady then curled high and wide for the hosts from just inside the area, before Dummett slid in brilliantly to deny powerful frontman Lucas Akins after an enticing ball in from Dyer.

After surviving a period of Burton pressure, Newcastle restored their lead 34 minutes in.

Much like his effort at Wigan Athletic’s DW Stadium on Wednesday night, it was Diame’s strength which was to prove pivotal again. The midfielder outmuscled the Brewers’ Damien McCrory 18 yards out, and coolly found the bottom corner from just inside the area.

A succession of corners came and went as Nigel Clough’s side began the second-half in promising fashion, but – just after the hour-mark – it was United who almost struck next.

Atsu and Shelvey combined on the right flank, and the latter’s looping cross was chested down by Ritchie. The winger checked back inside, before seeing a low drive blocked by Mousinho.

Burton enjoyed more of the ball in the following exchanges, and – with 15 minutes remaining – they perhaps ought to have got back on level terms.

After being played in by Jackson Irvine down the left, Dyer cut the ball back for Akins 12 yards out, who wastefully cleared the crossbar with time to pick his spot.

United’s two goalscorers then linked up at the other end, but Gayle couldn’t quite keep his left-footed strike on target.

Benitez’s troops were forced to withstand one or two nervy moments late on, with Darlow twice forced into action by substitute Jamie Ward.

Kyle McFadzean then fired into the side-netting following a last-gasp Burton corner, but Newcastle hung on to make sure of another three-point haul.

Burton Albion: Jon McLaughlin, John Brayford, John Mousinho, Kyle McFadzean, Chris O’Grady, Lucas Akins (Jamie Ward 78), Lloyd Dyer, Damien McCrory, Tom Naylor, Matty Palmer (Will Miller 89), Jackson Irvine.

Substitutes not used: Stephen Bywater, Tom Flanagan, Lee Williamson, Hamza Choudhury, Marcus Harness.

Newcastle United: Karl Darlow, DeAndre Yedlin, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett, Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden, Matt Ritchie (Yoan Gouffran 85), Mohamed Diame, Christian Atsu, Dwight Gayle.

Substitutes not used: Matz Sels, Achraf Lazaar, Vurnon Anita, Ayoze Perez, Chancel Mbemba, Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Bookings: Burton Albion – Tom Naylor (19), Jackson Irvine (45); Newcastle United – Isaac Hayden (56).