Having seen off Chris Hughton's Brighton side before the international break, Newcastle started where they left off by leaving another SJP old boy pointless in the shape of Nigel Pearson.

Goals from the unlikely duo of Yoan Gouffran and DeAndre Yedlin gave United a fourth successive Championship win and thankfully banished recent-ish memories of some off-nights on this ground. 

The Magpies had failed to beat the Rams in the last four meetings and lost both of their last two visits to Derbyshire, to the delight of the home supporters who were years away from adding us to their hit list for unsettling Steve McClaren and derailing their promotion bid in 2015.. 

However, the boot was firmly on the other foot at the iPro Stadium, once Gouffran had emphatically dispatched Jonjo Shelvey's corner midway through the first half. And when substitute Yedlin benefited from Shelvey's smart thinking in second half added time to score a second, the celebrations in the away end were ramped up still further as Rams fans trudged to the exits.

Pearson had seen his latest side win just once in five league games - at Preston - and Derby seldom looked like changing that, Matz Sels a virtual spectator (although what handling was required didn't always inspire confidence).

The game unfolded in similar fashion to our previous away game at Bristol City, with Rafa's side ahead at half time and a solid performance across the field soon snuffing out any potential danger.

Having had the ball in the net in the opening seconds only to be denied by an offside flag, Derby's biggest moment (save from several failed attempts at winning penalties) was an over-hit cross from debutant Ikechi Anya that scraped our crossbar on 68 minutes.

As had been the case when Dwight Gayle netted at Ashton Gate, the goal came at a perfect time for Rafa's side, who grew into the game rather than going for the jugular from the off. The quality of the goal was memorable, while the identity of the scorer was totally unexpected - despite Gouffran's range-finder that rattled the crossbar in our last game. 

The Frenchman's goal is a tangible indication of a renaissance under Rafa almost on a par with Rob Lee post-Gullit  - perhaps his autobiography will be called, "Come in number 20." It's now apparent that Gouffran turned down several transfer bids in the closing days of the transfer window, contract offers that would presumably have been longer than the year he has left on his Gallowgate deal.  

There were times however when United looked to be too far into the comfort zone for their own good and a policy of soaking up pressure while showing little in attack looked decidedly risky. 

The home side though did their best to ease our task, favouring attacks down their left flank and encountering the solid figure of Vurnon Anita. Derby's lack of goals and confidence in the final third meanwhile is well-documented, this a fifth successive blank return at home in the Championship.

As had been the case at Ashton Gate, a single goal victory gradually looked like becoming a reality but United's presence of mind in added time added a welcome veneer to the final score; DeAndre Yedlin bundling home his first club goal after joining the fray in a right midfield role.

Players and fans saluted each other following the full time whistle, with United's Derby-born captain Jamaal Lascelles especially pleased with himself after some catcalling from home fans - although hardly on the same scale of abuse received when he played here for Nottingham Forest.  

Rafa meanwhile briefly acknowledged those jubliant fans before making for the dressing room - doubtless planning Tuesday's visit to Loftus Road. Victory saw his side move into second spot on 12 points, four behind leaders Huddersfield Town who won 1-0 at Leeds United. Onwards and upwards.