Newcastle returned to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table as Matt Ritchie's deflected first-half strike secured a 1-0 win over Derby.
Rams boss Steve McClaren endured a frustrating return to St James' Park, having been dismissed as Newcastle head coach last March, with Ritchie's fourth goal in the last three games proving decisive.
The win took Newcastle back above Brighton, who have a game in hand, and leaves Rafael Benitez's side six points clear of the play-off places.
The Magpies merited their victory thanks to a dominant first-half display, although they were forced to survive some nervous moments in the closing stages, with DeAndre Yedlin heading Darren Bent's goal-bound header off the line in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Newcastle United
