Newcastle moved back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship with an emphatic 4-0 rout of bottom-club Rotherham.
After Brighton beat Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night, Rafa Benitez's men responded in style against their plucky visitors.
Daryl Murphy's goal got them through a difficult first half in front but they stretched their legs after the break and Matt Ritchie's double and Ayoze Perez's header equalled their biggest home win of the league season.
The win takes them a point clear of Brighton, but boss Benitez will know sterner tests than this lie ahead.
Rotherham, whose annual wage budget is less than the fee Newcastle paid for Ritchie alone, were unlucky to go in at half-time trailing but their fight against relegation, where they sit nine points adrift of safety, will not be decided by a game like this.
Newcastle United 4-0 Rotherham United
