This match will do much to calm the nerves of everyone connected to the club with the knowledge that yes; we can beat Premiership sides.
After reading my doom-laden Birmingham report before starting this I realised that no single game is going to decide our fate this season; that may seem obvious but at the time it felt like the sky was falling down such was the horror experienced after that match. Things didn't exactly improve the following game against the Liverpool but Billy has said from day one this season that we were playing catch up and that we wouldn't find out feet until the first six or seven games had passed - well if this game is anything to go by, perhaps we aren't quite buried yet!
Part of this newfound winning ability can be put down to the international break; for the first time in weeks Claude Davis and Tyrone Mears looked fully fit and it showed throughout. There was also more balance in the side with a genuine winger on either side of the pitch and an actual striking partnership in Miller and Howard who looked like they could play together as opposed to standing thirty yards apart (yes Mr. Earnshaw, I'm talking about you!)
So to the match and with the Liverpool thrashing behind us the Rams made a bright start and could well have scored inside thirty seconds; Steve Howard's snapshot was deflected for a corner and from the resulting cross the big Geordie headed just over the bar.
Tyrone Mears made a surging run forward, feinting a pass to Teale before cutting inside and firing a low shot at Steve Harper as the Rams made a very encouraging start against supposedly superior competition.
However all that early good work was nearly for naught as the Magpies could and really should have taken the lead on twenty minutes; the Rams were caught on the break through Milner who fed Michael Owen, the England striker was forced wide by Bywater but managed to find Rozehnal who inexplicably fired wide with the goal gaping just six yards away.
It was a let off for the Rams who continued to make good progress into the Newcastle half with Miller looking sharp and Howard always a handful for Cacapa. On the half hour mark Miller got his first real chance to make an impact and his mazy run from the right hand wing almost created an opening but Cacapa was eventually able to clear the ball as the Scottish striker ran out of room.
Newcastle were handed a great opportunity five minutes from half time when Pearson was adjudged to have fouled Ameobi; Geremi stepped up and shot in a curling effort which Bywater, who was otherwise untested, managed to tip round the post at full stretch. From the resulting corner there were big claims for a penalty as Leacock could be seen to clearly manhandle Rozehnal but it went unnoticed by the officials and seconds later the Rams were in front.
Bywater's big booming goal kick was brought down by a combination of Howard and Miller and as the ball bounced the latter hit a wonderful dipping volley which looked to be going well over but which fell into the net with Harper unmoved. It was a good of stupendous individual quality and a sign that the Rams were alive in their race to remain in the top flight.
Half Time: Rams 1-0 Newcastle
So the Rams started the second half with the lead for the first time this season and aside from the odd scary moment they had looked reasonably comfortable; Davis and Leacock looked more than in control of Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi continued to be one of the more frustrating players in the Premier League; spurning good openings far too regularly. Kenny Miller and Steve Howard were proving to be a difficult proposition for the Newcastle backline and in midfield, Matt Oakley and Stephan Pearson had bossed it again Butt, Smith and Geremi - it couldn't have been much better really.
Five minutes into the half Stevie Howard missed the first of his two glaring chances; Lewis' well flighted corner was well met by the powerful striker but his effort, which should have been a goal, went a foot wide of the post.
Michael Owen was replaced on fifty-five minutes after a thankfully ineffective performance to be replaced by Obefemi Martins, a threat in his own right. The Rams continued to make the better of the play and looked increasingly threatening as their highly-touted opponents flattered to deceive.
On the hour Matt Oakley made one his runs and hit a left-footed shot which went close but just over the bar and not long after Andy Griffin was suddenly in behind the Newcastle defence; his rasping shot went wide but it was a sign that the Rams were not content to sit on their lead and that if Andy Griffin (!) was getting forward, Newcastle were very much on the back foot.
On sixty-six minutes Stevie Howard got big chance number two and this time I thought he'd scored; a swift break saw Teale get free down the right and his perfect cross was met by a lunging Howard whose header somehow managed to go the wrong side of the post from six yards; it was the perfect chance to seal the three points and the sort of opportunity that you really have to take; one goal will not often be enough for us this season.
Nicky Butt went into the book for hacking down Pearson who was setting off on one of those driving charges up field and he was joined by Mears who pulled down Martins, who would otherwise have been through on the goal. From the free kick Milner's effort was deflected away for a corner which was eventually cleared after a strong punch from Bywater.
Benny Feilhaber came on his long-awaited debut with ten minutes to go and whilst the American wasn't on the pitch for long, it was evident in his presence on the ball, a couple of good turns and flicks, that we may have a player of some ability on our hands here.
Oakley went into the book for basically taking out Faye and Feilhaber's smart pass was blasted well wide by Griffin (!) as time continued to trickle away; there were four long minutes of stoppage time but they passed without major incident and the whistle blew to a huge roar from the bumper home crowd as relief swept through the stadium; the Rams are up and running!
Full Time: Rams 1-0 Newcastle
Rams: Bywater 6; Griffin 6; Mears 8; Leacock 7; Davis 7; Oakley 8; Pearson 8; Teale 6; Lewis 6 (McEveley 6); Howard 7; Miller 8 (Feilhaber 6).
Newcastle: Harper; Taylor (Beye); Cacapa; Rozehnal; N'Zogbia; Geremi (Diagne-Faye); Butt; Milner; Smith; Owen (Martins); Ameobi.
Daniel's MOM: Matt Oakley.
Referee: P Walton.
Attendance: 33, 016.
Next up: Arsenal (away).
Read the Newcastle report here