Brentford were outclassed by a Newcastle team packed with Premier League quality as their wretched away form in the Championship continued.
The Bees have only picked up four points from 18 away from Griffin Park so far this campaign and it was always going to be difficult to pick up points at St James' Park.
Ciaran Clark opened the scoring from a Jonjo Shelvey cross from deep as he found the gaps in the visiting defence.
Dwight Gayle then capitalised on poor clearing to make it 2-0 after 17 minutes before making it three soon after half time.
Scott Hogan pulled a goal back but it proved to be merely a consolation as the Magpies coasted to victory.
Below are five talking points to take away from Brentford's defeat on the road.
Horrible heading
Brentford needed to weather an early storm from Newcastle if they were to get anything out of the game.
They failed to do so and were 2-0 down after just 17 minutes. Their Achilles heel was their inability to deal with the high balls into the box.
Ciaran Clark was gifted the freedom of the penalty area for the opening goal and a high ball into the box was cleared only as far as Dwight Gayle who rifled in the second.
Heading in front of goal was also poor when, at 0-0, Scott Hogan couldn't get his free header on target from eight yards out.
Slow start punished again
Brentford have been slow starters this season with their fastest goal so far this campaign coming after 29 minutes, against Nottingham Forest and Brighton.
Newcastle could have scored at will in the opening stages and two quick goals gave the Magpies a dominant lead.
Brentford have been strong finishers but their sloppy defending meant the Bees had a mountain to climb when they did get a foothold on the game.
Brentford did create chances with Karl Darlow pulling off an excellent save from Nico Yennaris in the first half.
Gayle's second removed any chance of a comeback leaving the Bees to just play for pride and they didn't disgrace themselves at any point with Hogan scoring a consolation.
Dean banned
Harlee Dean will miss Brentford's trip to Derby after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.
The skipper was unfortunate to pick up the booking from the card happy Simon Hooper and he will know he faces a challenge to regain his spot.
The ban immediately led to his critics to want Dean Smith to use it as an excuse to leave him out for the forseeable future.
While it gives Andreas Bjelland and Yoann Barbet a chance to stake their claim alongside John Egan, Dean has every opportunity to win his place back.
The Bees have also been picking up plenty more yellow cards this season than they have in recent years. Alan McCormack was the only player banned for totting up yellow cards last year. Ryan Woods and Dean make two and Maxime Colin is one booking away.
No 90 minute performances
While no Brentford player looked out of place, none of them grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck as Jonjo Shelvey did for Newcastle.
Josh Clarke had lively spells as did Lewis Macleod, Ryan Woods and Scott Hogan but all of them drifted in and out of the contest.
If you're going to win football games, you need more than 10 minute spells here and there.
Newcastle – too good for the Championship
If Newcastle don't win promotion back to the Premier League then someone will have made a massive mistake.
Players like Jonjo Shelvey, Dwight Gayle and others should not be plying their trade in the second tier of English football. If they had maintained the intensity of the opening exchanges, it could have been a thrashing.
However, that is their current lot but you can be almost certain that they will not be doing so next season.
Brentford knew deep down that if Newcastle fired on all cylinders it would be a difficult afternoon for them and so it proved.
They will take some, although not much, comfort in knowing that other teams have been on the end of a pasting by the Magpies and will be before the season's end.
Brentford fans make themselves heard
Brentford took a superb 2,778 fans up to the north east and they were in fine voice throughout, outsinging 48,000 home supporters.
There have only been a few reports of one or two fans letting themselves down through over-exuberance before the game but it was a miniscule proportion as the rest were excellent.
The trip was similar to the one made to Leeds in 2010 when the Bees were in League One as in this game was the one most were looking forward to.
Trips to Elland Road have become regular now and it will remind the club how far they still have to go in order to challenge in the Premier League.
