NEWCASTLE moved into the Championship’s automatic promotion places as they comprehensively brushed aside Brentford at St James’ Park.

Dwight Gayle’s double, which took the striker’s tally for the season to nine, followed a headed opener from Ciaran Clark as the Magpies racked up their eighth league win of the campaign.

Brentford pulled a goal back through striker Scott Hogan, but Newcastle’s dominance was never in doubt, with Jonjo Shelvey once again catching the eye with another all-action display.

The victory takes Rafael Benitez’s side to second in the table, behind leaders Norwich City, who beat Rotherham, but ahead of Huddersfield, who take on Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.

With Matt Ritchie unavailable because of an illness, Benitez made just one change to the team that beat Rotherham prior to the international break, with Ayoze Perez coming in for Mo Diame.

The Magpies went into the international break on the back of two successive wins, and immediately picked up where they had left off by establishing a two-goal lead within the opening 16 minutes.

Clark claimed the first goal, heading home from the edge of six-yard box after Shelvey swung over a cross from the right.

Shelvey was also the architect of Newcastle’s second, with his searching long ball causing confusion at the heart of the Brentford defence. Two attempts at a clearance came to nothing, enabling Gayle to pounce on the loose ball and drill a crisp low strike into the bottom corner of the net.

Brentford had spurned a decent opportunity when the score was goalless, with Hogan heading over after he found himself unmarked ten yards out, but the visitors were in danger of being blown away for the majority of the first half as Newcastle threatened to run riot.

With Shelvey pulling the strings at the heart of midfield, and Christian Atsu and Vurnon Anita linking effectively down the right-hand side, the Magpies created a succession of chances and had the ball in the net for a third time midway through the opening period.

Yoan Gouffran’s shot took a deflection off Ayoze Perez, but referee Simon Hooper spotted a handball in the build-up and blew his whistle.

Gouffran had a first-half shot saved by Daniel Bentley, and Atsu also went close before the interval with a 20-yard curler that drifted just wide of the target.

Karl Darlow was a bystander for much of the first half, but the Newcastle goalkeeper was finally called into action shortly before the interval as he parried Nico Yennaris’ fierce half-volley.

That was a rare moment of alarm for the Magpies, and normal service was resumed four minutes after the break as Gayle scored his side’s third goal.

Gouffran released Shelvey down the left-hand side, and Gayle tapped home the midfielder’s low cross from inside the six-yard box.

Newcastle fully deserved to be three goals ahead at that stage, but their advantage was reduced within four minutes as their defensive frailty from set-pieces reared its head once again.

Romaine Sawyers flicked on Lewis McLeod’s corner at the front post, enabling Hogan to head home.

Newcastle were forced to replace their skipper on the hour mark, with Grant Hanley coming on for Jamaal Lascelles, but the hosts continued to dominate and Shelvey went close with a free-kick that sailed over the crossbar.

Gayle also came close to adding a fourth goal, but his attempts to claim what would have been his second Newcastle hat-trick were thwarted when he curled a late shot too close to Bentley.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Anita, Lascelles (Hanley 60), Clark, Dummett; Shelvey, Colback; Atsu (Yedlin 72), Perez, Gouffran (Lazaar 84); Gayle.

Subs (not used): Sels (gk), Hayden, Diame, Mitrovic.

Brentford (4-2-3-1): Bentley; Colin, Dean, Egan, Bjelland (Barbet 75); Woods, Yennaris (McCormack 78); Clarke, McLeod (Kaikai 64), Sawyers; Hogan.

Subs (not used): Bonham (gk), Saunders, McEachran, Kerschbaumer.