Newcastle United 2, Albion 0

First the bad news. There is very little chance of Albion finishing above Newcastle.

Now the good news. The same applies to the other 22 clubs in the Championship.

A comfortable first defeat of the season for Chris Hughton's side merely confirmed the perception that, having retained a manager with the gravitas of Rafael Benitez after relegation, Newcastle are destined for an immediate return to the Premier League.

A premature assessment at such an early stage of such an unforgiving division? Perhaps but Newcastle's presence has changed the complexion.

None of the five defeats Albion suffered last season remotely resembled this one. The ominous sense that they were marginally out of their depth against a bigger club with bigger resources and a better, deeper squad.

There is no need to be gloomy, because Albion are capable of finishing best of the rest. It was December before they suffered their first defeat last time against another team from the North-East (Middlesbrough) but the comforting aspect of a much quicker setback is that by far their toughest away assignment is already behind them.

The eight points they have gained from their opening five fixtures is about par for the course, bearing in mind the opponents.

And they have a head-start over several of the sides expected eventually to contend, the likes of Derby and Sheffield Wednesday.

Dark horses Huddersfield, the initial pacesetters, may just turn out to be the only side that wins at formidable St James' Park.

The way Albion opened the match resembled their bright, crimson shirts. They finished it with faces reddened by the toil and the empty feeling that they did not do themselves justice.

The environment was challenging enough, without conceding two soft set pieces which led to the goals. There was no denying the excellence of Jammal Lascelles' 15th minute header from Matt Ritchie's expertly delivered free-kick.

Albion could, however, have done more to prevent it. First at source, then with the marking and, finally, with the stretching hand of David Stockdale.

As Hughton remarked: "The first goal was a poor goal, good movement from them and a very good header from where it was. Sometimes they are difficult to defend and to score that type of goal you've got to have a delivery that's really on the money.

"It was really disappointing to concede at that stage, because we were very much in the game."

The free-kick was earned by the determination of Jonjo Shelvey in holding off Glenn Murray and Beram Kayal as he advanced.

Shelvey was playing for England not so long ago. He offered a reminder of that quality by settling the contest just beyond the hour mark with an exquisite, curling free-kick, cheaply conceded 20 yards out by Steve Sidwell.

There was no way back from that, not with ten men. Sam Baldock had already departed to the first red card of a career spanning more than 300 appearances over 11 seasons.

His first booking, on the stroke of half-time for a routine foul, came amid growing unrest from the home crowd at the number of infringements awarded against their team by Keith Stroud.

The second yellow was flawed. Replays showed Matz Sels actually kicked Baldock in the midriff as the keeper cleared as he was closed down (below). A theatrical fall sealed Baldock's fate.

The Argus: "The problem is anything contentious once you are on that first booking," Hughton said. "All Sam did was follow his momentum but when you have already been booked they are going to pick up on anything like that.

"I think it's harsh on him. He's certainly not that type of player, as his record shows. If anything, ironically when we went down to ten men and we made some changes our game improved.

"It didn't hinder us that much. I'm more disappointed about parts of our performance with 11 men."

Baldock's premature exit, nevertheless, hurtfully coincided with Albion's best mini-period, Anthony Knockaert almost equalising with a shot off the bar from 12 yards after Kayal set him up.

Yoan Gouffran, Newcastle's lively left-winger, struck the same bar from twice the distance in the first half when the contest threatened to get away from Albion once they were behind.

There is growing substance to the Newcastle squad. Lascelles, their imposing captain, defended well with partner Chancel Mbemba, who is restricting Grant Hanley to the bench. It was their third clean sheet in succession in all competitions to accompany a third straight league win.

Albion can point to a stout debut by record signing Shane Duffy next to Lewis Dunk, with Connor Goldson and Uwe Huenemeier for back-up, as evidence of their own strength in depth.

Likewise in midfield - where Newcastle have the roaming driving force of Mohamed Diame as well as Shelvey - the return to the squad of Dale Stephens as an unused substitute. Albion need to retain him before the window shuts.

At the sharp end, the hosts were missing both Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle. Now they have added Daryl Murphy from Ipswich, another proven Championship performer.

It is just as well for the rest that Albion have repelled Newcastle's interest in Knockaert, whose individual frustration epitomised the disappointment of a second below-par performance away from home in a row after Reading.

"We know what he gives us," Hughton said. "A creativity. He works, he's always a threat on the ball. It wasn't our day. We ended up having a lot of corners and free-kicks and they defended very well. He was having to come deep but you are going to have to defend deep and well at times away at Newcastle.

"I always felt at 1-0 if we could perform better in the second half, have more of the ball, we'd have a great chance of getting back in the game.

"I didn't think Newcastle were great, only because they didn't create lots of chances. What they do very well is manage the game. That's the sign of a good side and that's what they are."

With the points in the bag, the Newcastle faithful cheered Hughton's name in recognition of the convincing way he guided them to the Championship title six years ago. It would take a brave man to back against them following suit under Benitez.