The game might have been talked up beforehand, but like so many of Newcastle United's recent victories, a pretty routine victory was the final outcome.
How distant do the early days in August nowseem? Remember whenthe Magpies failed to pick up any points from their first two games of the season?
Now United are cool, calm, collected and ruthless. Rafa Benitez has sprinkled his fairy dust all over the north-east and is reaping the benefits, especially from set-pieces.
Here's the goals that sent #NUFC to the top of the league last night #GayleForce pic.twitter.com/oVRENGnAaa
For years the Tyneside club stumbled their way through the dark at corners and free kicks. Now the light has been switched on and it's marvelous.Dwight Gayle scored from another corner last night, taking the club's tally from set pieces to 11 for the campaign.
But the team is about more than just Gayle, and there is quality all over the park. Great teams are built from the back and it's incredible to see Newcastle with the highest goal difference in the league by a long margin.
MAGNIFICENT: Our incredible away support at Barnsley on Tuesday night 🎶⚫�⚪� #NUFC pic.twitter.com/ANRamZg1ti
The Magpies have only let in 11 goals in 12 games this campaign - the third lowest in the whole second tier. Brighton, Huddersfield Town and Derby County may have been more miserly, but not a single side can match United for their firepower at the other end.
Another factor that indicates a title-winning side in the making is their form away from home. This used to be an Achilles heel under Steve McClaren, but Benitez has vanquished those bad memories by picking up 16 points out of 21 available.
While a squad as deep as Newcastle's - players such as Aleksandar Mitrovic, Chancel Mbemba, DeAndre Yedlin, Jesus Gamez and Christian Atsu have hardly featured this season - there should be none of the traditional worries over key players picking up injuries.
Benitez is sure to change things up at some stage in the season and it looks likely he will on Saturday - most of the starting XI also played 90 minutes against Brentford on Saturday and the manager won't want to risk injury by putting them through three games in seven days.
Good strength in depth, an excellent away record and one of the best defences in the league all indicate that this could be an excellent year for United.