Nigel Clough made two changes to the team that beat Hudderfield 1-0. In came Varney, Irvine and Akins to replace Woodrow, Kightly and McFadzean.
Newcastle's Premier League squad will be returning to the top flight come the end of the season, and that's down to the amount of Premier League players that have been signed by the club. One of them being Matt Ritchie who nearly opening the scoring early on as he got on the end of Paul Dummett's cross from the left but the winger's shot was deflected wide and away from danger.Jackson Irvine was Albion's match-winner on Saturday at Huddersfield, and could have given the Brewers the lead on 17 minutes when Luke Varney's header inside the box fell kindly to Irvine whose volley flashed just over the crossbar.
Newcastle United thought they had taken the lead on the half hour mark when Dwight Gayle tripped himself up inside the box and won a penalty. Matt Ritchie stepped up and scored the spot kick but referee Keith Stroud ruled the goal out for encroachment.
HT: Newcastle United 0-0 Burton Albion FC
The home side were still frustrated about Keith Stroud's decision as they returned for the second half and it took them until the hour mark to get back into their stride where they could have been in front if it wasn't for Perez's misplaced shot from inside the box.
GOAL: Newcastle were restricted to long-range efforts in the second half of the game but that was no problem for Matt Ritchie who cut inside onto his right foot and curled an effort past Jon McLaughlin from 20 yards with just over 20 minutes to play (1-0).
That goal triggered an attacking move by Nigel Clough who brought on Michael Kightly in the place of Lasse Vigen Christensen. Kightly's first contribution was an effective one as he delivered a free kick into the box which was headed towards goal by Ben Turner but he was brilliantly denied by Karl Darlow.
Lucas Akins was deployed in a right wing-back position at St James' Park and his was given the final ten minutes to rest as he was replaced by Lloyd Dyer.
The home side made a late break to try and double their lead as Sammy Ameobi made way down the right to pull it back for Jonjo Shelvey but his effort from outside the box sailed over.
FT: Newcastle United 1-0 Burton Albion FC
Attendance: 48,814
Ash's man of the match: John Mousinho