ALBION came up against Premier League opposition for the second time in a week and got a good workout from a lively and energetic Newcastle United who ran out 2-0 winners
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink expected a stern test for his side from the Magpies and the visitors were quick out of the blocks in both halves with Jacob Murphy firing home after only six minutes and striker Joelinton heading home less than a minute after half time to secure a relatively comfortable victory for the visitors.
Albion got the defensive that they were looking for and on the whole held a good shape as Newcastle looked a lot more advanced in their preparations for the new campaign than Leicester City did last weekend.
Quite how close to the Brewers starting line-up at Shrewsbury tonight was remains to be seen but Hasselbaink will more than likely already have a good idea of the side to line up next Saturday in the season opener.
The Premier League side began the game dominating possession and they fashioned the first chance of the game on four minutes working the ball nicely to Isaac Hayden, the midfielder taking a speculative strike at goal from just outside the penalty but seeing the ball rise comfortably over the bar.
And it was the visitors hitting the front in the sixth minute, Joelinton finding space to run into down the left, a low cross missing its intended target in the middle but finding its way to MURPHY beyond the back post to fire home.
Albion quickly had a half chance to equalise, Jonny Smith's looping cross proving to be just too high for Lucas Akins to climb above, his header dropping safely into the arms of United keeper Freddie Woodman.
Matt Ritchie almost added a spectacular second for United on the quarter of an hour mark when a deep cross from the right picked him out and a first time left foot volley rippled the side netting.
Bang on the half hour mark Albion created another decent chance. Some delightful passing and movement in the final third found Hamer just outside the box and wityh nobody closing him downhe tried to curl it into the corner with Woodman happy that it was going to finish outside of the upright.
Albion suffered what looked to be a potentially worrying injury blow when Kane Hemmings pulled up clutching the back of his leg and no risks were taken with last season's leading scorer going straight down the tunnel for treatment, Joe Powell coming on meaning a move into the centre for Akins.
Ryan Leak made his presence felt for Albion in an attacking way moments later, Smith delivering into the centre and the tall centre-back flicking the ball on but seeing it drop wide of the target.
Skipper John Brayford joined in the attack just before the break linking well with Smith and Akins before trying his luck with a rising angled drive from just inside the penalty area.
Half time: Burton Albion 0-1 Newcastle United
Steve Bruce's side took less than a minute after the break to double their lead. Brazilian striker JOELINTON won a corner on the left and then managed to rise highest in the box to send a powerful header beyond Ben Garratt from Ryan Fraser's pinpoint delivery.
Newcastle were finding their flow again and a surging run from Murphy took him right to the edge of the Burton box but with options running out he was forced to shoot, Garratt getting down well to his right to save.
Even with the departure of Joelinton ten minutes into the second half Newcastle were still able to introduce the lively Dwight Gayle into the attack and he was quickly into the action, inches away from poaching a goal on a couple of occasions.
Albion made a couple of changes just after the hour mark with Conor Shaughnessy replacing Michael Mancienne at the back and Trialist coming on for Jacob Maddox.
Shaughnessy was quickly involved as a flurry of Newcastle pressure looked set to end in a goal until the Irishman pulled out a superb block to complete a clearance following on from a good reaction save by Garratt.
Murphy almost blotted his copybook with an errant backpass that could only have been inches from going over the line as substitute goalkeeper Mark Gillespie raced back to hastily clear.
Powell came off with a quarter of an hour to go, as did Tom O'Connor as supporters got another chance to see Omari Patrick and Bryn Morris in pre-season action.
Patrick quickly had a chance open up for him as he was able to find room for a curling effort but it was just a little too close to Gillespie.
Brayford had time for one more important block before he was substituted, a typically brave clearance protecting Garratt#s goal when Jamal Lewis let fly from the edge of the box.
Brayford's substitution allowed home fans to get their first glimpse of former Manchester United left back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson as he slotted in at left back meaning a switch for Hamer to finish the match.
ALBION: Garratt, Brayford (Borthwick-Jackson, 83), Oshilaja, Hemmings (Powell, 38, Patrick, 75), Akins, Smith, O'Connor (Morris, 75), Leak, Maddox (Trialist), Hamer, Mancienne (Shaughnessy).
Substitutes: O'Hara, Balcombe, Blake-Tracy, Taylor
GOALS: NEWCASTLE - Murphy (6), Joelinton (46)
Referee: Mr James Oldham
Attendance: 3,598