Matt Ritchie’s deflected strike proved to be enough for Newcastle United in a tight and cagey clash with Derby County in the North East.

The Magpies’ strong start to the contest was rewarded in fortuitous circumstances as the Scotland international’s strike looped into the back of the net via the help of Bradley Johnson’s outstretched leg.

Defining moments came and went for both sides after that as Aleksander Mitrović passed up a glorious chance to double the hosts advantage, whilst Tom Ince’s close range miss and a goalline header prevented Derby a point after they took a nervy Magpies side right to the wire.

In the end, Newcastle dragged themselves over the line, with the first half performance on Tyneside playing a significant role in the final outcome.

Engulfed by a sell-out crowd, and with Rafael Benítez’s name booming around St James’ Park, Newcastle started well and established control of the first as they quickly hit their stride.

The Rams were not given a moment to breathe in possession as the Magpies, quick on the press, forced them into a more direct style of play early doors and with it, the hosts quickly registered their first chances.

Isaac Hayden, after being slipped in down the right, was denied at his feet by the busy Scott Carson, whilst the 31-year-old Derby ‘keeper made a simpler save to deny Mohamed Diame after the former Hull City man had robbed Bradley Johnson of the ball near the centre circle.

The same man sliced an effort wide moments after that and bent another into the arms of Carson, but by the latter, McClaren’s men had just started to rediscover a degree of composure in their play.

Good going forward, there were still a few jitters in the Newcastle backline and Derby put that to the test with their first notable effort on 20 minutes, Johnny Russell forcing Karl Darlow into a save after the Magpies had failed to deal with an inswinging Ince corner.

It had been a case of so far so good for the Rams, before a touch of misfortune saw them fall behind.

Ritchie had seen a long-range effort easily saved as the first half approached the midway point, but with the game finely poised on a knife edge, the former diminutive Bournemouth wideman struck the opener with an effort that looped in with a large slice of help off the trailing leg of Johnson.

With Newcastle’s tails up, the rest of the first half was about staying in the game.

In doing so, it took a crucial save from Carson to prevent the hosts a second as he leapt across his area to get two strong palms to Diame’s shot after the midfielder had been picked out by a right wing cut back.

McClaren’s side comfortably saw out the remainder of the half and were far from out of the game, but it took huge miss on Newcastle’s behalf to ensure that was the case four minutes into the second 45 minutes as the powerful Serbian forward Mitrović swivelled and slot a right footed shot agonisingly wide when he should have scored.

It kept the Rams in a game that descended into a second half battle that they ended the stronger.

More often than not in a game as close as this one, there is always one defining moment. That can be one that seals victory. Maybe even a goal that nicks the losing side a draw. A save. A miss. They all fall under this category.

As guilt edged as Mitrović’s miss was, Ince, Derby’s top scorer with 11, had one even more so with just less than 10 minutes remaining as Abdoul Camara’s low driven cross picked him out in the area, leaving him the simple task of tapping it into the back of the net, but with the goal at his mercy, the ball was put wide.

McClaren held his head in his hands, but Derby persisted – throwing everything bar the kitchen sink in their mission to try and salvage a point against a nervous Magpies.

The tension could be felt in the stands too in a chaotic finish in the North East. In a series of late corners, Carson also made his way forward as all 11 Derby players piled into the area.

On their last set play they were a goalline saving header away from a goal.

In came a deep corner to the back post where Bent was lurking, and with his header destined for the back of the net, DeAndre Yedlin popped up with a header that preserved the hosts’ lead and saw tension swiftly turn to elation as Newcastle held on to claim a priceless win, despite the stern efforts of the visitors who took them all the way.

Newcastle United: Darlow, Yedlin, Hanley, Clark, Dummett; Ritchie, Shelvey (C), Hayden (Perez, 49), Gouffran (Lascelles, 90); Diame, Mitrović (Ameobi, 83)

Substitutes not used: Elliott, Lazaar, Gamez, Murphy

Derby County: Carson, Baird, Keogh (C), Pearce, Olsson; Johnson (Anya, 76), Bryson (de Sart, 46), Butterfield; Ince, Russell (Camara, 64), Bent

Substitutes not used: Mitchell, Christie, Shackell, Vydra

Attendance: 52,271