Newcastle United started the season in winning style after overcoming newly promoted Nottingham Forest at St James' Park.
Forest kept the Magpies at bay for almost an hour before the pressure told in the second half on a day when Eddie Howe's side created chance after chance in front of a full house.
But there were no early season jitters for Newcastle and while there will be tougher tests ahead, the feel-good factor continues on Tyneside.
Regardless of Forest parking the bus on opening day, United ensured they won a Premier League game at the first time of asking as opposed to picking up the points at the 15th attempt like last season.
Goals from Fabian Schar and Callum Wilson ensured an important first day statement from Howe's side.
Forest won the coin toss and - no doubt advised by former Toon player Jack Colback - opted to shoot downhill towards the Gallowgate End in the second half.
READ MORE: Newcastle 0-0 Nottingham Forest half-time ratings as Kieran Trippier impresses and Magpies dominate
The game was just a few seconds old when Forest conceded a corner but after Matt Targett rolled it short the ball eventually fell for Fabian Schar who saw his shot blocked.
A Joe Willock shot on four minutes was deflected wide after a probing run from Allan Saint-Maximin down the left but Forest again cleared their lines from the corner.
Two minutes later, Saint-Maximin won a free-kick on the left-hand side but again the newly promoted visitors coped adequately enough from a defensive point of view.
Newcastle won a free-kick on the left-hand side of the penalty area on 15 minutes but Kieran Trippier's shot hit the defensive wall. Joelinton was next to try his luck with the Brazilian hammering in a shot from outside the box with Dean Henderson beating the ball to safety.
Bruno Guimaraes had a go from a similar distance on 26 minutes but his effort bounced wide of the target. A clear opportunity then came the way of Joelinton as he cut into the box but after weighing up his options he sent the ball wide of the post.
Moments later he fired in another effort but Henderson gathered the ball easily. Further attempts on target came from Callum Wilson then Saint-Maximin as relentless United laid siege on the Forest goal.
The visitors offered precious little at the other end but Jesse Lingard's effort was blocked by Schar with five first half minutes to go. Despite having 14 attempts at goal in the first half and dominating the possession stakes with 65% of the ball, Newcastle and Forest went in level at the break.
Forest continued to frustrate in the early part of the second half but they were undone by something special just before the hour mark. After Saint-Maximin's cross from the left had been half-cleared the ball bounced to the feet of the Switzerland international.
After taking a couple of touches he then arrowed the ball home majestically from 20 yards at the Leazes End leaving Henderson with no chance after 58 minutes of utter domination from Howe's side.
As Newcastle searched for the insurance goal a cross from Neco Williams on the right found Sam Surridge but he headed into the ground and over with 63 minutes gone.
It would prove Surridge's only meaningful offering in the game and seconds later he was hooked for summer signing Taiwo Awoniyi who made his debut after arriving from Union Berlin last month.
Almiron could have put the lid on it for Newcastle with 14 minutes left when he got free down the right but struck a weak shot straight into Henderson's body.
But it was 2-0 with 12 minutes left when Joelinton made an important interception to stop Williams' clearance. Saint-Maximin then rolled the ball down the side to Joelinton who crossed for number 9 Wilson who looped it over Henderson.
Howe then made a couple of changes when Sean Longstaff and Ryan Fraser with Willock and Almiron going off. Longstaff's cross for Wilson with five minutes left could have made the scoreline look even better but the striker hit the side netting.
Howe threw on Chris Wood, Jacob Murphy and Sven Botman towards the end to hand them a win bonus and the game ended with every pass being cheered. This was a day to be enjoyed for everybody in black and white. Newcastle are off to a flier.
Attendance: 52,245
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
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