Newcastle sealed the Championship title with a solid victory at Plymouth which sent the hosts down to League One.
Andy Carroll set them on their way, leaping clear of the Argyle defence to head his 18th goal of the campaign in the 20th minute.
Eight minutes later, Wayne Routledge ran on to a fine Joey Barton pass to fire home from the narrowest of angles.
Argyle's Alan Judge rattled the bar with a 30-yard shot in the second half, but Newcastle were not to be denied.
The Magpies needed only a point to seal the title, and relegated-haunted Plymouth never looked like halting their march back to the top flight as champions.
606: DEBATE
Fully deserved, they have been the best team this season in the championship this year - well done lads!
Smiller12
The result ends Argyle's six-year stay in the second tier, with Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace's final-day encounter meaning it is impossible for them to stay up even if they win their remaining two games.
Paul Mariner's men have paid the price for winning just 11 games all season, while Newcastle notched their 29th victory of the campaign.
The hosts started brightly but failed to some decent early chances before Newcastle found their game and Carroll headed home Barton's corner.
Barton made their second with a defence-splitting pass to Routledge, the winger coolly rounding keeper David Stockdale and slotting into an empty net.
Plymouth showed passion and commitment in the second half, with Judge denied by the woodwork.
But substitute Leon Best almost made it 3-0 late on when his 25-yard shot also found the bar, and an instinctive save by Stockdale kept out Barton's close-range effort.
At the other end, defender Jose Enrique denied Plymouth a late consolation when he cleared Joe Mason's header off the line, but by then the Toon Army had already started partying.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton:
"I think we got to a stage where we couldn't shout from the rooftops but we were comfortable that we were going to go up.
"We got to that stage and probably for a little while it's been about winning the title and I couldn't be any prouder of this group of players.
"They have gone from day one and we have probably had one blip during the season, they came back from that strongly and went on a very good run. We have been the team to beat all season."
"We have a magnificent support that have made every stadium that we have gone to a big occasion, including tonight."
Plymouth manager Paul Mariner:
"We have a fantastic fan base and we owe it to them to do our best to bounce back up to this division - and that's what we will be aiming to do.
"Obviously I am so disappointed but I still have to say that the players tried to get the ball down, tried to pass and play the right way - even under the pressure they were under tonight, knowing that they had to win.
"That speaks volumes to me, and re-affirms what they are about. I asked for a response after the Watford defeat and they gave me that. We had chances to score tonight and our finishing has to improve and that's what we need to do."
Andy Carroll set them on their way, leaping clear of the Argyle defence to head his 18th goal of the campaign in the 20th minute.
Eight minutes later, Wayne Routledge ran on to a fine Joey Barton pass to fire home from the narrowest of angles.
Argyle's Alan Judge rattled the bar with a 30-yard shot in the second half, but Newcastle were not to be denied.
The Magpies needed only a point to seal the title, and relegated-haunted Plymouth never looked like halting their march back to the top flight as champions.
606: DEBATE
Fully deserved, they have been the best team this season in the championship this year - well done lads!
Smiller12
The result ends Argyle's six-year stay in the second tier, with Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace's final-day encounter meaning it is impossible for them to stay up even if they win their remaining two games.
Paul Mariner's men have paid the price for winning just 11 games all season, while Newcastle notched their 29th victory of the campaign.
The hosts started brightly but failed to some decent early chances before Newcastle found their game and Carroll headed home Barton's corner.
Barton made their second with a defence-splitting pass to Routledge, the winger coolly rounding keeper David Stockdale and slotting into an empty net.
Plymouth showed passion and commitment in the second half, with Judge denied by the woodwork.
But substitute Leon Best almost made it 3-0 late on when his 25-yard shot also found the bar, and an instinctive save by Stockdale kept out Barton's close-range effort.
At the other end, defender Jose Enrique denied Plymouth a late consolation when he cleared Joe Mason's header off the line, but by then the Toon Army had already started partying.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton:
"I think we got to a stage where we couldn't shout from the rooftops but we were comfortable that we were going to go up.
"We got to that stage and probably for a little while it's been about winning the title and I couldn't be any prouder of this group of players.
"They have gone from day one and we have probably had one blip during the season, they came back from that strongly and went on a very good run. We have been the team to beat all season."
"We have a magnificent support that have made every stadium that we have gone to a big occasion, including tonight."
Plymouth manager Paul Mariner:
"We have a fantastic fan base and we owe it to them to do our best to bounce back up to this division - and that's what we will be aiming to do.
"Obviously I am so disappointed but I still have to say that the players tried to get the ball down, tried to pass and play the right way - even under the pressure they were under tonight, knowing that they had to win.
"That speaks volumes to me, and re-affirms what they are about. I asked for a response after the Watford defeat and they gave me that. We had chances to score tonight and our finishing has to improve and that's what we need to do."
