Better, but beaten - Newcastle 1-1 Strasbourg (2-3 on penalties)

Our final pre-season friendly of the summer and it ended all square against Strasbourg, before the Ligue 1 side won the shootout after penalty misses from Osula, Ramsey and Bamba.

Following Saturday’s flat and feeble 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, Matthias Jaissle’s Mags produced an improved display and had the chances to win. We were the better side for much of it, looking more cohesive both in and out of possession, but will be disappointed not to beat a Strasbourg side who’d shipped 22 goals in six straight defeats over pre-season.

Osula opened the scoring from a slick attack and could’ve had a hat-trick on another day, Leo Shahar was superb at right-back, defending well, playing some lovely passes and standing up to the physical test. 

The tireless Bazoumana Toure was a constant threat down the left and Jacob Ramsey impressed in midfield, both on and off the ball, only to gift Strasbourg an equaliser on the edge of his own box and miss his penalty in the shootout!

Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock, in a No.10 role, also showed moments of quality, particularly the former's ability to pick out pinpoint crosses, although that does not change the fact Newcastle could do with a quality right winger and natural No.10 before the window closes.

Match report: Newcastle 1-1 Strasbourg 

The team picked itself based on those who featured on Saturday, and were boosted by Ewen Jaouen and Fabian Schar’s return from injury, with Dan Burn also making his first start of pre-season as Newcastle United captain.

New signings Toure and Aladji Bamba came in, as expected, while U21 talents Shahar and Dylan Charlton filled in at full-back as Tino Livramento steps up his recovery and Amar Dedic moves closer to a £30m move from Benfica.

Newcastle XI: Jaouen - Shahar, Schar, Burn (c), Charlton - Ramsey, Bamba - Murphy, Willock, Toure - Osula.

Subs: Gillespie, Pivas, Johnson, Finneran, Sanusi, Neave.

Strasbourg XI: Jorgensen, Doue, Omobamidele, Becker, Chilwell, Mourabet, Sousa, Nanasi, Amo-Ameyaw, Moreira, Mara. 

We started on the front foot and almost got our reward within 90 seconds after Bamba, Ramsey and Willock combined well to win the ball back and release Murphy. His cross was inch perfect and Osula probably should’ve scored, only for his header to be saved by Jorgensen.

There was improved energy and cohesion to our play, although we did see a few sloppy moments at the back, as Schar and Burn lost the ball while trying to play out, showing signs of rust after minimal minutes this summer.

Burn headed wide from Murphy’s corner, almost replicating Thiaw’s goal yesterday, then the impressive Shahar came close after good work from Bamba and Murphy released the young right-back at a tight angle.

Strasbourg did have their chances, mind. They struck the bar after a fizzed cross was turned towards goal, had one deflected effort fire just wide from the right and almost forced home at the back post after Bamba lost his marker from a set piece.

A let off not to concede, helped by a saving Schar tackle moments later, although Strasbourg got away with it soon after as Toure and Willock both failed to covert after quick cut-backs from Osula and Murphy. And then came our wonderfully worked opener down the right to open the deadlock.

Shahar showed impressive passing range all half and picked out a lovely ball down the line to release Murphy, who put it on a plate for Osula, who arrived on time and bundled home to make it 1-0 before the break.

Errors cost Toon in frustrating final 45 

Jaissle made two half time changes, protecting the recently returning Burn and previously injured Schar by bringing on Henry Johnson and Miodrag Pivas, making up a back four full of U21s for the second 45.

Ramsey followed a slick and strong first half with more of the same in the second, not only winning the ball back with some timely interceptions, but looking after possession in tight areas, driving us up the pitch and releasing our front four. Sadly, a few big errors would go on to spoil what had been a strong display from the former Villa man.

Toure was getting more of the ball and beginning to get the better of fellow countrymen Doue, slipping in Osula with a sharp first time pass after Bamba did brilliantly to win back possession. Osula only had Jorgensen to beat, but his dinked effort went wide at the end of a fast, vertical attack that would’ve pleased Jaissle.

Then, just as we looked well in control and likely to make it two, a rare Ramsey error on the edge of his own box gifted Strasbourg the ball, allowing them to fire past Jaouen, high into the net, to make it 1-1 with just over 20 minutes remaining. A real shame for the team and Ramsey himself, who’d been one of the standout players all game prior to that moment.

After the dangerous Toure delivered another teasing cross that was almost turned home, Jaissle made his third charge on 75 minutes. Neave replaced Murphy on the right wing, and looked really bright in his cameo. Willock took the armband in the process now Murphy and Burn were off, although he limped off on 85 minutes with what is hopefully nothing more than cramp.

A game we should’ve won in 90 minutes and a shame we didn’t for the confidence levels after recent defeats to Bristol City, Everton and Bayer Leverkusen, although we nearly did after some determined wing play from Toure and another teasing cross was almost turned in, not once but twice as Shahar, Neave and Osula all scrambled to turn it home.

Then came penalties after a 1-1 draw, where Jaouen impressed with two big stops. However, with Osula and Ramsey blazing over and new boy Bamba striking the post, Strasbourg won the shootout and lifted the Visit Malta trophy.

Next up, Dedic through the door and hopefully a few more much-needed signings as we build up to Liverpool in our Premier League opener a week today.

Keep the faith. HWTL!