Bristol City 4-1 Newcastle - Pre-season problems for Eddie Howe
Newcastle United followed Saturday's 1-1 draw with a defeat to Championship side Bristol City on Wednesday night.
Fabian Schar was forced off in the first half with a worrying muscle injury, seeing Alex Murphy come on early, Anthony Elanga was a bright spark with regular bursts down our right, while Sean Neave came closest in the opening 45, forcing a great save from Tickle after latching onto Jacob Murphy's cut-back.
Bristol City struck first, however. Ramsey brought down his man 20 yards out and Ewen Jaouen was beaten as Sam Greenwood's curling free kick crashed in off the bar. And it got worse moments later. Botman was barged over, but the referee (somehow) ignored it and Tolaj made it 2-0, sliding past Jaouen who couldn't get down quick enough.
19-year-old Neave came closest once again just minutes after the restart, striking the bar with a smart first-time effort that had Tickle beaten. But it was all too easy at the other end, where Bristol City made it 3-0. Murphy was careless in giving the ball away and Botman was too slow in getting back before Bird fired past Pope, who replaced Jaouen at the break.
Then came two Newcastle chances. Barnes fired just wide on the turn after good work from Elanga to create the opening, then Botman missed a sitter from just a few yards out with 65 minutes on the clock, heading over Hall's delivery that looked destined for Barnes at the back post.
Barnes did eventually get in on the act, thankfully. With just over 10 minutes to play, Matheos Ferreira did well to win the ball back, moved the ball into the box and Barnes did the rest on the week he penned a new long-term deal, sliding past Tickle to make it 3-1.
Comeback on? Not on Botman's watch. On a night where the Dutchman could do little right, he sliced a Bristol cross past Pope and into the net to restore Bristol's three-goal advantage, making it 4-1.
The good and bad in Bristol
In the seventh minute came a special moment, as all four corners of Ashton Gate rose to celebrate the life of Kevin Keegan, clapping and singing the great man's name a week on from his passing.
As for matters on the pitch, Sean Steur looked the part once again, showing a lovely mix of calmness, creativity and confidence on the ball. It's early days, but quite the compliment to say he's shown shades of Bruno in his ability to demand possession, play punch passes forward and see things quickly, both on and off the ball. On a night where many lacked quality or class, he did not.
Elanga built on his positive World Cup showings with Sweden and was by far our most lively attacking threat. He was positive whenever he got the ball, regularly burst past his man and created openings down either flank.
Jaouen was slow to react for Bristol's first two goals, Schar's injury is a concern - we're now left with only three fit senior centre-backs - and Botman looked slow, summing up the lack of pace in a back line that was too easily got at whenever Bristol got beyond our midfield three.
We looked soft and slow at the back, toothless in attack against an average Championship side, and like a team desperate for a few more buys and their captain back. But this is pre-season, we're still three or four signings short, and were without at least 10 first-team regulars tonight.
The team
Newcastle XI: Jaouen - J. Murphy, Schar, Botman, Hall - Ramsey, Steur, Willock - Elanga, Neave, Barnes.
Substitutes: Pope, Harris, Charlton, A.Murphy, Munda, Seung-soo, Pivas, Sanusi, Shahar, Ferreira, Finneran, M.Miley
Absent: Joelinton, Will Osula, Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn, Lewis Miley, Bazoumana Toure, Aladji Bamba.
