Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle received reassuring backing from the club's board moments after his first home game ended in a narrow defeat against Bayer Leverkusen. CEO David Hopkinson was waiting to present the club's guests with the Visit Malta Cup soon after the final whistle and gave Jaissle a reassuring handshake, with internal meetings suggesting incoming business awaits.
Board's stance clear
There is an acknowledgement that new blood is needed at St James' Park and that Newcastle are not exactly equipped to challenge for a European place as things stand. The club are still reeling from Eddie Howe's departure just under three weeks ago, after the head coach waited until mid-way through the summer preparations to decide he could not take the job on any further.
None of that is Jaissle's fault, but he has been left to pick up the pieces, something in which his board sympathise with. Here, Newcastle lacked sharpness in front of goal, but as the players get used to Jaissle's methods, there is an argument to suggest things can get better by the week.
Match action
The new scoreboards at the Gallowgate End had not even recorded a minute of on-field action when Leverkusen stunned the home crowd. In the German side's first attack, Ibrahim Maza was allowed to create space before curling home from outside the box at Gallowgate and whipping the ball viciously past Lukas Hornicek.
Maza initially rolled the ball past Lewis Hall, who was caught out of position, before Christian Kofane flicked it back into his path. The Algerian international took a touch with his right foot and then audaciously bent it past Hornicek for a stunning opener.
Newcastle fought back when Mason Miley clipped a cross from the right into the box with eight minutes played for Yoane Wissa who forced a save out of Mark Flekken before Harvey Barnes then attempted an effort inside the box four minutes later at the Leazes End. On 24 minutes the game was halted by referee Michael Oliver for a hydration break, but during the pause, Newcastle changed from their traditional black and white shirts to the new lilac third shirt.
In the 31st minute, Anthony Elanga managed to force Flekken into a save in the centre of his goal as the Magpies started to apply more pressure. It was all square before the break as Thiaw powered home a corner with a great header at the back post after beating Maza to the ball. Elanga hung the ball up high at the back post, and Thiaw rose strongly to head into the opposite corner and make it 1-1 in the 44th minute.
Second half and late heartbreak
Jaissle introduced Ireland international Rory Finneran for the second half as he replaced Lewis Miley in a planned change in his first game back after 102 days since breaking his leg in training. With 56 minutes gone, Wissa drove through the centre of the field as Newcastle countered before the DR Congo star slipped it to Nick Woltemade, only for the Germany star to drill it unconvincingly at Flekken.
Newcastle had openings but no clear-cut chances, but Leverkusen also struggled to find a way through too. Youngster Mason Miley went off with 10 minutes to go with a knock with Miodrag Pivas replacing him, but within moments of his departure, Newcastle conceded in the right-back area. Substitute Viktor Boniface was played in on the left before he weaved his way around Sean Steur and beat Hornicek, who lay sprawled in his goalmouth, as the ball rolled into the bottom corner.
With two minutes left, Wissa drilled a cross into the danger area, but Barnes failed to connect when it looked easier to score. A late free-kick from Barnes was pumped in, but a recurring theme of the day had been a lack of quality in the final third, and as the ball was easily captured by Flekken the final whistle sounded.
The defeat meant that Leverkusen were awarded the Visit Malta Cup on a day in which Newcastle had 42% possession and created only a couple of big chances. Attendance: 39,059.
