Matthias Jaissle's plea for more new signings was laid bare at Murrayfield as Newcastle United lost 3-1 to Everton in a pre-season friendly, with the head coach making 10 changes at half-time in front of 10,000 fans.
Just 24 hours after Jaissle made a plea to Newcastle's power brokers for more summer signings, his options were exposed. Having watched the Magpies capitulate in the first half, despite a bright start, by the time the light had begun dying for the solar eclipse, Jaissle had made ten changes at half-time as he desperately assessed his options.
First-half dominance undone
Newcastle, playing in their new third kit, began on the front foot and created an opening in the second minute with Yoane Wissa firing a tame effort at Everton keeper Mark Travers. On six minutes, William Oslua fired straight at the goalkeeper after Anthony Elanga's cross. Bazoumana Toure put in a cross on nine minutes that was half-cleared before Wissa fired over the top.
Anthony Elanga was next to have a go as he forced a save from Travers in an early Newcastle onslaught on a humid night north of the border. For all Newcastle's early dominance, it took a fantastic save from point-blank range from Lukas Hornicek to keep the Magpies level, denying Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after Nathan Paterson's cross.
Everton take control
Everton grabbed the lead on 27 minutes as Sven Botman's mis-timed tackle on the halfway line saw Thierno Barry skip past him. Lewis Hall looked to have cleared up the danger, but his clearance fell for Harrison Armstrong, who picked out Barry before he rolled it past Hornicek. It would have been a second had it not been for Hornicek, who made a magnificent stop to deny Ilman Ndiaye.
The game slipped from Newcastle's grasp on 36 minutes when Joelinton steamed into Dewsbury-Hall, and referee Nick Walsh pointed straight to the spot. Ndiaye composed himself and fired it to Hornicek's left, sending the Czech keeper the wrong way and doubling Everton's lead. Despite having 60% possession, Newcastle went in 2-0 down at half-time.
Second-half changes and consolation
Newcastle made 10 substitutions at half-time, with Hornicek the only survivor. The second half saw Mason Miley, Henry Johnson, Midorag Pivas, Dylan Charlton, Jacob Ramsey, Sean Steur, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes and Nick Woltemade get their chance. Newcastle threatened immediately after the break as Mason Miley rolled one down the line for Jacob Murphy, who forced the keeper into a save low down at his near post.
Everton extended their lead as Tyrique George started a move by gliding past Jacob Murphy before finding Armstrong, who returned it to the England Under-21 star, before he turned just inside the box and beat Hornicek with a rasping shot. With 17 minutes to go, the Toffees had sealed the win in the Scottish capital. A nice move with five minutes to go resulted in Sean Steur, Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy opening up Everton for Harvey Barnes to slam home. It was consolation and nothing more than a small reward for the travelling Geordies, with some heading out before the lap of appreciation.
