A smart strike from Joelinton in first half added time gave Newcastle a winning start to the season on Saturday - despite having to play with ten men for over an hour.

What had been an indifferent encounter burst into life in the 28th minute when United gained a free kick in the centre circle - only for the focus to shift upfield to the Leazes penalty area that the hosts were defending.

A clash between Fabian Schar and Saint Ben Brereton-Diaz there that began when the visiting striker shoved the defender in the back ended with the pair locking horns before the Saint theatrically fell to the floor clutching his face. 

One onlooker later compared Brereton's subsequent writhing to that of that Australian lass who got zero points in the break dancing at the Olympics. Referee Craig Pawson however swallowed the bait and issued the Swiss international with a red card that a VAR check upheld. 

Brereton-Diaz escaping with a booking and incessant barracking from outraged home fans whenever he gained possession thereafter. One Sean Longstaff challenge on the bad actor prompted a crowd response akin to a goal celebration, although a switch of wings for Brereton-Diaz did fool some home followers into booing one of his long-haired colleagues.

The loss of Schar saw Jacob Murphy immediately replaced by Emil Krafth as Eddie Howe's side dropped into a 4-3-2 and a long afternoon of defending to try and grind out a point loomed.

However that script altered somewhat at the end of the half; a loose pass from Saints 'keeper Alex McCarthy falling to Alexander Isak. He set up Joelinton and he finished well to his obvious delight.

Foolhardy though Schar's actions were, they did have the the effect of galvanising colleagues and supporters alike, giving Newcastle a specific task to focus on that they had lacked at 11 versus 11. Taking the lead made that prize even more desirable and the collective work rate was enviable.

That spirit immediately manifested itself in the tunnel at half time when Dan Burn attempted to shake an opponent warmly by the throat and the whole side defended the Gallowgate goal with grim relish after the break.

A plethora of Saints corners were repelled and two opportunities in quick succession for Adam Armstrong to net against his old side were blocked - beginning with a fine intervention from Lewis Hall and then followed just seconds later by Nick Pope's timely tip-over. In between, Brereton-Diaz contrived to fire a rebound wide of the gaping goal.

As full time began to come into sight there was first appearance in our colours for Lloyd Kelly at left back and a return to the sh*thousery that was a hallmark of performances earlier in Howe's reign.

That included Nick Pope going to ground for treatment on a mysterious injury and some intelligent work from a clearly pumped-up Bruno to engineer free kicks where no indiscretion was immediately apparent....  

Regardless of Brereton-Diaz's sneaky conduct, Schar has to bear the blame for being suckered into a response that will sideline him for three matches - and increase the pressure on his club to part with an outrageous amount of money for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi or a comparable talent.

And so, an afternoon when the overcast conditions at times mirrored our mundanity ended on a high note with a morale-boosting outcome. What the performance may have lacked in panache was compensated for with guts and welcome demonstrations that lingering fitness issues for the likes of Joelinton and Longstaff appear to have been resolved.

The lack of wholesale changes to the squad during the close season meant that the team today had a familiar look and the collective spirit unsurprisingly remains. What lies beyond that though in terms of genuine uplifts before our 25 man selection is submitted is the £65m question. Plus add-ons.   
 
Biffa

For PDD - much missed.