27mins United 'keeper Fraser Forster made a two-handed save to tip over a shot at the expense of a corner, but when that was only half-cleared, Jordan Henderson sent over a low centre for Swedish forward Rade Prica to bundle home. 0-1

42mins Prompted by Kavanagh, through United's defence and although Colback's shot from the edge of the box hit the post, it rebounded into the net via Forster's back 0-2

43mins Almost immediately though, Jonny Godsmark netted from close range on 43 minutes to halve the deficit - despite looking suspiciously offside. 1-2

Half time: Newcastle 1 mackems 2

Full time: Newcastle 1 mackems 2

Adam Sadler said:

“There were a few stern words at half-time.

“In the second half we were better and a hell of a lot closer to the performance I know we can put in.

“Basically, I pointed out a few home truths. I laid down the law a bit and gave them a shove in the right direction. It’s OK saying all of those things, but it’s up to the lads to put that into action.

“Pleasingly, they did that during the second half.

“It’s been a long pre-season for us. We have been in since June 30 and we have probably been starved of games for that period for the reserve-team group.

“That is based on the first-team situation because Kevin Keegan has had to use some of the reserve-team players to bolster his squad. Therefore the first game was a long time in coming for us. However, I am disappointed with our first-half performance last night.

“I would have expected the lads to show more work ethic and desire - we’re only one game in.

“It was great that our first game was against Sunderland and at St James’s Park.But we will take every game on its merit and try to learn from the team mistakes and individual mistakes.

“We will show the lads a video of the game. It is a teaching process that we are in and we are trying to maximise player potential. This team is about development – it isn’t about winning.

“It’s nice to win. We created enough chances to win it but there were pleasing things to come from the game.

“Nile has been here two weeks. We are still assessing him to see where he is at. We have to wait and see, he can still play for the under-18s too.

“In the next 12 months we want to get as many games under his belt at all levels. We will see how far we can take him, and who knows, if his attitude remains as good as it has in the last two weeks.”

United's second string got their league season underway on Monday evening at SJP, but after giving the visitors a two goal start proved incapable of rescuing a point.

A ragged opening spell from the Magpies saw them looking disjointed going forward and uncertain in defence, where stand-in right back James Marwood had a busy night.

With the experienced Graham Kavanagh finding acres of space in the mackem midfield, the visitors looked the more dangerous and took the lead after 27 minutes.

Little had been seen of the home side by that point as an attacking force, although debutant striker Nile Ranger had looked confident on the ball when striding forward.

Within ten minutes Prica had missed another chance when Fraser Forster failed to meet a cross, but the Magpies 'keeper was to feature as the visitors doubled their lead.

Prompted by Kavanagh, the mackems cut through United's defence and although Jack Colback's shot from the edge of the box hit the post, it rebounded into the net via Forster's back.

Almost immediately though, Jonny Godsmark netted from close range on 43 minutes to halve the deficit - despite looking suspiciously offside.

An improvement was required by the home side and to their credit they did push forward in search of a leveller - although a tiring Kavanagh may have also been a factor.

Forster did well to come off his line and block a Stokes effort before attention switched to the other end, with Mark Doninger cutting into the box but seeing his shot deflected wide.

United striker Fabio Zamblera belatedly got into the game with two runs into the box, neither which saw him able to get a shot on target.

Faring rather better was Nile Ranger though, who created a chance for himself on 65 minutes with a mazy run before blasting a rising shot that Nick Colgan did well to tip over.

The first of two Newcastle penalty appeals for handball came a minute later as Adam Sadler's side kept up the pressure with an end product.

And after Ranger headed Doninger's free kick over the bar, Frank Danquah roused himself on 76 minutes with a raking shot that crashed off the mackem crossbar.

Three minutes of added time brought more pressure and a second handball shout that led to a mass appeal from toon players - although from the stand it looked like

So a second successive victory on Tyneside for the red and white reserves, as Newcastle's casual approach ultimately allowed their opponents to get their noses in front.

The contribution of veteran Kavanagh was pivotal - and on a night when Chelsea's second string included Didier Drogba, United's squad limitations denied them any such experience.  

Surely Joey Barton could have added to his four minutes in our colours in as many months with a runout though?  

Biffa

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