Newcastle were held to a 2-2 draw by Espanyol after coming within two minutes of a first pre-season victory.
Fresh from their tour of the Far East, the Magpies were rocked at home after Edu Exposito gave the visitors an early lead.
The hosts responded immediately however through Matt Targett and looked set to claim the win they have been searching for when Jacob Murphy put them in front less than 15 minutes from time.
Ultimately though it was not to be as former Middlesbrough striker Kike Garcia popped up to net a late equaliser for Javi Chica’s side.
Daily Mail Sport chief football reporter, Craig Hope, was at St James’ Park, and here are his five take-aways…
Newcastle had to settle for a draw after taking on Espanyol in their final pre-season fixture
Former Middlesbrough man Kike Garcia headed home a late leveller for Javi Chica’s visitors
Ramsdale makes his case
There was an assumption that Nick Pope would start the season as Newcastle’s No.1. Aaron Ramsdale does not seem so willing to accept that likelihood. The Southampton loanee made his Newcastle debut here and saved a first-half penalty when flying low to his right to keep out Javier Puado’s effort.
The goals the Spaniards did score were pretty much unstoppable, even with Ramsdale and Pope between the posts. Edu Exposito’s hit from 25 yards was fast, accurate and was bending away from the goalkeeper from the moment it left his boot, while Kike Garcia’s late header for 2-2 was flashed home from close range.
But Ramsdale looked assured, with both hands and feet. He will back himself to take the starting jersey – even if over time – and this performance did him no harm in that regard. He looks like he’s got a cheeky confidence that the Geordies will like, too.
Aaron Ramsdale endeared himself to the Newcastle faithful in his first start at St James’ Park
Southampton loanee looked assured between the sticks in what proved to be a busy evening
Magpies need a break
Another pre-season game and a fifth without a win for Newcastle. These results aren’t important, say the majority. But when you have taken the battering that Newcastle have this summer, the optics of a victory cannot be under-estimated.
They came within two minutes of getting it and that would have felt like light relief amid the off-field noises that continues to dominate anything they have done from a footballing perspective in recent weeks. They so badly need a break, on or off the pitch right now.
Striker search nears completion
There is renewed hope of a transfer breakthrough early next week, with Yoane Wissa’s proposed move to Tyneside inching closer. It feels like inching, given this deal has been more than two weeks in the making.
Brentford need to find a replacement for the forward and are in talks to sign Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara. If this progresses over the weekend, discussions around a £35million package for Wissa will resume. His representatives have flown into London to oversee the deal.
Elsewhere on the incoming front, Milan defender Malick Thiaw is the only other player actively being pursued. This following a day of wild rumour around the club’s transfer activity, which some sources described as ‘absolute nonsense’.
It should be noted, too, there was no sign of Alexander Isak at St James’ Park, with Eddie Howe excluding the want-away Swede from first-team training this week.
Progress is being made as the club inch closer to agreeing a deal for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa
Targett’s eventful evening
Matt Targett had an eventful night. On the subject of wild rumour, a social media post claiming he had been left behind by the club in the Far East was given a mention on TV coverage of this game.
He then gave the ball away for Espanyol’s opener, headed the equaliser after arriving ‘late’ in the goalmouth and conceded the penalty that was saved by Ramsdale. He did all of this whilst operating in midfield, such is Newcastle’s shortage of numbers in that department.
The left back was moved to his favoured position after half-time, but the likelihood remains that he will struggle for game-time this season, especially as this match marked the return of Lewis Hall, the England left back who missed the final months of last season with a foot injury.
Matt Targett went from hero to villain after he conceded the penalty that was saved by Ramsdale
Park puts St James’ on their feet
Seung-soo Park was given his home debut after impressing on the Far East tour, and the 18-year-old was again the most exciting thing about Newcastle going forward. The end-product was not there, but the speed, skill and bravery was.
Park, like his South Korean compatriot Son Seung-min, has a wonderful ability to go, stop and go again, leaving defenders trailing. He did that on a few occasions here and, each time, it got the home fans out of their seats.
You can see why Howe wants to keep him around the first team during pre-season, when the plan was originally for him to spend time with the under-age groups. A rare ray of light for the Magpies this summer.
