Newcastle United are taking on Espanyol at St. James’ Park in a pre-season friendly and here are the player ratings from the first half.
After a dreary summer, Newcastle United returned to St. James’ Park on Friday for the first of their two pre-season friendlies on home soil.
Eddie Howe has been unable to dispel the misery of the transfer window on the pitch so far, with Newcastle yet to win in four games.
Things didn’t start well against Espanyol, either, with the La Liga outfit taking the lead through Edu Exposito’s brilliant strike after 16 minutes.
A flat game then came to life as Newcastle levelled five minutes later through a rare Matt Targett goal.
Targett was involved with everything and he gave away a penalty, which was saved by debutant Aaron Ramsdale.
Just as things were getting fiesty, the half-time whistle blew with the scores level.
Here’s how the players rated in the first half.
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Aaron Ramsdale – 7
Didn’t take long for him to concede his first goal as a Newcastle player, but there was little he could do about Exposito’s thunderous strike from outside the box.
When the next shot came his way, it was from the penalty spot and he saved it. Not a bad way to ingratiate yourself with your new fans.
Emil Krafth – 6
Not the fastest player at right-back but did his best to offer support to Murphy, even if it was as more of a passing option than with an overlapping run. Wasn’t able to put in a good cross when in threatening positions.
Fabian Schar – 6
Wasn’t given much to do but won the ball when he had to.
Dan Burn – 6
Alert to balls coming into the box and cut out some seeking passes. Not tested much aside from that, though.
Lewis Hall – 7
Back in the side for his first start since his season was cut short by injury and he was back to bombing down the flank after just two minutes.
Espanyol did get down past him a couple of times but that rustiness can be expected after so long out.
Swapped into midfield throughout the half and was good on the ball.
Bruno Guimaraes – 7
Played some delightful cross-field passes and throughballs and the rough and tumble side of his game was never far away, as ever.
Lewis Miley – 7.5
Given the central sitting role rather than one of the two No.8 positions and seemed to suit it well. Moved the ball nicely to his fellow midfielders. However, he still got forward and teed up the leveller with a tantalising cross.
Looks like he’s been learning from Sandro Tonali with his line-breaking runs into the box from deep.
Matt Targett – 8
Of all the possible ways Newcastle could have lined up from looking at the teamsheet, not many would have predicted Targett to be the one in midfield.
Howe has tried that once before but the left-back lasted just a minute before picking up an injury. Thankfully, he lasted longer this time and actually looked really tidy in the role.
There was some nice interplay with Hall and Park and he got forward well, especially when he charged into the box to head home Miley’s inviting cross.
Given he lost the ball for Espanyol to score, it was some instant redemption for Targett. Yet, that redemption was nearly thrown away when he gave away the penalty, but Ramsdale saved him.
Jacob Murphy – 7.5
Newcastle’s creative force. Jacob Murphy was positive whenever he got on the ball and gave fans the sense that something could happen when he was on it, like he did with his throughball that led to the equaliser.
William Osula – 6.5
Worked hard as ever and it was his determined build-up play that helped create the equaliser. Not much end product otherwise, though.
Park Seung-soo – 7
Given his first start for the club after two promising cameos off the bench in his homeland and was clearly eager to impress. If not too eager.
Park Seung-soo had the home fans dazzled with his quick feet but probably needs to learn when a trick isn’t needed and a cross is. Gets into great positions with his skill but his final ball might need work.
Nice to have something exciting, though!
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