Second victory in 24 hours fits the Bil nicely for the Magpies
NEWCASTLE United earned a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao to round off their pre-season schedule with a second victory in 24 hours.
Having beaten Serie A side Atalanta on Friday night, United then enjoyed a victory over the team that finished eighth in La Liga last term.
On a muggy afternoon at St James’ Park, the crowd of 46,856 saw Newcastle take full control of the game to storm 2-0 up in the second half.
And despite a late rally from Bilbao, who pulled a goal back through Raul Garcia and struck the post, Newcastle did enough to hold on for the win.
The Magpies started the game with the attacking intent supporters crave and after a couple of probing passes from Bruno Guimaraes to Allan Saint-maximin hadn’t quite paid off, United took the lead after four minutes.
It was Matt Ritchie who slipped the ball in for Callum Wilson with the number 9 taking a touch before applying a fine finish past Ander Iruarrizaga.
With eight minutes gone Saint-maximin cut the ball across the box and it eventually fell for Bruno, who struck a low shot at goal which Iruarrizaga gathered at the second attempt.
Ritchie won a corner with 18 minutes gone and, after rolling it short to Joe Willock, he clipped in a right-wing cross for Jamaal Lascelles but his header bounced wide.
Bruno sent over another attempt on 25 minutes as Newcastle
pressed for a second as they attacked the Leazes End.
The La Liga side struggled to create chances but Alejandro Berenguer curled an effort just wide on 32 minutes with the shot taking a deflection.
Willock was issued with a yellow card on 36 minutes after leaving his foot in on Iruarrizaga in the Athletic goal.
Two minutes later Oscar De Marcos forced Martin Dubravka into a save low down but the Slovakian international seemed to have it covered.
Australian referee Jarred Gillett had to get involved before the break as Ritchie and Inigo Martinez squared up after a clash, and the official did a good job in calming things down.
Bilbao had a chance in the closing stages of the first half when Inaki Willliams broke clear, but after cutting inside he could only direct his effort at the side-netting.
Newcastle went in with a slender lead but with more sharpness could easily have been further ahead.
Howe made no changes at half-time with the Magpies looking to get through the last 45 minutes of pre-season without any more injury issues.
Newcastle doubled their advantage with 54 minutes played as Joelinton’s careful dink down the left found Saintmaximin.
The Frenchman sprinted down the left before sweeping home past Iruarrizaga in front of the Gallowgate End.
Saint-maximin celebrated in style with a somersault before turning to the fans and kissing the badge, suggesting he is happy with his decision to stay at the club.
The visitors made a game of it when sub Raul Garcia powered home a header after a rightwing cross to end hope of a clean sheet. Garcia rose above Emil Krafth to make it 2-1 and set up an interesting finish to the friendly clash.
Berenguer had another pop at goal with 20 minutes remaining and was only marginally wide of the target.
Howe made a change when he brought on youngster Matty Bondswell for the last 20 minutes of the game with Dummett making way.
But Bilbao kept knocking on the door, with Inigo Martinez firing at Dubravka in the 72nd minute in search of an equaliser.
Inaki Williams should have done better with 15 minutes to go when he was presented with the ball at the front post from a right wing cross but he steered it wide as the La Liga side refused to give up.
Oier Zarraga tried an audacious attempt from long range with 12 minutes left with Dubravka needing two bites of the cherry to clear the danger.
And moments later Garcia again had a chance at the front post but his effort cracked the base of the post and rolled to safety.
Newcastle made a couple of late changes with Matty Longstaff and Lucas De Bolle getting cameos, and Saint-maximin and Bruno going off.
Wilson was then replaced by Santiago Munoz in stoppage time but the game was all over bar the shouting despite a late scare from Bilbao.
The real stuff gets under way against Nottingham Forest next Saturday when Howe will be hoping his side can control the game a little better than they did in the final half-hour against Bilbao.