Sat 24th July - Norwich 2 Newcastle 1

[trophy4toon]

Main thing with pre season friendlies being to give everyone a run out and avoid any injuries this match seems to have done it's job in the early stages of pre season preperation

Newcastle team first half:
                            Krul
Ryan Taylor       Tavernier   Coloccini     Enrique
Ranger      Barton       Nolan         Vuckic
               Best        Carroll

second half 

                        Krul
Routledge  Tavernier   Williamson    Enrique
Xisco      Smith   Guthrie        Vuckic
               Ameobi     Lovenkrands

with second half subs:
Ferguson for Enrique (57 minutes)
Edmundsson for Vuckic (72 minutes)

Referee: Fred Graham (Essex)
Attendance: 13,195

There were 1,500 dedicated Geordie fans in attendence many of whom making the long trip down to Norwich from Newcastle no doubt.

Ameobi scored our goal and main talking point before the game was that Fraser Forster's return to Norwich was ruined by an injury which ruled him out of the game leaving Tim Krul to play the whole game as Steve Harper had been rested.

Also a bit of a mixed up team second half with Routledge playing right back and Xisco right midfield. 

[trophy4toon]

and the goals on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4HB56KvEiI 

Judging from the clips on here the match looks to have been a pretty laid back affair for the Newcastle players.

Even Xisco is smiling !!

[CraigDoyle]

Is it concerning that I find Xisco to be a preferable alternative to Leon Best?