Newcastle United kicked off their tour of New Zealand by thumping A-League outfit Sydney FC 4-0 at the Forysth Barr Stadium in Dunedin this morning.
First-half goals from Siem de Jong, Emmanuel Riviere and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa handed the Magpies a comfortable lead at the interval over their Australian counterparts.
17-year-old Adam Armstrong was on hand to bag Newcastle's fourth of the morning after the 80-minute mark to cap an impressive pre-season run-out for the Premier League side.
Below, you can relive all of the action with Sports Mole's live commentary.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen and thanks for joining me, Shane, for Sports Mole's live coverage of Newcastle United's pre-season friendly with Sydney FC in Dunedin, New Zealand. Personally, I can think of few better ways to kick off the day.
Some enjoy a nice, strong cup of coffee to kick-start their day, while others simply opt for a bowl of Weetabix, but whatever your morning-time ritual, Sports Mole will blow it out of the water today because what can compare to waking up to a spot of footie?
Right, lets get cracking on team news for this morning's clash at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, shall we?
Sydney FC: Necevski Ryall Petkovic Gameiro Ibini Ognenovski Antonis Carle Abbas Brosque Gersbach
Sydney FC Subs: Janjetovic Jurman Triantis Dimitrijevic Timetheou Burgess Muata-Marlow
Newcastle United: Elliot; Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, S.Taylor, Haidara; Anita, Colback; Gouffran, de Jong, Aarons; Riviere
Newcastle United Subs: Alnwick, Abeid, Ameobi, Armstrong, Campbell, Dummett, Perez, Satka, Vuckic, Woodman
I suppose the main talking point for the Magpies' selection this morning is that of the inclusion of Emmanuel Riviere. The Frenchman is poised for his Newcastle debut after his £6m deal from AS Monaco last week. Meanwhile, fellow summer signing Siem de Jong supports Riviere in attack at the Forysth Barr Stadium, while Jack Colback, a Bosman signing from Sunderland, sits in midfield.
Sydney, meanwhile, take on the Premier League outfit without the services of Shane Smeltz, who will be bitterly disappointed to miss this encounter. The New Zealand international would've been guaranteed a hero's welcome by his compatriots having earned some 50 caps for the All Whites, but injury has ruled the veteran striker out of the clash.
The rest of the squad are out on the pitch in Dunedin. Kick-off v @SydneyFC coming up shortly after 8:30am BST. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/LxoS9rWfRt
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 22, 2014
As mentioned in my introduction, Newcastle head into this one having lost their opening pre-season encounter to League One outfit Oldham Athletic, but will lightning strike twice for the Magpies? Stay tuned to find out. We're about 10 minutes away from kickoff folks!
PREDICTION! Right, kickoff is rapidly approaching so why not offer a prediction for this jovial affair? Upon asking my magic eight ball if Sydney FC could follow in Oldham Athletic's foot steps and shock the Geordies this summer, it replied: "Yes, definitely". That classy gadget has helped me make some pretty tough life decisions so I'll remain loyal to it and say Sydney 2-1.
On a sombre note, there are tragic undertones lining this morning's clash as two Newcastle fans - John Adler and Liam Sweeney - were among the 298 victims when flight MH17 was shot out of the sky over Ukraine in last week's tragedy. The die-hard supporters were en route to watch this very game and there is scheduled to be a minutes silence in memory of the pair, while both sets of players will also wear black armbands as a mark of respect.
Manager Alan Pardew and captain Fabricio Coloccini will also lay wreaths on John and Liam's seats ahead of kick-off. pic.twitter.com/VqjIUZdr5B
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 22, 2014
Above, you can see a poignant image as wreaths are laid on the two seats where Mr Adler and Mr Sweeney would have been sitting this morning.
Right, kickoff is imminent here folks as both sets of players make their way out on to the field to mass applause from the Kiwis.
The faces of Mr Adler and Mr Sweeney fill the big screen inside the Forsyth Barr Stadium as the minutes silence is completed. Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini looked visibly emotional throughout, understandably so.
KICKOFF! The Magpies get us underway in Dunedin folks! Stay tuned as I'll be your eyes and ears for the next two hours ladies and gents.
It's only a friendly but try telling Jack Colback that! The former Sunderland midfielder is treating this one like a Tyne-Wear derby, stifling the Aussie outfit early on by producing some rough challenges. You can take the boy out of the North East.....
Massadio Haidara gallops down the left-hand flank but, after evading a number of challenges, his ball across the goal face is met by nobody. This could be a long morning for the Aussie outfit, you know; Alan Pardew's side look by far the fitter of both teams, understandably as Sydney are in the very early stages of their pre-season
Emmanuel Riviere gets his first sniff at goal as a Newcastle player but the Frenchman is unable to turn home Vurnon Anita's teasing cross.
Graham Arnold's Sydney side are slowly growing into this one. They're knocking it around it far comfier than they were at the beginning of the contest, growing in confidence with every touch it seems.
Incase you were wondering, Remy Cabella and Daryl Janmaat are not on this tour, having traveled with their respective nation - France and the Netherlands - to the World Cup this summer. Alan Pardew has done some fine business this summer ahead of the 2014-15 Premier League campaign. Two internationals, established club-level talents such as Siem de Jong and Emmanuel Riviere, as well as a steely force such as Colback
GOAL! Sydney FC 0-1 Newcastle United (Siem de Jong)
The Magpies have the lead in Dunedin ladies and gentleman and it's Siem de Jong, who bags his second goal of pre-season. Two summer recruits combined as Emmanuel Riviere capitalised on a mis-kick from the Sydney goalkeeper, before squaring to De Jong who tapped into an empty net. It's an absolute howler from Ivan Necevski, it really is.
Sydney looking quite punch-drunk since conceding the opener and they're slightly fortunate just to be the one down, as Newcastle nearly scramble home a corner for their second in quick succession.
GOAL! Sydney FC 0-2 Newcastle United (Emmanuel Riviere)
Yep, it's two in New Zealand folks and Emmanuel Riviere has bagged a debut goal to double Newcastle's advantage on the 25-minute mark. Yohan Gouffran, who had missed a good chance moments earlier, made amends by teeing up the United new boy to tap past Ivan Necevski from close range. Certainly no sign of jet lag from the visitors following a 12,000 mile trip!
Brilliant work from Vurnon Anita there as he literally runs rings around Alex Gersbach to win Newcastle a free kick agonisingly close to the penalty area. If there was ever a moment to sum up the difference in class between the sides it's going to be that!
GOAL! Sydney FC 0-3 Newcastle United (Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa)
Okay, it's slowly turning into a rout here my friends as Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa makes it three. The Frenchman takes aim from outside the box but his effort takes a major deflection en route to nestling in the bottom right-hand corner. Anyone want to buy a magic eight ball?
Sydney still knocking possession around with a degree of comfort but it's on the counter attack where they need to be alert. They still need to break down this Newcastle defence if they are to bag a consolation, though, and they're yet to a register a shot of any description so it's not looking good.
Siem de Jong flashes a free kick narrowly wide of the post as Newcastle look to add a fourth before the half-time whistle. We may well be looking at wholesale changes for the second half as Pardew might look to preserve some of the side's energy. Would you be happy to travel 12,000 miles and sit on the bench? Me neither.
HALF TIME: We've reached the midway point of this one ladies and gents and Newcastle take a comfortable three-goal lead into the break. There's an advertisement for Bubble Cabs around the perimeter of the field, and it was taxi for Ivan Necevski on 18 minutes, as the keeper's clanger allowed Siem de Jong to tap Newcastle into the lead, before further goals from Emmanuel Riviere and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa have all-but ended this as a contest.
Of course, this is just part one of a two-match tour of New Zealand, as Alan Pardew's side face Wellington Phoenix on Saturday and Sports Mole will have live coverage of that one aswell so stick it down in your diaries!
Right we're back underway in Dunedin my friends and there's only one change to tell you about as Haris Vuckic replaces Siem de Jong. Expect many more throughout the duration of this clash.
Newcastle have started the half very much as dominant as they ended the first 45 minutes but are yet to really threaten a fourth, while Sydney have a steep uphill task if they are to score a goal, let alone three of them!
SUBSTITUTION: Emmanuel Riviere makes his way off the field, high-fiving Newcastle's coaching and playing staff after marking his debut with a goal. The Frenchman is replaced by fellow summer recruit Ayoze Perez, who will hope to bag his first Magpies goal this morning. You certainly wouldn't back against it.
CHANCE! Haris Vuckic almost has a tap-in before Fabricio Coloccini also had a chance following Jack Colback's teasing corner.
SUBSTITUTION: Sydney make their first change as Peter Triantis replaces Alex Brosque. Will that substitution bring about much change for the Aussies' fortunes? Stay tuned to find out!
SAVE! Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot is finally called into action, parrying away Corey Gameiro's goal-bound shot as Sydney register their first shot on target! That in itself is cause for celebration.
If you're just joining us then hello, and note that Newcastle lead Sydney FC 3-0 courtesy of first-half goals from Siem de Jong, Emmanuel Riviere and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. The Magpies' bid to add a fourth has proven fruitless thus far, but with 24 minutes left, there is plenty of time.
CHANCE! And just as I write that, Ayoze Perez comes closest to adding to United's four-goal haul, firing narrowly over the bar from an acute angle. The 20-year-old, who signed for the Magpies for a fee in the region of £1.5m from Tenerife, has looked promising since replacing Riviere earlier.
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: There's four more fresh legs out there now as Rolando Aarons and Jack Colback make way for Sammy Ameobi and Mehdi Abeid respectively.
TREBLE SUB: Three more substitutions to tell you about now as Newcastle introduce Adam Armstrong, Paul Dummet and Lubo Satka for the last 15 minutes or so. Massadio Haidara, Yoan Gouffran and Steven Taylor are those to leave the field.
This is part one of a double-header on Sports Mole today, by the way folks. Later, we'll be bringing you live coverage of Celtic's second leg Champions League qualifier with KR Reykjavik at Murrayfield.
GOAL! Sydney FC 0-4 Newcastle United (Armstrong)
Second-half substitute Adam Armstrong bags Newcastle's fourth of the morning folks, receiving Perez's pass before cutting inside his marker to fire the Magpies' first of the second half. The 17-year-old showed excellent composure and awareness to fool the defender en route to scoring, perhaps giving Alan Pardew food for thought ahead of the new campaign!
CHANCE! Sydney go so, so close to a consolation, and it would've been goal of the evening! Substitute Peter Triantis let fly from outside the area and his volley sails narrowly wide. They don't quite deserve a goal on the balance of play, but you wouldn't begrudge the A-League outfit one this morning.
The vocal Newcastle fans chant "we want five", and the fourth official has appeased the traveling support by giving them five minutes of additional time. It's not quite what they meant, but there's plenty of time left to make it a five-star showing!
It doesn't look like the Magpies' fans will get their fifth as a little over one minute remain in Dunedin this morning. Still, they can't be too displeased, can they?
FULL TIME: The referee has seen enough and blown up some 50 seconds early as Newcastle cruised to a 4-0 victory at the Forysth Barr Stadium in Dunedin this morning.
Siem de Jong got the rout underway, tapping into an empty net following a dreadful error by Ivan Necevski. Emmanuel Riviere marked his United debut by adding the second, before Mapou Yanga-Mbwia's deflected effort gave Newcastle a three-goal half-time lead. And 17-year-old Adam Armstrong was then on hand to cap the win by adding a fourth in the final 10 minutes.
Well, that's it from me folks. Thank you for joining Sports Mole's live coverage of the encounter and I'll see you next time. Have a lovely day!
