Newcastle United’s week in steaming hot Tokyo looked to have taken its toll on Eddie Howe’s stretched squad as the Magpies lost for the first time this summer.
Even in the immediate aftermath Bruno Guimaraes admitted on a public address to the stadium that United put in a “tired” performance and weren’t at the right level. A goal in each half caused the damage for Newcastle with Howe’s team unable to finish when chances came their way.
It should be no major concern for United but Howe looked frustrated in his technical area with the messages he’s been pushing forward all week clearly not registering for some players.
The game kicked off in stifling 31-degree heat with supporters warned to drink water to avoid heat exhaustion on their way into Japan’s National Stadium. A superb backdrop at the 67,750 capacity venue saw Newcastle walk out to the Blaydon Races and then a blast of Local Hero on a humid night.
But the Yokohama fans were also keen to put on a show for their Premier League guests with a brass band and drummers making a constant racket behind the goal. Howe handed a debut to Lloyd Kelly in the heart of defence with the former Bournemouth man partnering Fabian Schar in the centre of defence.
Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento were named as full-backs again while Bruno Guimaraes got his first pre-season minutes and was handed the captain’s armband. Sean Longstaff and Joelinton made up the midfield three with Harvey Barnes, Alexander Isak and Miguel Almiron in attack.
Newcastle had a clear opening on nine minutes when Alexander Isak cut it back to Sean Longstaff but his effort was blocked. Yokohoma responded when Eijiro Takeda got free down the left and his effort clipped the bar.
It was heart in mouth stuff for Howe on 14 minutes when Isak went down in a heap after a collision with goalie Hiroki Ikura. Howe spoke with Isak about potentially coming off with the striker in pain but a decision was made to run it off.
The mid-table J-League side were a threat in the first quarter and created a few openings without finding a way past Odysseas Vlachodimos. Newcastle had an opportunity just after the mid-way point in the first half when Bruno played the ball over the top but Harvey Barnes wasted the chance and put it wide.
A short water break saw Isak spend more time talking to the Toon medics with the striker seeming to be complaining about his shoulder. Bruno sent an effort high over the bar on 32 minutes as Newcastle threatened again.
But moments later the home side snatched the lead after United switched off and a slick pass to the right for Keigo Sakakibara saw his cross fall perfectly for Elber who slotted home from close range in the 34th minute. The Magpies should have equalised three minutes before half-time when Barnes was played in by Bruno but he prodded tamely at the keeper for what was a real invitation to equalise.
Longstaff then attempted an audacious effort but went high and wide with Newcastle starting to look leggy in places. Howe’s boys went in 1-0 down at the break in Tokyo. Newcastle made a host of changes for the second half with Nick Pope Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Harrison Ashby, Jacob Murphy, Ben Parkinson and Travan Sanusi all coming on.
Isak, Livramento, Vlachodimos, Kelly, Schar, Barnes and Bruno all went off. United fell 2-0 behind when Murphy lost the ball down the right and while it seemed to go out of play, the move continued. A cross was zipped in and Jun Amano converted in the box to beat Nick Pope.
Longstaff sent a shot over the bar on 59 minutes with the ball taking a deflection and the corner wasted. Joelinton was replaced by Alfie Harrison and Jamal Lewis replaced Hall with 25 minutes left.
Parkinson was booked for a shove a minute later with things becoming heated on the field amid the searing tropical conditions. Murphy curled an effort wide on 77 minutes as Newcastle searched for a goal to haul them back into things.
Sanusi weaved a way through with 11 minutes left but his effort was deflected wide for a corner with substitute keeper William Popp watching the ball cleared to safety. It should have been 3-0 when Ryo Miyaichi had a chance right on the line but somehow missed when it looked easier to score after a cross had flashed past Burn.
Jay Turner-Cooke came on with three minutes to go as he replaced Sanusi who picked up a knock. But Newcastle had been second best and there was a subdued feel as they went over to applaud fans.
