There were mixed fortunes for two of England’s best supported Premiership clubs who come to Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Wednesday (17.15) for a pre-season challenge.
Everton lost 3-1 at VfB Stuttgart in Germany while Newcastle, minus Bruno Guimaraes but under new head coach, Matthias Jaissle, edged Valencia 2-1 in Spain.
First Everton under Glasgow-born manager, David Moyes. Thierno Barry netted for The Toffies from the penalty spot in an entertaining tussle at the MHP Arena in their fifth pre-season friendly and they made a fast start against the German outfit.
Beto went close twice but they went behind when Nikolas Nartey netted.
Everton continued on the front foot with Charly Alcaraz, Hayden Hackney and Tyler Dibling all having chances before the break.
The Merseyside club made a switch in the second half, brining on four substitutes, and Stuttgart struck. Ramon Hendricks scored with a header from a corner.
The visitors responded and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (pictured courtesy of Everton FC) found Barry who was fouled in the box as he rounded Stuttgart goalkeeper, Fabian Bredlow. He scored from the spot.
However, as Everton pushed for an equaliser, they were hit by a third from the home side when Badredine Bouanani scored.
In Spain, Jaissie collected silverware in his first match as a double from Yoane Wissa saw the Tyneside team recover from being a goal down, a tremendous strike from Filip Ugrinic who curled a shot into the top corner from around 25 yards.
Valencia, who finished ninth in La Liga last season, finished with ten men when Jose Luis Gaya was sent off for a challenge on Anthony Elanga who was stretchered off.
Early reports indicate that the injury is not as serious as once thought.
Goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, recently signed from Braga, made his debut and Miodrag Pivas made his first start for Newcastle while Malick Thiaw was made captain on his 25th birthday.
Vissa levelled after a defensive error, scoring through the legs of the Valancia goalkeeper, and the same player tapped home his second after great work from Bazoumana Toure down the left.
Meanwhile, United have confirmed that their skipper Guimaraes has joined Arsenal for a fee understood to be in the region of £75m.
The United website said it is one of the top ten transfer fees for a player aged 28 or over and a record fee for a player of his age and position combined.
The Brazilian made 195 appearances for the club and scored 31 goals and he said: “This is one of the toughest decisions of my life. I fell in love with this place (Newcastle). They did everything they could to keep me, but I wanted to experience something new.”
