Chris Hughton will not have been a happy bunny as his team was very lethargic in the final fixture before they travel to Old Trafford.
His starting line-up was obviously going to give an indication of his thinking ahead of the Manchester United clash, but the 4-5-1 formation had very little inspiration in a game the Toon never looked like winning.
Kevin Nolan played in support of lone striker Andy Carroll, and it hardly had the Rangers defenders breaking sweat.
Joey Barton went close within the first minute, heading Wayne Routledge's cross over the bar from ten yards, but the game quickly died away after that.
Routledge was a livewire on the right of midfield, but Carroll had barely touched the ball in an attacking capacity when Rangers claimed the lead in the 24th minute.
Steven Whittaker crossed from the left, and Miller ghosted ahead of an out-of-position Fabricio Coloccini to head home from six yards.
Rangers posed an aerial threat throughout, and Madjid Bougherra came close to grabbing a second when he headed Steven Davis' free-kick narrowly over the bar five minutes into the second half.
Steve Harper turned Kirk Broadfoot's rising drive over the top shortly after, but Rangers deservedly doubled their lead in the 66th minute.
Nolan conceded possession sloppily in midfield, and after Davis fashioned an excellent through ball to take both centre-halves out of the game, Naismith slotted a low finish past Harper.
Lovenkrands got a great reception from Gers fans when he came on as sub for Jonas Gutierrez, and it took the striker less than a minute to reduce Newcastle's arrears.
Nolan played a one-two with Shola Ameobi, and Lovenkrands was on hand to tap home the rebound after the midfielder's shot had been saved by Allan McGregor.
This spurred on Newcastle and Ameobi's header was deflected wide and McGregor saved well from Lovenkrands in the final ten minutes.
RANGERS: McGregor; Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac (Wylde 63); Naismith (Velicka 82), Davis (Hutton 82), Edu, McCulloch (Shinnie 71), Whittaker; Miller (Lafferty 63).
Subs (not used): Alexander (gk), McMillan, Little, Campbell.
NEWCASTLE: Harper; Perch (Tavernier 81), Coloccini (Ferguson 81), Williamson, Enrique (R Taylor 56); Routledge (Xisco 83), Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez (Lovenkrands 69); Carroll (Ameobi 46).
Sub (not used): Krul (gk).
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2010/11
Pre-season: CARLISLE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Best, Ranger, Vuckic)
Harper (Krul 46), Tavernier (R Taylor 46), Coloccini (S Taylor 46) (Henderson 81), Williamson (Perch 46), Enrique (Ferguson 46), Inman (Routledge 46), Smith (Barton 46), Nolan (Guthrie 46), LuaLua (Vuckic 46) , Carroll (Best 46), Lovenkrands (Ranger 46).
Pre-season: NORWICH CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ameobi)
Krul, Taylor (Routledge 45), Tavernier, Coloccini (Williamson 45), Diaz (Ferguson 57); Ranger (Xisco 45), Barton (Smith 45), Nolan (Guthrie 45), Vuckic (Edmundsson 72); Best (Lovenkrands 45), Carroll (Ameobi 45).
Pre-season: NEWCASTLE 2 PSV EINDHOVEN 2 (R.Taylor, Best)
Harper, Perch, Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Guthrie, Nolan, Smith, Ryan Taylor, Lovenkrands, Ameobi. Subs: Carroll, Xisco, Best, LuaLua, Krul, Vuckic, Ranger, Donaldson, Tavernier.
Pre-season: DEPORTIVO 0 NEWCASTLE 0 (NUFC win 5-4 on penalties - Lovenkrands, Nolan, Carroll, R Taylor, Barton)
Harper (Krul 46); R Taylor, Perch (Tavernier 52), Coloccini, Enrique; Routledge, Barton, Guthrie (Nolan 46), Xisco (Gutierrez 46); Carroll, Best (Lovenkrands 73). Subs (not used): Smith, Ferguson
Pre-season: RANGERS 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lovenkrands)
Harper; Perch (Tavernier 81), Coloccini (Ferguson 81), Williamson, Enrique (R Taylor 56); Routledge (Xisco 83), Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez (Lovenkrands 69); Carroll (Ameobi 46).