Newcastle United signed off pre-season with an impressive performance against St-Etienne, although there weren't too many supporters in St James' Park to see it.
It may have been a slender win in the end for Steve Bruce, but he will delighted with the way his team played going forward and the amount of chances created in both halves.
On a day in which both Allan Saint-Maximin and Jetro Willems were handed debuts there was also a maiden SJP goal for Joelinton.
But with a crowd of just over 16,000 there could still be work to do be done for Bruce to convince stay away supporters.
The first real glimpse of goal came when Miguel Almiron picked up a loose ball on six minutes but after a 60-yard run he was eventually blocked by St Etienne skipper Loic Perrin.
United went forward again five minutes later but Almiron’s pass was a poor one as he tried to pick out home debutant Joelinton.
St Etienne’s first chance came after 20 minutes when Denis Bouanga got free down the left-hand side only for his shot to be sent over the bar much to the relief of Martin Dubravka.
With 23 minutes gone Fabian Schar - encouraged to shoot from long range on the back of last season’s heroics - sent an effort at goal but the ball ended up at the feet of Joelinton.
The number 9’s effort was snuffed out by a posse of St Etienne defenders and Newcastle wasted the resultant corner.
Newcastle though grabbed the lead five minutes before the break.
Schar’s pass forward dropped kindly for Joelinton before the Brazilian rounded the keeper and slotted into the net.
Javier Manquillo won a free-kick moments later but Jonjo Shelvey’s effort rattled the underside of the bar before being scrambled clear.
However, Newcastle were good value for their lead at half-time.
The chances continued in the second period for the Magpies.
Almiron broke free down the right-hand side but his effort was pushed away by the keeper low down with the second half just two minutes old.
Two minutes later a second free-kick chance fell the way of Shelvey but his 22-yard effort was parried away by ex-Monaco keeper Stepane Ruffier.
Another opportunity fell the way of Joelinton in the next attack but he headed wide after Manquillo’s cross.
Almiron was gifted one last chance to score before he was hooked after he cashed in on Perrin’s mistake.
But the Paraguay international blasted wide on what was a frustrating afternoon for him.
Just after the hour mark, Bruce introduced three changes as Allan Saint-Maximin, Jetro Willems and Yoshinori Muto entered the fray.
Within seconds the new boy from Nice dropped his shoulder and dinked a teasing cross into the penalty area but nobody could connect.
Muto then lashed home after a right-wing attack but the ref blew up for an infringement.
On 65 minutes Saint-Maximin had a go from outside the box but Ruffier got down to palm the ball to safety.
Muto had a second chance in the space of a few minutes but again the French international dealt well with a powerful attempt.
On 73 minutes, though, it was 19-year-old Academy product Matty Longstaff that stole the show.
The teenage midfielder took a touch before firing home a 20-yard scorcher to mark his senior home debut in superb style.
It was a moment to savour for the youngster but it also bought the Geordie crowd to their feet as rapturous applause greeted his maiden goal.
With five minutes left St Etienne pulled one back from a corner as old boy Mathieu Debuchy rose highest from a corner to beat Dubravka and reduce arrears.
But Newcastle held out for a first St James’ Park win for Steve Bruce.