Newcastle United's 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano was the ideal preparation for the League Cup last 16 assignment against AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
The impressive thing about it was that Eddie Howe continued to boom the orders around once the game became tight as he showed that even a friendly victory means the world to him as Toon boss. After the strange and unprecedented World Cup break, the real business is with us again from Tuesday.
And after a five-week drought with no domestic action the games now come thick and fast with Newcastle's season to be defined in the next month with progression in both cups on offer and the chance to cement a European spot. A quick look around St James' Park today showed that the Magpies look like they are in no mood to give up anything without a fight.
