After 38 minutes of pre-season activity, the game paused as the PA announcer informed Ibrox it was time to bid farewell to an icon.
Allan McGregor was embraced by his team-mates in the centre-circle. He applauded the fans. Walking to the touchline, he took handshakes from Michael Beale and Eddie Howe.
Most significantly of all, he put his arm around Jack Butland and spoke a few words of encouragement into the ear of his successor. If you wanted a changing-of-the-guard image, this was it.
A final goodbye for McGregor. And the start of a new era. Butland knows he has sizeable gloves to fill, but the opportunity is there to create his own Rangers story. Fittingly, given his trade, it’s one he is determined to grasp.
The handover moment encapsulated why a sell-out crowd was inside Ibrox, forcing a short delay to kick-off.
Rangers supporters came out in force to pay tribute to Allan McGregor on his testimonial
McGregor was replaced late in the first half by Jack Butland in the changing of the guard
Miguel Almiron opened the scoring for Newcastle with a first time finish past McGregor
Supporters came to pay tribute to a hero of the recent past on McGregor’s testimonial night. A first sighting of potential future heroes provided further allure.
Beale used five of his seven summer signings, with one of them – Sam Lammers – providing an equaliser to cancel out Miguel Almiron’s first half goal. Youngster Harrison Ashby eventually won it for Newcastle with an 88th minute looping header.
Being the ultra-competitive character he is, McGregor will doubtless be irked at conceding during his time on the pitch. After leaving Rangers when his contract expired at the end of last season, the 41-year-old had been back in training during recent days to sharpen up again.
No blame was attached to him, though. The little move that cut Rangers open was an exhibition of Newcastle’s abundant quality. In terms of finance, these two clubs are worlds apart.
Lammers, though, ensured there was a spell when they weren’t separated on the scoreline. While the results of pre-season games matter very little – and only a fool makes judgements on players based on performances within them – a narrow loss against an opponent of this calibre won’t do any harm to the confidence of a much-altered Ibrox squad.
Beale’s least surprising selection came with the identity of Rangers’ starting goalkeeper. After 505 competitive appearances for Rangers, McGregor made one last stand in front of supporters who have adored him for much of the past two decades.
A banner behind his goal summed up the sentiment: ‘Forever no.1’. The gratitude was replicated. Never the most willing participant when put before a microphone, McGregor kept his message short and sweet when asked to address the crowd pre-match.
‘It’s my night to say thank you to them all, as well,’ he said. ‘I’m a very modest and humble guy so I just thank everyone for coming.’
Sandro Tonali oozed quality for Newcastle as the £52 million signing made his debut
New signing Sam Lammers brought Rangers level in the second half after robbing Guimaraes
The Dutch forward fired past Karl Darlow after the goalkeeper played Guimaraes into trouble
Around 8,000 did so from Tyneside. Newcastle fans took over the whole of the Broomloan Road stand, adding noise and a dash of black-and-white bedlam to an occasion that had far more crackle about it than a standard pre-season friendly.
It was mobbed around Ibrox long before kick-off, more in keeping with a Champions League night.
Rangers, of course, hope a rematch in that arena might be a possibility. With Newcastle already secure in the group stages, Beale’s side must come through two qualifying rounds next month to join them there.
Preparations have now been cranked up a gear. With further friendlies against Hamburg, Olympiacos and Hoffenheim to come, this was an opportunity for Rangers to hone match fitness against top-class opposition.
Eddie Howe handed a Newcastle debut to new £52 million midfielder Sandro Tonali. Unsurprisingly, the ex-AC Milar star oozed quality.
Nothing excessively flamboyant, more just an acute appreciation of space and flawless technique.
Tonali was involved as Newcastle took the lead on 16 minutes. He was the pivot for a one-two with Elliot Anderson, releasing the Scotland Under-21 cap into space for a through-ball to Almiron. The Paraguayan coolly angled a low shot past McGregor and inside the far post.
Rangers had been pinned in just before conceding. It was a theme of an opening half hour played almost entirely in their half. Newcastle’s class was clear.
Harrison Ashby scored a late winner for Newcastle with a looping header over Jack Butland
Newcastle’s players applauded the 8,000 travelling fans who made the trip to Ibrox
McGregor ended the night by conducting a lap of honour in front of the Rangers supporters
The hosts finally picked a hole at the other end when Lammers twisted to get the ball onto his right foot before drawing a fairly straightforward save from Loris Karius. Kieran Dowell then dragged a strike wide, with Todd Cantwell doing the same under pressure after being found by his former Norwich team-mate.
Brighton loanee Abdallah Sima joined Lammers and Dowell in gaining a start. He was always a willing runner but couldn’t fashion a chance similar to his fellow newcomers.
After Butland replaced McGregor, Beale made two more changes at half-time. Fashion Sakala and the returning Leon Balogun stepped in for Dowell and Ben Davies.
Howe made seven alterations, including the introduction of Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian would soon have his pocket picked by Lammers.
In fairness, he was played into trouble by a poor pass from substitute goalkeeper Karl Darlow. Lammers pressed in flash, nicking possession and finding the net. After just two goals in Serie A last season, this was a decent start in his new surroundings.
Ashby then gave Newcastle the win, but there was no mistaking to whom the night belonged. McGregor ended it with a lap of honour.
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