CHRIS CROSS ... Hughton faces baptism of fire in
the Championship
The Orient express simply swept a full-strength Toon
side away. Sure this was a friendly - but what a battering with the
start of Newcastle's Championship season just a fortnight away.
No manager, no new owner, and no hope on the evidence
of this hiding in East London. Caretaker boss Chris Hughton faces a
baptism of fire in the second tier.
Frail hopes built on a 100 per cent record in
pre-season friendlies were smashed as early as the fourth minute
when ex-Chelsea man Jimmy Smith headed home from Sean Thornton's
free kick.
And ex-Sunderland man Thornton must have enjoyed
scoring the second from the spot on 23 minutes.
Joey Barton scored a penalty of his own on the
half-hour to give Newcastle hope, but League One Orient grabbed a
spectacular third in the 53rd minute with a Scott McGleish overhead
kick.
Two minutes later it was all over as Tamika Mkandawire
scored the Os' fourth from close range.
Ryan Jarvis made it 5-1 on 83 minutes and Newcastle's
collapse was complete three minutes later when Harry Baker's cool
finish hit them for six.
Hughton tried to play down talk of a disaster, saying:
"This is a loss in a pre-season programme that has gone well so
far.
"It's what we expect in a pre-season period. Come
August 8, this group of lads will be all right. I'm happy with
these players."