EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 12: Tyrique George of Everton celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the pre-season friendly match between Newcastle United and Everton at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on August 12, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Tyrique George celebrates scoring Everton's third and final goal against Newcastle United(Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
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The ‘oles’ started with more than 15 minutes to go and oh how the travelling Blues loved them.
They followed the opportunity to sing ‘cheerio’ to the disappointed Newcastle United supporters after Tyrique George added the gloss to a good night in Edinburgh with a lovely finish to end an excellent move with Harrison Armstrong.
There are few teams Everton supporters would choose over the Magpies for a morale-boosting win on the eve of the Premier League season. After stuttering in Stuttgart, this handsome victory was a welcome tonic for a fanbase that, like many in the top flight this summer, is not sure what to expect from the upcoming campaign.
Newcastle had started the brightest but their momentum was halted on the half hour mark when Thierno Barry put the Blues ahead with another goal during a promising pre-season for the France youth international.
His touch past Sven Botman on the halfway line took him through on goal as Everton countered - only for his attack to come to a shuddering end as he ran into Lewis Hall on the edge of the box.
After Iliman Ndiaye was challenged, Armstrong salvaged the loose ball and picked out Barry to slot past Lukas Hornicek. It was the striker's third goal of a productive summer that has also seen him create one for Merlin Rohl, at Hamburg, and have one controversially disallowed at Bolton Wanderers.
Everton's Thierno Barry (right) celebrates scoring his side's first goal against Newcastle United (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
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The 23-year-old had the advantage in the battle to lead Everton’s forward line even before Beto's struggle in Stuttgart on Saturday. It would now be a surprise to see him consigned to the bench against Crystal Palace on the first day of the season.
Another player who will start the Premier League curtain raiser is Ndiaye, who doubled the lead with a penalty won by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to give the Blues a healthy lead at the end of the half.
Everton had not had it all their own way, with Mark Travers forced into two good saves in the opening 45 minutes. He was required again right at the start of the second half, stopping from Jacob Murphy to prevent the Magpies from earning a foothold in the game.
Once that danger was cleared, Everton took control - dominating the ball before and after the swathe of substitutions made by both sides. Dewsbury-Hall forced Hornicek into a good save from a free-kick and George and Adam Aznou both had efforts from outside the edge of the box as they grew in confidence.
The highpoint came with George’s excellent strike - his first in Royal Blue - and Harvey Barnes’ late consolation from close range did little to sour a promising night that came at a good time for David Moyes and his side.
*For transparency, Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley arrived at Murrayfield midway through the first half after breaking down on the way. Paul Wheelock reported off the club's live stream before their arrival.