Some fans voted with their feet for this clash after a summer which has resulted in little cheer in the transfer market
Newcastle players Will Osula (l) and Lewis Hall (r)
Alexander Isak's absence could not be covered up by Newcastle United's penultimate friendly clash against Espanyol - in fact any concerns in the striker departing will be merely amplified by this performance.
True, Newcastle scored twice, but if Matt Targett is the answer to United's goal scoring issues, then I'm not sure what the question is! Jacob Murphy's second goal of pre-season looked like it had secured Newcastle's first pre-season victory before a late nod off handed the Spaniards a deserved draw.
Isak was not even in the stands, and while William Osula and Sean Neave were handed further chances up front, they could do nothing to change the narrative for Howe this summer.
Two inexperienced youngsters are not going to fill the void left by Isak, who continues to wait in the background for a move to Liverpool.
It made for a subdued atmosphere at St James' Park with 20,000 empty seats telling their own story. This game never captured the imagination given the standard of the opposition but those who stayed away missed very little.
Newcastle are heading into dangerous territory if they don't manage to lure a proven goalscorer to their ranks in the next week or so.
The Magpies lined up with a 4-5-1 formation and attacked the Gallowgate End first after losing the coin toss. Notably, Matt Targett was deployed as a midfielder as part of a trio in the engine room against the La Liga outfit.
Whether Howe was making a point to his board by playing Targett as a central midfielder was open to interpretation with so few options in that area - especially in a weekend of back to back matches. Targett had only played one competitive match in this position before in his career.
Espanyol - who finished 14th in La Liga last term - went 1-0 up after a sluggish start by United. On 16 minutes Antoniu Roca played the ball to Roberto Fernandez who back-heeled intelligently to Edu Exposito who swerved home from 25 yards.
However, the lead did not last long and just before the mid-way point of the first half, Lewis Miley crossed for Targett - of all people - to head home at the back post.
Targett had spent the half switching between left-back and midfield with Hall but his goal was rewarded for a positive response after falling behind.
On 29 minutes Bruno Guimaraes tried his luck from long range but scooped high over the bar at Gallowgate. Newcastle then gifted Espanyol a route back into the game when Targett fouled in the box.
Geordie ref Michael Oliver pointed straight to the spot but Ramsdale became an instant hero at the Leazes End when making a fine save to deny Javier Puado.
The on loan Southampton keeper guessed the right way and beat the ball to safety with a fine stop before the danger was cleared. The sides went in for the break at 1-1 with Hall informed he was being taken off by fitness coach Daniel Hodges.
Hall did not seem happy about the decision, given his hunger to succeed, but Howe is taking his time with the player's fitness after a long spell out.
Hall was replaced by Alfie Harrison with the youngster also getting an audition to impress Howe at St James' Park.
It took six minutes of second half action for William Osula to produce a goal attempt but his deflected effort was saved by Angel Fortuno.
On 63 minutes Seung-soo Park was taken off after a decent debut in which he showed some good openings and demanded the ball. Park was offered a warm ovation by the fans following on from two good cameos in the Far East last week.
A defensive mix-up between Fortuno and Raman Terrats handed Jacob Murphy a gift which the winger was in no mood to turn down.
The ball was played straight to his feet in the box before Murphy swept home to make it 2-1 and nudge the Magpies ahead.
But Espanyol would haul themselves level in the last minute after Pere Milla's cross for Kike Garcia headed home at the Gallowgate End.
It was a fair result, but Newcastle could have done with a win after what has been a stuttering pre-season.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Tyne & Wear)
Attendance: 30,782