WHO needs Joey Barton, when you have Sammy Ameobi? Gracefully this time, the Toon Army stayed off the (Heed's) turf.

So while the former was busy Tweeting his way out of town, the latter scored two and made the other – a James Curtis own goal – as a strong Newcastle reserve side came from behind to beat Gateshead, impressive aside from the result.

Life goes on and, notably, with no discernible dissent until a lone, swiftly-drowned out voice at the end.

Otherwise, they seemed content enough to cheer Alan Smith, profusely, and Ameobi of course. The only new-boy, Mehdi Abeid looked neat and tidy.

Of the Tynesiders’ fresh faces, Kyle Nix scored an early penalty, Yemi Odubade supplied further evidence that he will prove a handful, and, firstly, Chris Moore shone.

Released by the Magpies in his youth, the former Whitley Bay and Darlington winger started on the left of a front triangle, switching to the right after five minutes.

By then he had cut a low cross back for Nix to smash well over, and glanced Odubade’s free-kick onto a post.

The foul for that set-piece had been conceded by former Tynesider loan star James Tavernier, and on 10 minutes he kept the charitable donations coming close to home, but upped the ante.

Bundling over Odubade in the box, he invited Nix to open the scoring from the spot.

So a head-start for the Tynesiders, and not undeserved. It lasted only three minutes.

Advancing from right-back, former Walker Central youngster Michael Richardson’s cross was converted by Ameobi.

Thereafter, matters regressed to typical pre-season caginess, and the game was half an hour old before Nile Ranger – earlier denied a clear shot on goal by a perfectly-timed tackle from Ben Clark – ran at the home defence with infinitely more menace than the tame shot at Paul Farman that followed.

Fortunately for United, Ameobi was proving more of a thorn in Gateshead’s side.