The football is back at Ibrox as Rangers got their pre-season campaign fully underway on a night to remember.
The visitors of Premier League and soon-to-be Champions League opposition in Newcastle United provided the perfect test for Michael Beale's men who engaged in battle from the get-go. But it was the Toon that struck first when Miguel Almiron found space inside the box and slotted past testimonial man Allan McGregor as the former Rangers keeper was stranded.
There were plenty of new faces on show in Glasgow's southside and one such name in Sam Lammers brought Ibrox to its feet with his first goal in Rangers colours. The determined Dutchman latched on to an error from United keeper Karl Darlow and slotted coolly in to the bottom corner from some way out. That was before Eddie Howe's men took a stranglehold of the game before a glut of changes for both sides.
Fashion Sakala and Rabbi Matondo injected pace in to the Rangers attack with returning Nicolas Raskin running the show in the midfield against the flashy talent of Sandro Tonali and Co. But the Premier League experience in the end proved crucial when Scotland under-21 star Harrison Ashby capitalised on slack Gers defending to send a looping header in to the far corner.
New Rangers number one Jack Butland, who took a word in the ear from hero McGregor as he came off, could do nothing about the smart effort with a few minutes to play before the final whistle brought a moment of celebration for the veteran goalie. The 41-year-old now takes his place among legends in the corridors of Ibrox and was greeted with a lap and guard of honour as he said a final farewell to the club he spent 16 years in total with.
Rangers XI: McGregor, Tavernier, Souttar, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack, Dowell, Cantwell, Lammers, Sima
Subs: Butland, McCrorie, Yilmaz, Hagi, Matondo, Wright, Balogun, Sakala, Raskin, Mayo, Yfeko, Lowry, Rice, McKinnon.
Newcastle XI: Karius, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Targett, Longstaff, Anderson, Tonali, Almiron, Lewis, Wilson
Subs: Darlow, Gillespie, Dummett, Gordon, Isak, Manquilo, Ashby, Burn, Bruno G, White, Turner-Cooke, Murphy, Parkinson, Miley.
You can relive all the action as it happened right here in our LIVE blog.
Key Events
Beale lifts lid on Danilo pursuit
Michael Beale has admitted Danilo isn't the only forward Rangers are talking to.
The Ibrox club have seen one bid booted out by Dutch champions but are expected to return to try to land the Brazilian again. Beale has already added Sam Lammers, who opened his Gers account in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Newcastle, Cyriel Dessers and Abdallah Sima to his squad in order to bolster his attacking options.
King positive update
Michael Beale has provided a positive update on crocked defender Leon King.
The youngster sustained a knock in pre-season in Germany and admitted he was gutted as Record Sport reported that King was eyeing a swift return to action for Rangers. And now manager Michael Beale has followed the same line by saying the Scottish star could be back on the training field within five weeks.
It's a far better prognosis than initially revealed, with fellow defender Dujon Sterling also out injured.
Rangers three talking points
New Rangers front-man Sam Lammers grabbed his first goal for the club in Allan McGregor’s last-ever game at Ibrox.
The Dutchman got off the mark for Michael Beale’s men against Newcastle as the legendary keeper’s testimonial ended in a 2-1 defeat. Lammers equalised after Miguel Almiron had given the Premier League side a first-half lead. Then Scotland Under-21 starlet Harrison Ashby won it for Eddie Howe’s men late on.
Moore: What futures they have
Craig Moore is fawning over the futures of some emerging Rangers star as he praised what Michael Beale wants to do with his youth contingent.
It was a chance for rotation as the Light Blues fell to the 2-1 defeat in pre-season friendly action against Newcastle United. A night to honour the Ibrox hero Allan McGregor also saw an opportunity for youngsters to impress the London boss.
Alex Lowry and Bailey Rice were given a runout in Glasgow and former Rangers star Moore reckons there's a bright future to be had in both young talent. He told Rangers TV:
Players coming back from injury will be pleasing for Beale. But my special mention tonight comes for Lowry, when he comes on he makes a real difference, nice and positive. And Bailey Rice at 16 years of age. Wow. What a future this boy has.
Lap of honour
And now the man at the centre of the evening takes a gaurd of honour from the Rangers players.
The veteran goalie then does a lap of the Ibrox pitch with every supporter on their feet for McGregor. The 41-year-old looks emotional as he does one last run around the surroundings in Govan.
A celebration of a hero in the eyes of Ibrox fanatics. After 505 appearances, he leaves Rangers for the final time.
L'amour Toujours
Gigi D'Agostino's smash dance hit blares around Ibrox as Rangers get ready to say goodbye to a hero.
Allan McGregor waits patiently on the touchline as he gets ready to show his love for the side he spent 16 years at across two spells.
The veteran will take centre stage in a few moments and will no doubt raise the roof.
FULL TIME! Rangers 1-2 Newcastle United
Rangers fall to defeat at home in Allan McGregor's testimonial.
An early goal from Miguel Almiron was cancelled out by a debut strike from Sam Lammers. That was before a looping header from Harrison Ashby to hand Eddie Howe's side a win.
A nice encounter under the lights to enjoy in pre-season.
Silky stuff
Rangers produce some silky stuff from the middle to the front as Scott Wright finds Lowry who turns on and fires a great effort at Darlow.
The United keeper is at full stretch to stop the shot as it dribbles past the post. A huge final chance for Rangers.
Loud and lively
That header has the Toon Army in full voice in the away end.
But the Ibrox crowd aren't about to leave any time soon with a big send-off planned for Allan McGregor post-match.
GOAL! Newcastle
The away side take the lead somewhat out of nowhere as Harrison Ashby's looping header beats Butland at the far post!
It comes against the run of play as Rangers' new keeper couldn't stretch far enough to keep it out with two minutes to play.
Fashion's fury
Fashion Sakala cannons forward after Raskin and Lowry link up well.
The Zambian takes on the Toon defence with pace and power but takes one touch too many as the ball falls to Hagi who skies over.
The Wright place
Scott Wright digs in with the defensive work for Rangers as Gordon looked prime to fire a shot on target.
It could be one of his last showings in Ibrox colours as he nears a transfer to Turkey according to reports.
But he hasn't downed tools whatsoever.
Charge!
The charge of the Light Blues brigade continues as Rabbi Matondo sees a lot of the ball.
It is a little stop start between the two as the final ten minutes take folk but Beale's substitutions are making a real impact. This is the stage to impress the Londoner boss.
James Tavernier makes way for the crescendo with Alex Lowry.
Timely Tav
A very important cut-out from Tavernier stops a sure-fire United attack.
Meanwhile roadrunner Raskin takes the Newcastle backline to task with his pace and it brings a huge ovation from Ibrox.
Toon penned in
Newcastle have looked the least comfortable in the last few moments.
Rangers' press is paying off with Raskin really pulling strings in the middle, Sakala and Matondo are providing blistering pace on the flanks. Eddie Howe's side are now struggling to get out and Rangers would love a winner.
There's a confidence about Beale's side now.
Latest from Andy Newport at Ibrox
Balogun was back in blue along with Fashion Sakala for the second half as Newcastle made seven changes themselves.
But the swaps didn’t do much to hold back the relentless tide of black and white jerseys crashing down on the Gers box.
Rangers had to be fully switched on at the back to keep United out.
If only star Geordie Bruno Guimareas had kept his whits about him he might have seen trouble coming on 64 minutes as Gers levelled.
Subsutite keeper Karl Darlow didn’t do the Brazilian too many favours with his limp pass but Lammers wasn’t caring as he nicked possession before firing home the equaliser.
For a frontman who a striker who only managed two goals all season in Italy, that booster is just what the former Sampdoria ace needs so early in his Ibrox career.
Invasion
A short and sweet pitch invasion from the away end stops play and it is met with a huge whey! from the Toon end.
Rangers then ramp up the pressure with Raskin's dribbled effort earning a corner after Matondo made life hard for Howe's backline.
Yfeko shines
Yfeko makes an instant impact and looks to release Sakala.
A nice touch and skill from the youngster who comes right off the bench looking to impress Michael Beale.
More switches
Debutants Abdallah Sima and Sam Lammers go off alongside Cantwell and Souttar.
On comes youngsters Rice and Yfeko, with Matondo and Wright also in play.
That's confidence
Newcastle's centre-halfs stride forward in to the Rangers third but a good counter attack sees Cantwell in space on the right.
But as the midfielder has done too often tonight, his pass is too quick and optimistic and it is cut out well.
Rangers looking to hurt the Premier League opposition but remain haphazard with forward play at times.
Ouch
Cantwell is well late on Gordon on the left flank.
The Newcastle winger drops the shoulder well and the Rangers man is lacking behind.
An ouch moment for the Toon man as the resulting free kick is caught well by Butland.
GOAL! RANGERS
It's a first Rangers goal for Sam Lammers!
He pounces on a mistake at the back and slots home from range as the ball trickles in.
A moment to forget for Newcastle keeper Darlow.
Cantwell concern
Todd Cantwell clutches the back of his leg after a slight knock in the middle.
The Englishman looks in a smidge of pain but continues on. He's not a player Michael Beale would want to lose.
Ch-changes
And it's an arrival on the pitch for Nico Raskin for Ryan Jack who comes on.
His partner John Lundstram is off while Ianis Hagi looks to ramp up minutes.
Ridvan Yilmaz also takes the place of Borna Barisic with an hour played at Ibrox.
Lucky Leon
Leon Balogun's first major intervenion is missed but Rangers go unpunished.
The Nigerian slides towards his goal to cut out a goal but it bobbles inside the area before Lundstram clears.
Sam mispots
Lammers has the chance to feed the ball to Sakala in the middle but turns and his eventual pass is cut out.
A nice move from Rangers sees them cut open the defence with a pass from Jack but the Dutchman couldn't see the right ball in the end.
A half flash of a chance but it doesn't get Ibrox off their feet.
High up
Rangers are adopting a higher line but Newcastle seem buoyed by playing in front of the away end now.
It's tricky and clever at times from Eddie Howe's side who are somewhat strangling Rangers defence with a high press. But the Gers themselves are looking to counteract with a more attacking shape.
A battle of wills here.
Jack and Lundstram dither
Some dithering on the edge of their own box and Rangers fans aren't pleased.
Lundstram looks to clear the ball well but Jack finds the receiving pass blocked. The two exchange passes before a scary moment nearly leads to the away side being in.
Goodness me Gordon
Anthony Gordon is causing chaos for Rangers and James Tavernier.
The Newcastle man is just on and a long diagonal lands nicely at his feet before he nutmegs the Gers captain and wins the corner.
A sublime piece of skill.
Cantwell loose
A loose touch and pass sees Todd Cantwell put Rangers in danger again.
This time sub Gordon races on to a long cross as Butland opts not to come. In the end, the home side deal well with the problem but it was an enforced era at the back.
It's a few times the popular midfielder has lost possession.
