NEWCASTLE United were booed off the pitch after their pre-season tie with League One Rotherham United ended in a 1-1 draw at the New York Stadium.

Michael Smith gave the Millers the lead with a powerful header in the first ten minutes. Newcastle huffed and puffed their way through the first-half before controlling the second but it was a poor night for the Magpies who just about got their rewards with Jeff Hendrick’s glancing header in the 84th minute.

There was a great travelling support from Newcastle with nearly 1,500 fans in the stands in great voice.

However, the Newcastle crowd were silenced on the eight minute when Mickel Miller broke free down the left and whipped in a brilliant ball into the six yard area.

It was meat and drink for big striker Michael Smith who powered home his header from close range to give the Millers the lead.

Newcastle struggled to come up with an answer to Rotherham in the opening twenty minutes with the Millers causing plenty of problems down the left with Miller being a particular menace.

Chiedozie Ogbene provided a lung busting run of his own down the left and his cutback found Freddie Ladapo who couldn’t quite turn the ball goalwards.

The Magpies needed a response and they had to be patient to find gaps in the first half. While the fans were in great voice throughout the game, there were chants from the crowd remonstrating their frustrations at owner Mike Ashley. Something I’m sure he’ll be used to hearing.

They eventually found a chink in the armour when Ryan Fraser’s looping cross found Matt Ritchie at the back post. He teed up the ball for Sean Longstaff in the box but he somehow lofted the ball over the bar from around eight yards.

Ritchie’s searching ball over the top was inadvertently headed Callum Wilson’s way but Rotherham defender Wes Harding. Wilson drove into the box and found some room but his curling effort flashed just wide of the post.

The crowd booed as the half-time whistle blowed and a spark was needed from Newcastle.

It almost came immediately after the restart through substitute Jacob Murphy. Federico Fernandez fed the run of Murphy down the right who’s cutback found Dwight Gayle but his effort was blocked at the vital moment.

Newcastle continued to force the issue and the Rotherham goalkeeper Viktor Johansson was forced into a spectacular save to deny Federico Fernandez at point blank range. Ritchie’s wicked delivery from a free-kick found the unmarked Argentine at the back-post but Johansson somehow managed to scoop the ball away from goal.

Gayle continued give the Rotherham defence something to think about as his jinking run to the edge of the box gave him some room but his finish couldn’t quite match the endeavour shown as he shot wide.

The temperature was quite cool in South Yorkshire but there was nothing cool about the Newcastle fans who continued to voice their discontent at their owner.

Then they turned on their manager with anti Steve Bruce chants but the players responded to that almost immediately.

Jacob Murphy’s whipped corner was met by substitute Jeff Hendrick who glanced the ball home into the far corner.

The game finished level at the New York Stadium. The players went over to applaud the travelling supporters which was gratefully received but ultimately they didn’t like what they saw on the pitch.

NEWCASTLE TEAM: Freddie Woodman (Mark Gillespie 45’); Isaac Hayden (Matty Longstaff 72’), Jamal Lascelles (Kell Watts 45’), Federico Fernandez (Emile Krafth 64’), Ciaran Clark (Paul Dummett 45’), Jamal Lewis; Sean Longstaff (Jack Young 80’), Matt Ritchie (Fabian Schar 64’), Ryan Fraser (Jacob Murphy 45’); Dwight Gayle (Joe White 76’), Callum Wilson (Jeff Hendrick 72’)

MAN OF THE MATCH: Jeff Hendrick