Bristol City secure pre-season win against Newcastle United at Ashton Gate

By Megan Sinclair — 29 July 2026 — 4 min read

Bristol City secure pre-season victory

Bristol City achieved their second pre-season win, and their first under manager Michael Skubala, with a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United at Ashton Gate. Goals from Sam Greenwood, Lorent Tolaj, and Max Bird contributed to the scoreline, alongside an own goal from Sven Botman. This result marked the Robins’ best performance of the summer pre-season and under Skubala’s management to date.

Sam Greenwood opened the scoring for Bristol City after 26 minutes with a right-footed free-kick. Shortly after, Lorent Tolaj extended their lead by shrugging off Sven Botman and finding the bottom corner of the net. In the second half, Tolaj assisted Max Bird, who put the result beyond doubt. A late strike from Harvey Barnes for Newcastle was followed by Botman’s own goal, ensuring Bristol City maintained their three-goal advantage.

Six of Bristol City’s seven summer signings featured in the match. Four of these new arrivals—Sam Tickle, Lisav Eissat, Greenwood, and Tolaj—started the game. Fellow new signings Jed Wallace and Gibson Yah came on as substitutes. Brad Collins, another recent acquisition, was stationed between the posts in a separate match against Forest Green Rovers.

Newcastle’s pre-season preparations continue

Newcastle United continued their pre-season preparations for the new campaign following a 1-1 draw against Gateshead. Manager Eddie Howe’s side travelled to Ashton Gate to face the Robins, who finished 12th in the Championship last season. The Magpies’ last visit to Ashton Gate was in August 2016, when a goal from Dwight Gayle secured a 1-0 win during their 2016/17 Championship title-winning campaign.

The starting lineup for Newcastle United featured Ewen Jaouen in goal, replacing Nick Pope, who was on the bench. Sven Botman, who missed the previous match against Gateshead, started in central defence alongside Fabian Schär, who returned to action last weekend for the first time since January. Jacob Murphy captained the team and was expected to play at right-back, with Lewis Hall on the opposite defensive flank.

In midfield, Sean Steur, who played the full 90 minutes against Gateshead, retained his place alongside Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey. The attacking lineup included Anthony Elanga, who represented Sweden at this summer’s FIFA World Cup finals, and Harvey Barnes, who recently signed a new long-term contract with the club. Sean Neave, who made his Premier League debut on the final day of the 2026/27 season against Fulham, led the line for his boyhood club.

The Newcastle bench was notably youthful, with nine of the 12 substitutes being 20 years old or younger. These young players included Leo Shahar, who started in the previous outing at Gateshead International Stadium, as well as Park Seung-soo, Trevan Sanusi, Dylan Charlton, Anthony Munda, Matheos Ferreira, and Mason Miley. Rory Finneran, an 18-year-old midfielder, aimed for his first public senior appearance after playing in a 3-0 friendly win against Darlington. Other substitutes included Alex Murphy, Miodrag Pivaš, and teenage goalkeeper Aidan Harris.

Skubala’s assessment and future plans

Following the match, Michael Skubala expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, particularly their transition play. He acknowledged areas for improvement but highlighted the exceptional aspects of their display against a top opponent. Skubala described the intensity of the team, their fast and forward play, and their threat in transition moments as pleasing elements.

Despite the strong performance, Bristol City remains keen to strengthen their squad further before the transfer window closes on September 1. Skubala stated that the club is not in a rush but aims to make precise additions to enhance the team. He noted that the recruitment staff are working hard behind the scenes to finalise the “jigsaw puzzle” of the squad.

The Robins now face a double-header this coming weekend, with away matches against both Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City on Saturday afternoon. After these two fixtures in the South West, attention will turn to the first competitive game of the season, a Carabao Cup clash against Walsall next Thursday.

Source: newcastleunited.com