Two first half goals ensured that Newcastle reserves made a winning return to St. James' Park on Monday - although they were aided by some generous defending from their Teesside counterparts. 

United's Sean Longstaff has been in great scoring form recently and took just five minutes to increase his tally to nine goals in his last eight league and cup outings.  

Boro's Jordan McGhee miscued a pass on the edge of his own box straight to Longstaff and the Magpie who turned 19 on Sunday took full advantage of that gift to stroke home the opener.

Longstaff then eluded McGhee on the halfway line and set off for goal, only to then be pulled back by the defender before he fouled the Newcastle man at the cost of a yellow card.

That gave Yasin El-Mhanni the chance of a shot at goal but his free kick from distance went narrowly wide of the Leazes End goal. However the talented Londoner who celebrated his 21st birthday last week would soon mark a first appearance at Gallowgate by doubling his side's lead.   

A close-range effort from Jamie Holmes was blocked by visiting 'keeper Joseph Fryer in the 24th minute but El-Mhanni was well-placed to convert the rebound.

Both he and Luke Charman then tested Fryer, but the additional goals that would have underlined United's superiority failed to arrive before the interval.

A more even second half saw Boro improve and striker Mitchell Curry shoot weakly at Freddie Woodman when the ball reached him in front of goal. 

Meanwhile Longstaff twice came close to adding his second and Newcastle's third, seeing one shot saved and another curl just past the post.

Woodman denied Callum Cooke on 69 minutes as the game began to tail off, the 'keeper ensuring his clean sheet when denying Joao Morelli in added time as Boro slid to a fifth successive loss in Premier League 2.

Biffa