Newcastle United suffered a 5-1 friendly defeat against Middlesbrough - just 11 days before the new Premier League season gets under way.
Steve Bruce's side were behind after just seven minutes when Middlesbrough striker Britt Assombalonga broke the deadlock at Rockliffe Park with a composed finish.
The home side quickly doubled their advantage in the behind-closed-doors clash and it was Assombalonga, once again, who found the back of the net after linking up with striker partner Ashley Fletcher.
Middlesbrough's tails were up and Marcus Tavernier made it 3-0 after he fired home from the edge of the area to leave the Magpies with a mountain to climb.
Newcastle did manage to pull a goal back before half-time through Allan Saint-Maximin, who finished a clinical breakaway, but things got worse after the break.
Both Newcastle skipper Jamaal Lascelles and Middlesbrough player Lewis Wing were sent off for an off the ball clash and the home side scored from the resulting free-kick after Grant Hall rose highest to make it 4-1.
Both sides made further changes as the half progressed and Middlesbrough substitute Ste Walker scored his side's fifth from the spot after Marc Bola was brought down inside the box.
It is never wise to read too much into pre-season friendlies, but the result and performance will surely have alarmed Bruce ahead of the new Premier League season getting under way at West Ham on September 12.
Newcastle welcome Stoke City to St James' Park on Saturday for their penultimate friendly before a rematch against Boro at Benton on Monday.
Newcastle United: Karl Darlow (Mark Gillespie 70), Javier Manquillo, DeAndre Yedlin (Paul Dummett 60), Jamaal Lascelles, Florian Lejuene (Federico Fernández 60), Jacob Murphy (Matt Ritchie 70), Isaac Hayden, Sean Longstaff (Daniel Barlaser 70), Christian Atsu (Ciaran Clark 60), Miguel Almirón (Andy Carroll 60), Allan Saint-Maximin (Henri Saivet 75).
