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Newcastle opened their pre-season with a 2-1 victory away at Hearts
Dwight Gayle scored both goals, either side of a strike by Jamie Walker
Esmael Goncalves wasted a chance for Hearts as he fired his penalty over
Magpies fans paid tribute to tragic youngster Bradley Lowery early on

Published: 17:00 EDT, 14 July 2017 | Updated: 17:10 EDT, 14 July 2017

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Dwight Gayle ensured Newcastle got their pre-season off to a winning start at Hearts on a night where the traveling Magpies fans paid tribute to tragic youngster Bradley Lowery.

On the day of the young Sunderland fan's funeral in Country Durham, Newcastle fans sung his name as they paid tribute to the six-year-old who tragically died last week following his long battle with cancer, which captured hearts around the world.

Thousands of people wearing football shirts lined the streets of Blackhall for the funeral, and derby rivalries were put aside when Newcastle headed north to play Hearts at Tynecastle.

Dwight Gayle scored twice as Newcastle beat Hearts 2-1 at Tynecastle on Friday night

His first goal was a neat finish before he nodded home his second from a corner

Jamie Walker had fired the ball past Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot to equalise for Hearts

MATCH FACTS

Hearts: Hamilton, Smith, Smith-Brown, Nowak, Hughes, Berra, Walker, Buaben, Stockton, Cowie, Goncalves

Subs: Noring, Lafferty, Grzelak, McGhee, Brandon, Currie, Coachrane, Sammon, Beith, Martin, Petkov

Goal: Walker 20

Newcastle United: Elliot; Lascelles (c), Mbemba, Clark, Haidara; Atsu, Shelvey, Diame, Aarons; De Jong; Gayle

Subs: Woodman, Gamez, Dummett, Lazaar, Hanley, Lejeune, Colback, Saivet, Armstrong, Mitrovic

Goals: Gayle 3, 25

'Nice touch by the #NUFC fans as they sing "There's only one Bradley Lowery". The ground has broken into applause,' the official Newcastle account tweeted inside the opening 20 minutes of the game.

A minute's applause will be held in the sixth minute of Saturday's friendly between St Johnstone and Sunderland to remember Bradley.

On the pitch at Tynecastle, Gayle got his side off and running within three minutes as he skipped away from the defence to slot past Jack Hamilton, with Ciaran Clark testing the Hearts stopper with a rasping effort which needed to be palmed wide.

But the hosts soon had a chance to level as Massadio Haidara gave away a penalty, but the opportunity was squandered as Esmael Goncalves hammered his spot kick over the top of the bar.

Rafa Benitez will be pleased with the workout against former Magpies coach Ian Cathro's side

Hearts' Esmael Goncalves had a chance to score from a first-half penalty but fired over the bar

The leveler wasn't too far away, though, as Jamie Walker was the quickest to react to a loose ball which he then fired past Rob Elliot in the Newcastle net.

Siem de Jong and Gayle had chances to restore the Newcastle lead, but they were unable to convert as the entertaining contest continued to produce chances. Gayle wasn't to be denied for long, though.

Jonjo Shelvey, pictured battling with Walker of Hearts in the middle of midfield

Jonjo Shelvey swung in a perfect corner from the left which the former Crystal Palace and Peterborough striker met superbly to head home into the back of the Edinburgh club's net.

That's how it stayed as both sides made changes after the break, despite Aleksandar Mitrovic having the ball in the net with an effort which had already been ruled out for a foul.

Next up for Newcastle is a clash with Preston on July 22.