GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM made his first appearance in a Newcastle United shirt as Steve McClaren's side claimed the first win of their American tour with an overnight victory against Sacramento.

However, the victory was not without controversy as full-back Massadio Haidara received a straight red card for a second-half foul on Danny Barrera.

With Fabricio Coloccini being rested because of a slight injury knock, the Magpies started slowly against a Sacramento side that had beaten Sunderland earlier in the week.

Sacramento defender Nemanja Vukovic hacked clear off the line after Vurnon Anita delivered a dangerous cross midway through the first half, but Tim Krul was forced to make excellent saves to deny Thomas Stewart and Max Alvarez as Newcastle came under considerable pressure with half-time approaching.

The Magpies claimed the lead two minutes after the break, although they were indebted to their opponents for the breakthrough as James Kiffe hooked Haidara's cross into his own net.

Haidara's game ended abruptly when he was rightly dismissed for a crude challenge on Barrera, and Wijnaldum made his first appearance after a £14.5m move from PSV Eindhoven when he came off the bench in the 69th minute.

Ayoze Perez almost claimed a second goal in the closing stages, but Newcastle continued to look laboured and devoid of attacking ideas as they closed out a one-goal win.

"There was no malice in the challenge (by Haidara)," said McClaren. "He wasn’t looking at the man he was looking at the ball.

"It looked bad because he clashed with the opponent. It was a rash challenge and a rash red card. It was disappointing, but it made our boys work harder in the last 20 minutes.

"I thought Sacramento were very good. We watched the game against Sunderland and thought, 'This won’t be an easy game'.

"They had good ability, they played good football and the coach has done a great job to play how they do.

"We had difficulties in the first half. We were too deep and had no tempo. We were decent on the ball in the second half and pressed a little better and got the goal."