Soaring Seagulls
Brighton on brink of promotion but Newcastle falter
Newcastle United will probably still be able to toast promotion in a few days, but they let the glass slip through their fingers against Leeds United as Chris Wood’s equaliser, deep into injury time, denied them victory.
Having taken the lead through Jamal Lascelles and been utterly dominant in the second half, the Newcastle captain then allowed Wood far too much room inside the area and the Leeds striker pounced in the 95th minute, converting Kemar Roofe’s cross with a superbly controlled volley.
The fact this was as well as Newcastle have played this year offered little comfort to manager Rafa Benítez, who may well feel that the Leeds supporter who held up play in stoppage time by running on to the pitch, before goading Newcastle supporters as he was led away, contributed to the loss in concentration from his defence.
The fan, who was shoved away by Pontus Jansson, appeared to try to leap into the Gallowgate End as he was escorted around the side of the pitch, with several home supporters swinging missing with punches in response.
Benítez preferred to focus his anger on the officials, though, questioning the amount of stoppage time played. “I’m so upset because I have seen so many games this season where there are things I do not understand,” Benítez said. “Why were there five minutes? There was nothing unusual, no unusual stoppages. I do not understand why they go against us. I prefer to focus on the performance. We played well, the passion, the quality, it is just a shame about the result. I cannot be happy after that.”
Newcastle are stumbling rather than gliding towards the Premier League. They are eight points clear of third-placed Huddersfield, but have slipped four points behind leaders Brighton. Garry Monk’s side, meanwhile, remain on course for the play-offs. “We must have a granite chin,” the Leeds manager said. “When you get an equaliser like that, it felt better in our dressing room than theirs after the game. We expected to find it difficult here against a team that will be promoted and we did. They got their tails up, our goalkeeper was outstanding, but it shows the group we have and why we’ve been in the top six all season.”
Doubts always creep in at this stage of the season and, with Newcastle’s history of grasping failure rather than trophies, the fear at this ground tends to be more acute. After a nervous start last night, however, in which Leeds hit the bar through Alfonso Pedraza, the hosts were superb, getting to grips with the opposition and the occasion.
They suffocated Leeds. The visiting goalkeeper Rob Green did well to deny Matt Ritchie and Jonjo Shelvey. Yoan Grouffan stabbed a shot against the post, with Ritchie’s follow-up deflected over the bar.
From the corner, Green made another good save to tip over Chancel Mbemba’s header. Ayoze Pérez had an effort cleared off the line.
Newcastle were dominant but Leeds would not submit, even after Newcastle took the lead. Gouffran swung in a cross, Aleksandar Mitrovic won the ball at the far post and Lascelles got enough on a glancing header to get it over the line.
Benítez’s side looked as though they had everything under control, but Wood proved otherwise.