HARRISON SEALS POINTS FOR VISITORS:
NEWCASTLE SUFFER AGAIN
STEVE BRUCE saw hope, Newcastle fans only a ninth defeat in 11 winless games.
Newcastle were beaten by Leeds’ ruthless all-action style, but not without putting up a decent fight in the second half.
It was the Toon’s sixth defeat in a row as Marcelo Bielsa’s refreshed side ended their threegame losing streak.
Bruce can cling to this being an improved display after the break with a first goal in 425 minutes, scored by Miguel Almiron, and 22 shots and nine corners. But goals from Raphinha and Jack Harrison proved decisive.
Bruce said: “It has been tough. We were unlucky.
“We didn’t deserve to lose and we were a threat and had some glorious chances. The performance gives us something to fall back on. At the end, Marcelo was very complimentary about our team and said we deserved more. I saw a bit at Aston Villa and enough today that if we stay healthy we will be fine.”
The performance, if not the result, will save Bruce from the axe in the short term, but their fans will be fearing a long slide towards the bottom three as their early season cushion gets eroded.
Just three wins in their past 14 games at home, seven losses and one clean sheet is relegation form.
Leeds were energised by a 10-day rest after their game against Southampton last Wednesday was postponed and just about deserved the win. The visitors bossed the opening stages, taking the lead in the 17th minute after Rodrigo set up Raphinha.
Bielsa’s men were sharper in movement and mind, though their hosts revived in the second half and equalised 12 minutes in.
Almiron finished from 15 yards out when sent through by Callum Wilson after good work winning the ball back from Jamaal Lascelles and then Jonjo Shelvey.
It was only Newcastle’s second goal in almost 14 hours of play.
But just as they looked to have found momentum, Leeds roared back. They stretched Newcastle on the break and Raphinha floated a ball to the left of the area and Harrison volleyed home.
Harrison said: “We’ve had a lot of time to prepare for this match, we’ve got a lot of personality and character and when you face adversity, for a team like this it can help you to improve.”
Bielsa said: “We expected a difficult game. There was a 20-minute spell after Harrison’s goal where it was difficult to control the game. We needed to win and we managed to do it.”
Fabian Schar reacted furiously after clashing with Rodrigo on the ground, but Bielsa and Bruce were unaware of any incident. NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-1-1): Darlow 5; Hayden 5 (Saint-Maximin 64, 7), Schar 6, Lascelles 6, Lewis 4; Murphy 4, Hendrick 5, Shelvey 6, Almiron 7; Fraser 5 (Gayle 77); Wilson 6. Goal: Almiron 57. LEEDS UNITED (4-1-4-1): Meslier 6; Ayling 7, Cooper 6, Dallas 7, Alioski 6; Phillips 7; Raphinha 7, Llorente 4 (Struijk 10, 6), Rodrigo 7 (Klich 56, 7), Harrison 7; Bamford 6 (Roberts 60, 6). Goals: Raphinha 17, Harrison 61.