SAINT-MAXIMIN HANDS BRUCE A LIFELINE
DAZZLING EQUALISER EASES PRESSURE . . . FOR NOW
STEVE BRUCE would have taken this after another tumultuous week of training-ground tension and supporter unrest.
Not that he would have particularly enjoyed watching what was more akin to a game of basketball. How it ended with one goal apiece is anyone’s guess.
Yes, it was high on entertainment, but when it really mattered it was a contest low on quality, save for the goals of raphinha and home hero allan saint-Maximin.
Those moments apart, the finalthird composure — or lack of it — was perhaps indicative of two teams still searching for their first win of the season.
For Bruce, it was simply a game he could not afford to lose. To that end, job done.
Fans want him gone and a significant number of his squad have also grown frustrated with his management. That friction has seen a few feisty exchanges at the club’s training base this week.
But at least they took that fight with them on to the pitch once they had recovered from a nervy start in which st James’ Park had threatened to turn ugly.
leeds quietened the crowd as they saw three quarters of the ball during the opening 10 minutes. That was no bad thing for Bruce, given a scattering of early chants hissed in his direction.
But when that dominance yielded the opening goal, the home venom was dispatched en mass.
raphinha had not long returned to the pitch after receiving a nasty poke in the eye. Yet even with impaired sight he still had the vision to deliver a 40-yard cross-shot that posed all manner of problems for Karl darlow.
as rodrigo dashed towards the ball, the goalkeeper did not know whether to stick or twist. He stuck and was left with a twisted face as rodrigo dummied and raphinha’s effort landed in the far corner of the goal. Cue ‘We Want Brucie out’.
it would have grown even more poisonous had darlow not then saved from raphinha on 20 minutes. But with that stop came the start of Newcastle’s rally.
For all of the problems at this club, they do have some tremendously talented attacking players. They may mask issues elsewhere, but supporters cannot help but enjoy the likes of saint-Maximin.
He made a statue of liam Cooper in burning by the defender and pulling back for Joelinton on 24 minutes — 1-1, or so we thought. Joelinton, though, fired straight at ilan Meslier.
But were Newcastle fortunate in the Brazilian missing that chance? For a Var review of the goal may well have taken play back to the other end of the park, where daniel James had been felled by Joe Willock’s loose leg in the penalty area. it looked a stonewall spot-kick.
still, it felt like a leeds second was coming. rodrigo, Mateusz Klich and Kalvin Phillips all steered wide from almost identical positions on the fringe of the area.
But with saint-Maximin the hosts always pose a threat — they call him Plan a in these parts. and when you see the Frenchman drift by defenders and smash Newcastle’s equalising goal in the manner he did just before half-time, you see why it is a strategy worth pursuing.
it was a lifeline for Bruce and Newcastle after a first half in which leeds had wasted countless chances. and there was still time for them to squander two more as raphinha saw a shot blocked inside the goalmouth before Junior Firpo followed up with a wild drive over the crossbar. it was a breathless opening 45 minutes that Newcastle had survived and, come the hour, the home crowd were fully invested in their team. or rather, saint-Maximin.
it looked like he had given them the lead when again dancing clear of two leeds jerseys and slamming towards the near post. The net rippled but only when the ball nestled in its exterior.
darlow was making his first appearance after being hospitalised with Covid-19, during which time he lost two stone in weight. and he certainly needed to be light on his feet as he went air
borne to pluck Jamaal Lascelles’ inadvertent header from the top corner.
But Darlow’s newfound agility almost cost him, too, backing himself to beat raphinha to the ball in a mad dash from his line only for the Brazilian to win the race. It needed a recovering defender to spare the keeper’s blushes.
Darlow was again a relieved man when Patrick Bamford was sent clear by the outstanding rodrigo on 72 minutes. Bamford, though, did not look like an england striker as his weak, firsttime connection rolled into the grateful gloves of the custodian.
he had a chance to make amends moments later but again his radar malfunctioned and those in the low rows were ducking for cover.
It was a familiar theme.