Ruben sticks head on battered Bruce
RUBEN NEVES headed home to deny Steve Bruce a blooming marvellous win.
The Newcastle boss cited the sight of daffodils as an indication that it is a “tickly” time of the season as he prepared for this game.
And his improving outfit came within 17 minutes of victory after Jamaal Lascelles grabbed a vital second-half header to put a spring in the step of the under-fire head coach.
Jonjo Shelvey was excellent, pulling the strings in midfield but was ultimately outdone by Neves’ strike on 73 minutes.
Lascelles powered Newcastle into the lead after 51 minutes after an impressive start.
It was a rare goal from the defender, the last time he scored in the league was back in October 2019, also against Wolves in a 1-1 draw.
Ryan Fraser, who had only been on as a sub for six minutes, whipped in a lovely cross from the right. Lascelles rose at the near post ahead of Leander Dendoncker and beat Rui Patricio for power.
It was no more than Bruce’s side deserved after squandering several decent chances and bossing the game for long periods.
Neves then struck, heading home a well-directed header from Pedro Neto’s back-post cross, with makeshift right-back Isaac Hayden not tight enough.
Bruce is dealing with a turbulent situation on Tyneside, but owner Mike Ashley has stuck with him for now – but a draw from a home game really isn’t good enough.
He made the belated decision to axe Karl Darlow and bring back No.1 keeper Martin Dubravka for his first game since July after injury.
This game and next week’s at second-bottom West Brom will define his future, and he’s made a good start.
Their playing style has improved and been more on the front foot in the last six games, but they ran into Chelsea and Manchester United, losing both.
This was a chance to bounce back against a Wolves side unchanged for a third game and they made a good fist of it, even without striker Callum Wilson. Hayden had the first chance, nodding Joe Willock’s cross straight at Patricio, when he could have done better.
The Geordies moved away from a diamond midfield to a flatter three with Shelvey central and Miguel Almiron with instructions to burst through the middle with the front two split wider.
Almiron was sent clear on goal by Shelvey and the Paraguay star, United’s best player in recent weeks, smacked the post from an angle.
After Neves struck Joelinton was denied a winner by a freaky block by Romain Saiss as the ball spun over the bar after a wonderful dribble by Jacob Murphy. The shot hit Saiss on the arm but it was tucked into his body – and VAR rejected the penalty appeal.
REVENGE was so sweet for Anwar El Ghazi as he and Aston Villa exorcised the ghost of Patrick Bamford. The Leeds striker helped himself to a hat-trick in a comprehensive win earlier in the season at Villa Park, while two years ago his playacting led to El Ghazi’s red card in a tempestuous affair.
The red card was later rescinded and Bamford handed a two-game ban for simulation.
It took just four minutes for a fired-up El Ghazi to extract some retribution as Villa proved there is life without their injured talisman Jack Grealish.
The assist should probably go to the relaid Elland Road surface, which has continually caused problems.
El Ghazi’s own corner caused the home side problems and when it wasn’t cleared Olliewatkins took aim but slipped only for his attempted shot to find the winger for a crisp close-range finish. Maybe the Villa man
LEEDS .............. 0 ASTON VILLA ...... 1 John Richardson
From was fearing the worst again because he didn’t celebrate expecting an offside flag, along with the defenders, but his sixth Premier League goal of the season was swiftly confirmed BYVAR.
Leeds had come close to taking advantage of the suspect surface even before El Ghazi was able to leave his calling card.
Bamford went flying in the first minute, inadvertently setting up an opportunity for Raphina, the Brazilian just failing to pounce as the ball flew across the face of the goal. It might not have reached the notoriety of the last meeting here but it had its moments.
Watkins and Diego Llorente had a set-to which was calmly dealt with by referee Peter
Bankes, who was forced to brandish yellow cards when
Matt Targett and Tyler
Roberts tangled.
For once Leeds lost their way with their livewire act without a safety net.
There was plenty of hustle and bustle from Marcelo Bielsa’s side but without the finishing power which has made them the Premier League’s great entertainers.
Bamford, watched by England boss Gareth Southgate, failed to add to his growing reputation and Raphina’s Brazilian magic took an evening off.
Raphina had a late chance to rescue a point when Jack Harrison came off the bench to float in a cross but he mis-timed his header and it glanced harmlessly wide.
It was El Ghazi – a man on a mission – who had come close to creating more havoc in the opening half, going close on a couple of occasions, while Illan Meslier had to save smartly following a 50-yard run from Watkins.
Roberts blazed over wildly from an inviting position, while substitute Pablo Hernandez saw a fierce effort blocked.
It was evident that Tyrone Mings and company were trying to protect keeper Emiliano Martinez, who appeared to be suffering and was handed some painkillers.
But he was hardly placed under any real pressure as Villa won without Grealish for the first time this season.
ENTERTAINER: Boss Bielsa