Saint-maximin magic rescues Bruce from Newcastle fury
This was not what anyone expected. There was no evidence Steve Bruce had lost the support of his players – as had been suggested on Tyneside this week – and no sign of the mass protests that might have caused him to lose his job either.
It was a little, well, anti-climactic, given the dire warnings on social media of an angry, seething fan base that would descend on the stadium to pour poison, creating an atmosphere so toxic that it would leave him no choice to quit.
There was hostility and there were chants calling for him to go, but they were intermittent and faded as Newcastle grew into the game and arguably were the better side for an hour.
Other managers have received far worse than this and carried on as usual. A reminder that the loudest voices do not speak for everyone, as much as they would like to convince you otherwise
As the fans drifted out of the stadium, resentment remained. The situation is volatile, but it is not combustible enough to burn anything down.
Had Newcastle lost, things would have turned nasty. Emotions are running high and the hostility towards Bruce will not disappear, but the team did not play badly in the defeat by Manchester United last Saturday and did not do so again here.
It was a decent point, nothing more than that, but given that the message coming from the United hierarchy was that even a defeat would not have led to them sacking Bruce, a draw certainly will not.
Bruce is an unpopular manager and always has been at Newcastle, but he remains popular in the dressing room, something his star player, Allan Saint-maximin, who scored the equaliser, was keen to stress in his post-match interviews.
“We have to stay together,” he told Sky Sports. “To be honest, I really love Steve Bruce. For every manager it is difficult, you have
good times and bad times, but we’re together and will stay together. I always try to do my best for him.”
It was the type of public show of support that matters when a manager is under pressure as Bruce is.
“I have never thought the players have stopped playing for me,” said Bruce. “Not once, and they gave me everything again this evening in difficult circumstances when we went a goal down early on.
“The game could have gone either way, I thought we had the better chances but in the first 20 minutes we found it very difficult. But we need a win, I will be judged on results.
“I can’t say it was not difficult [hearing the chants for him to go] but the way they were towards the team, and the atmosphere they created, I’m not going to walk away from the fight. I will try and keep out the noise.”
Once more there were things to criticise in Newcastle’s performance. The defence was shaky, captain Jamaal Lascelles has lost his composure at centre-back, and Leeds were a constant threat on the counter, especially in the first half.
Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa, though, was probably pushing it a bit far to argue they dominated the game. Despite seeing more of the ball, they did not create much unless it was in transition.
There were 38 shots on goal, Leeds had 21 of them but only nine on target.
The goal they scored was a fluke, too, Raphinha’s cross going through the legs of Rodrigo, who had escaped the attention of Lascelles, before bouncing inside the far post. It was such a soft goal and a disastrous start for the home side.
Newcastle could have buckled then, and the mood did darken as the anti-bruce chants became louder and more widespread, but with the team improving on the pitch, they faded again.
Newcastle should have been level long before Saint-maximin scored in the last minute of the first half.
The French winger terrorised Leeds captain Liam Cooper all night and when he got one-on-one with the full-back for the first time he left him easily, pulling the ball back for Miguel Almiron.
The Paraguay international would have scored if he had made a proper connection with his shot, but Joelinton definitely should when his scuffed effort arrived in front of him, six yards out.
The Brazilian’s play outside of the penalty box has improved, but his finishing has not and he hit a weak shot straight at goalkeeper Illan Meslier who saved with his feet.
Moments later, Matt Ritchie’s deflected shot came back off the inside of the post. It raised spirits and the Newcastle fans started to encourage rather than chastise.
Leeds, who were forced to play Luke Ayling at centre-back because of injuries and suspensions, could not hold on to the lead. Joelinton raced down the left and reached the bye-line before pulling the ball back to Saint-maximin on the edge of the area. Saint-maximin drifted across the defence to make room for a shot into the bottom corner.
Leeds wasted a brilliant chance in first-half stoppage time when Raphinha took too long to shoot and had his effort blocked before Junior Firpo blasted the follow-up over.
That was as close as the visitors came to another goal, but Newcastle had chances. Saint-maximin forced a good save from Meslier at his near post, Joelinton tried to pass when he had a clear shot on goal before Saintmaximin ignored unmarked teammates in better shooting positions and was denied again by Meslier.
A draw seemed a fair enough outcome, even if it feels like an inconclusive end to another difficult week for Bruce.
Newcastle United (3-4-3) Darlow 6; Hayden 5, Lascelles 5, Clark 6; Manquillo 7 (Krafth 81), Willock 7, Longstaff 8, Ritchie 7; Joelinton 6 (Murphy 90+1), Saint-maximin 7, Almiron 7 (Fraser 62). Subs Gillespie (g), Schar, Lewis, Hendrick, Fernandez, Gayle. Booked Ritchie, Almiron.
Leeds United (4-1-4-1) Meslier 7; Dallas 6, Ayling 5 (Shackleton 89), Cooper 5, Firpo 7; Phillips 7; Raphinha 7 (Summerville 67), Klich 7, Rodrigo 6, James 4 (Roberts 61); Bamford 6. Subs Klaesson (g), Cresswell, Mckinstry, Greenwood, Mccarron, Kenneh.
Booked Firpo, Rodrigo.
Referee Mike Dean (Cheshire).