Oh'sh!t Eleven
Newcastle United 1-2 Leeds United
It is not 11 games since Steve Bruce and his Newcastle United side recorded a win in any competition as the disparate slide toward relegation continues. A brighter second half from the Magpies, the best we've played in many a month, doing nothing to paper over the cracks of a damn at the point of breaking and drowning the club.
The first half performance was as expected. An out of form, newly promoted Leeds side dominant in every area of the pitch. Newcastle overrun at the back and going forward with the midfield chasing shadows.
No surprise then when Raphinha side foot home with the Newcastle defence at sixes and sevens and not able to pick up all the Leeds men in their box after another decisive move from the visitors who looked irresistible in the opening period.
What was a shock was the intent and drive that the Magpies showed in the second half. Newcastle came out looking like a 'decent Premier League side' - unbelievable eh!
And when Shelvey found Wilson, who in turn played a lovely ball into the path of Almiron who sliced the Leeds defence open before finishing under the keeper, it looked like Newcastle might just get something out of this game. Newcastle's first goal in over 14 hours.
But no.
It would take just 4 minutes for Leeds to get in again. This time Raphinha the provider with a delicious lofted ball to an inexplicably unmarked Jack Harrison to curl his effort around the keeper.
There was huff and puff from the Magpies between that goal, just after the hour mark, to the end of the game. But another loss, now five in a row, it would be.
The steady drift to relegation continues.
Steve Bruce had made two changes in his desperation to address the continued shocking form of his side with not a single win in 10 games going into this one. Having lost the reverse fixture 5-2 just a few weeks ago the signs weren't good for this one either before kick off with the manager not even allowing the written press into the pre-match briefing such was the pressure pilling on him and his abysmal record.
Fraser and Murphy coming in for this one, in place of Carroll and Manquillo. So at least some service for the big man up front this time. Oh, wait...
Full match report to follow...
Match FACTFILE
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