Newcastle United 1 Leeds United 2 - Marcelo Bielsa’s way ends losing streak for Whites

The embattled Newcastle United manager – rapidly running out of friends among the Geordie nation following an alarming winless streak – recently spoke about a change of approach and quoted Frank Sinatra’s most famous hit after growing exasperated at his side’s plummeting form.

There was precious little sight of that in the first half before Newcastle gave Leeds something to truly think about in a entertaining second half.

Leeds change their tactics for no-one and there was plenty of trademark aplomb and enlightening football – headlined by two glorious goals in each half from Raphinha and Jack Harrison.

The latter struck four minutes after Newcastle’s leveller as the winger again showed his penchant for the spectacular against the Magpies with a scintillating 61st-minute strike.

From a Leeds perspective, it was also a bit of a roller-coaster ride with the division’s leakiest defence behind West Brom toiling amid concerted late pressure from Newcastle.

At times, Bielsa, who brought off Patrick Bamford soon after Newcastle’s leveller after his error, was not amused.

But in the final analysis, this was a night where the result was king as Leeds applied some balm after some January blues.

Newcastle may be on a rotten run of form and doing it incredibly tough, but misfortune is not their exclusive preserve.

Leeds suffered the early disruption with a desperate moment for Diego Llorente – and how his team-mates must have felt for the Spaniard as he exited the fray with a hamstring issue on a night which had the portents of being a breakthrough one in his first start for the club.

To their credit, Leeds did not let the episode affect them, quite the opposite as they soon sensed uncertainty among a confidence-sapped Newcastle line-up who looked bereft of ideas and belief in their offensive work.

At the other end, the Magpies rearguard looked susceptible to the intelligent movement of the visitors’ front four.

Leeds swarmed all over careless play from the stricken hosts and had their lead soon enough.

Jacob Murphy was dispossessed by the alert Gjanni Alioski and Bamford surged deep into Newcastle territory before finding Rodrigo, he slotted in Raphinha, who effortlessly swept home a pinpoint left-foot strike.

It was the final act to a searing break and showcased Bielsaball at its beguiling best.

Bruce cast a rueful glance to the skies as Leeds continued to paint eye-catching pictures on the Tyneside canvas and looked comfortable in their own skin.

Heading into the game without a goal in open play in almost 13 hours, Newcastle – with just four first-half goals this term – were forced to dig in, not for the first time, while being mindful that a second goal would probably seal their fate. It was a tightrope.

From the tightest of angles, Raphinha struck the post from close to the byline while a drop of the shoulder and a rasping drive from Rodrigo was a whisker away.

Earlier, Newcastle had half a chance from a set-piece when Jamaal Lascelles could not direct a header, while Murphy almost got on the end of a tantalising far-post cross from Ryan Fraser, but it was plenty turgid in truth.

For a Leeds side who went into the game on the back of three straight losses, it was a rather more reassuring and in-character half – although they will have received a missive from Bielsa to put the game to bed quickly on the resumption.

It was not A-plus, but a solid B from Leeds, with Bruce pushing Miguel Aimiron in support of Callum Wilson on the restart.

Rodrigo’s engaging night saw him deliver a glorious defence-splitting pass to Raphinha and his pullback found the onrushing Dallas, with a rebound deflecting off his hand and bouncing off the bar and over the line, only to be correctly ruled out.

Almiron fired at Illan Meslier before Lascelles glanced wide and the warning signs were not heeded. Bamford was dispossessed too easily and Shelvey and Callum Wilson profited to supply Almiron, whose low drive beat Meslier to end the Magpies’ epic wait for a goal in open play.

A brilliant half-volley from Harrison ensured parity was shortlived, but Newcastle – far more proactive and bolder on the restart – did not die wondering in an increasingly open spectacle.

Murphy’s swerving drive was not far away while Lascelles’s header clipped the woodwork, while Bielsa and his staff became increasingly animated and tense.

Meslier tipped over Shelvey’s header as Newcastle threw 
caution to the wind and poured bodies forward with the Leeds keeper soon making a key 
one-handed save to keep out Fabian Schar’s strike in the nick of time.

Newcastle United: Darlow; Murphy (Saint-Maximin 64), Hayden, Lascelles, Schar, Lewis; Almiron, Shelvey, Hendrick, Fraser (Gayle 77); Wilson. Substitutes unused: Dubravka, Krafth, Manquillo, Matty Longstaff, Ritchie, Joelinton, Carroll

Leeds United: Meslier; Ayling, Cooper, Llorente (Struijk 10), Alioski (Klich 56); Phillips; Raphinha, Dallas, Rodrigo, Harrison; Bamford (Roberts 60). Substitutes unused: Poveda, Casilla, Helder Costa, Hernandez, Davis, Shackleton.

Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).

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