Newcastle 1 Leeds 1 - BBC 17/9/21
Allan Saint-Maximin's fine equaliser lifted the pressure on Newcastle boss Steve Bruce as his side earned a point against Leeds.
After a week when Bruce had to defend his position following
further criticism from fans, the mood turned ugly inside a packed St James'
Park when Raphinha cut in from the right and sent his cross into the far corner
of Karl Darlow's goal after 13 minutes.
As Leeds threatened to run riot against a disjointed
Newcastle, "we want Brucey out" was sung by all sides of the stadium.
Marcelo Bielsa's free-spirited side should have been further
ahead before the break, but after Matt Ritchie hit a post, Saint-Maximin lifted
the mood when he danced around the Leeds defence before finding the bottom
corner.
It was a massive goal for both Newcastle and Bruce, who
punched the air in delight, and restored some equilibrium after a torrid first
half.
There was less stress for Bruce after the break as Newcastle
switched to four at the back and Saint-Maximin twice tested Illan Meslier in
the Leeds goal.
The result left both sides still searching for their first
win of the season, and at the wrong end of the table.
But a point kept Bruce's head above water even if there will
still calls for him to leave the club as the game finished. As the 60-year-old
headed down the tunnel, his face told the story of a man relieved for now but
who faces an uphill task to turn the mood around.
After a week where Bruce declared that quitting was
"not in my nature", this was an atmosphere which perhaps proved that
his family was right to think he was "sick" for staying in the job.
It took only three minutes before a section sang "we
want Brucey out" but as the hosts unravelled under Leeds' relentless
counter-attacks, large sections of St James' Park made their feelings known.
In a frantic first half, where Leeds could have scored three
or four goals, the atmosphere threatened to boil over.
Raphinha's opener was another stain on a defence who came
into the match having conceded 13 goals, the most in the Premier League this
season.
Karl Darlow returned in goal after being in hospital with
Covid-19 and was called into action on several occasions, as Leeds created
plenty of opportunities, with Raphinha, Daniel James, Mateusz Klich and Junior
Firpo all going close.
A stressed Bruce winced on the sidelines. Despite
Newcastle's defensive frailties, they still looked sharp in attack, with
Saint-Maximin, playing up front, at the heart of their endeavour and in the end
he proved a saviour.
A good break from the French forward led to Ritchie hitting
the woodwork, and his goal before the break was transformative, although there
was still time for Newcastle to almost concede again when Raphinha was guilty
of missing when on his own in the opposition box.
A more sedate and equal second half suited Bruce and
Newcastle, who were without last season's top scorer Callum Wilson, as the
energy both sides showed in the first half dissipated.
Darlow, who replaced a struggling Freddie Woodman provided
the extra assurance that the hosts needed, especially when he had to save from
Jamaal Lascelles, who almost headed into his own net.
Saint-Maximin drew two equally fine stops from Meslier in
the Leeds goal and created a fine chance for Joelinton, who fired over, to
groans all around the ground.
Given that the first half could have been a lot worse for
Newcastle and their under-fire boss, a point was a decent return and spoke of a
good second-half recovery.
For Bielsa's side, it was their third draw of the season and
although it is the first time they have gone five games without a win under the
Argentine, there was plenty of encouragement that their form will improve.
The same might not be said for Newcastle, however, as
"Bruce out" chants rang out and they collected only their second
point of the season to remain 18th.