Kristensen's deflected strike earns Leeds a point against Newcastle - Mail 13/5/23

Rasmus Kristensen's deflected strike earns relegation-threatened Leeds a point against Newcastle after Callum Wilson had scored TWO penalties... with Patrick Bamford also missing from the spot and Junior Firpo sent off in a dramatic 2-2 draw

Ayling opened proceedings with a goal in the opening seven minutes

Callum Wilson was inch-perfect from the spot twice, whilst Bamford missed

Re-live all the action from Leeds thrilling 2-2 draw with Newcastle at Elland Road

By JOE BERNSTEIN

If Patrick Bamford could take penalties like Callum Wilson, Leeds United may be feeling more confident of playing Premier League football again next season.

A pulsating game which left Sam Allardyce joking he needed Valium was turned on its head in the 28th minute when Leeds were awarded a penalty to go 2-0 up.

You sensed nervousness around the ground as an out-of-form Bamford stepped up and their worst fears were recognised when his effort was saved at a comfortable height by Nick Pope.

It triggered a massive change-around with Leeds gifting Newcastle a couple of their own spot-kicks, both of which Callum Wilson put away ruthlessly for a 2-1 advantage.

A fortuitous late equaliser by Rasmus Kristen at least rescued a point for Leeds but not the three they needed to climb out of the relegation zone.

Allardyce now needs something from another former club West Ham on Sunday but will go to east London without defender Junior Firpo whose kamikaze performance yesterday was capped by a late red card for fouling Anthony Gordon.

‘I needed two Valium when I came off to calm me down,’ quipped Allardyce after a frantic afternoon.

‘We deserved victory and would have done without the silly penalties we gave away. We shot ourselves in the foot quite often but also showed if we cut out the mistakes, we can win games.

‘It was our fault we missed a penalty and got two away. Anybody can do it but it happened to us at the worst possible time.’

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe left knowing his team are still third with Champions League qualification in their own hands.

But his enjoyment was tarred by being pushed by a supporter who had encroached into the technical area near the end.

‘It was a strange game with lots happening,’ said Howe. ‘You are fearing the worst at 1-0 and a penalty down. Then when you go in front, you feel you should win’

On the incident with the supporter, who was led away, Howe added: ‘He confronted me and said something I can’t repeat. Moments like that do make you think. The safety of players and managers is paramount.

‘I don’t know if I had time to be fearful. It was over in a flash. Nobody should fear their personal safety being violated. I’m glad there was an intervention – I wouldn’t have fancied my chances!’

It was all pretty breathless from first whistle. After seven minutes the roof nearly came off Elland Road when Bamford’s cross was headed goalwards by Rodrigo and Pope stuck out a strong left hand.

Before the home support could feel frustrated , skipper Luke Ayling raced in to convert the rebound and lost his man bun so wild were the resulting celebrations by the corner.

The sheer bedlam temporarily rattled Newcastle who stay third with a draw.

Leeds let them have the ball, Leeds waited patiently - and then should have pounced.

When Firpo broke into the box and Joelinton’s clumsy challenge nailed him, referee Simon Hooper had an easy decision to point to the spot.

Bamford had missed his last penalty against Arsenal in October and a sitter at Leicester three weeks ago.

This time his effort wasn’t strong enough and Pope parried to his right and then scrambled away.

It was as if someone had popped the balloon inside the stadium and three minutes later Newcastle were level with their own penalty.

Isak and Bruno Guimaraes played a one-two and as the Swede surged forward, Firpo slipped and Max Wober tried to make amends with a rash challenge that clattered into him.

Wilson did what Bamford couldn’t and buried his penalty low into the corner.

Miguel Almiron went close to giving the visitors a half-time lead and Allardyce was relieved to hear the whistle so he could regroup and send on Adam Forshaw for youngster Sam Greenwood.

With the stakes growing, Bruno Guimaraes and Junior Firpo were booked. Firpo could have seen red for his tackle on Guimaraes.

Allardyce sent on Willie Gnonto to home fans’ delight just after an hour but before the Italian could make an impact, they conceded another penalty.

In his attempt to cut out a cross aimed towards Isak at the far post, Firpo arched backwards and the ball hit his outstretched left hand. VAR spotted it and Wilson ignored attempts by Robles to put him off by pointing to the corner by smashing his finish down the middle.

Newcastle thought they’d scored a third through Alain Saint-Maximin with Howe claiming they’d been told in the technical area it was onside before VAR judged Isak to have been off in the build-up.

Leeds then got lucky to level Leeds after 79 minutes with a huge slice of fortune. Bamford had two attempts blocked before Kristensen’s shot from just outside the box to cannon off Kieran Trippier’s head to wrongfoot Pope into the corner.

The ending was as crazy as what went before. Firpo saw red after dragging down Anthony Gordon. As Trippier lined up the resulting free-kick, a fan was dragged away by stewards after disturbing Howe.

Seven minutes of injury-time saw Robles saved from Fabian Schar but the 10 men of Leeds held on.

Allardyce admitted afterwards: ‘Time is running out. I hope it goes to the wire and we can play Tottenham on the last day with something in it for us.

‘We have to keep our fingers crossed our rivals don’t win because it’s not in our hands.’

Wober can expect a rollocking from his manager. ‘The first penalty is disappointing. We spoke all week about staying on your feet in the final third,’ said Allardyce. ‘We are giving goals away. He believed he could win the ball, but he didn’t.’