Leeds 0-1 Newcastle: Eddie Howe's Mags hold on for mammoth win at Elland Road
GET INNNNN! That really does feel massive, in so many ways.
A Jonjo Shelvey free kick, some heroic defending and a huge effort from all involved saw us hang on to take all three points at Elland Road, handing Eddie Howe a much needed win that sends us just one point from safety!
We came into the game fearing the worst, with no new signings in this week, Leeds arriving on the back of an impressive 3-2 win at West Ham and ourselves rocked from that late collapse against Watford last weekend.
However, despite scraping through a few early scares and losing three players to injury in Joelinton, Dummett and Jamaal Lascelles, we dug deep and ran our socks off to survive everything they threw at us after a 75th minute free kick from Shelvey gave us a 1-0 lead.
The result takes us up to 15 points and above Watford, who look set to sack Claudio Ranieri after Friday night's 3-0 defeat to Norwich.
Believe it or not, beat Everton at St James' Park in two weeks time and we'll be just one point behind the Toffees, with the Blues losing at home to Aston Villa earlier today and Brentford (23 points) also losing their fourth game in a row this afternoon at the hands of Wolves.
Eddie Howe has made just one change for this one, seeing Sean Longstaff replaced by Joe Willock in the middle of the park.
STARTING 11: Dubravka – Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Dummett – Shelvey, Willock, Joelinton – Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
SUBS: Darlow, Clark, Lewis, Manquillo, Hendrick, Longstaff, Murphy, Almiron, Gayle.
We had a decent half chance we didn't make the most of early on, with Willock bursting into the box but failing to get a shot away while he had the chance. A moment which sums up his lack of confidence at present, perhaps?
It was a scrappy start, despite both teams playing at a decent intensity, and the first save either goalkeeper had to make was a huge one by Dubravka, who showed a strong hand and impressive reflexes to get a glove Daniel James' close-range shot.
This was the start of a mini onslaught from Leeds, who began to get star man Raphinha into the game. He had the beating of Dummett and was unfortunate to find his cut-backs evade white shirts in the box.
We survived a period of sustained pressure from Leeds - who were getting Jack Harrison in behind Trippier far too often - but our first shot on target then arrived through Jonjo Shelvey.
Leeds only half cleared our corner, the midfielder saw a brilliant half-volley parried my Meslier. That was the start of us coming back into the game in the first half, however we suffered a blow minutes later.
After a decent period of possession and pressure, Joelinton went down holding his groin for the second time and was forced off. A real shame to see the Brazilian be unable to continue, especially when our midfield enforcer was being replaced by an out of sorts Sean Longstaff.
We ended the half on a high, but there was a clear lack of quality or decisiveness about our play in the final third. That had to improve in the second 45 if we wanted to win this.
The second half started with a host of misplaced passed that created a period of end-to-end action that seemed bound to end in a goal.
The stretched nature of the game then came with injuries, with Paul Dummett and Jamaal Lascelles - who was better today - forced off with muscle injuries.
Manquillo and Clark came on and the former was outstanding during his time on the pitch, winning his battles against Raphinha, snapping into challenges and winning the free kick that lead to that all important opener.
Watch it below here, with Jonjo Shelvey's low curler being too hot the handle for Meslier:
A Leeds onslaught then followed, but this time we kept our heads, defended well and continued to carry a threat on the break, with Wood and Fraser firing wide before a huge change for Willock was well saved by Meslier.
Leeds resorted to high balls into the box after five minutes of added time were awarded, but the away fans were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief when each of those was met by a Newcastle head or Martin Dubravka; who didn't put a foot wrong today.
A monumental win, brilliant celebrations in the away end, a huge air punch from Eddie Howe and hugs all round as the players made up for that late collapse last time out.
Next up, a big week in the transfer market (especially after three new injuries today) and a meeting with Everton at St James' Park in two and a bit weeks time!
HOWAY THE LADS!
