That was for Keegan! - Newcastle 4-3 Leeds

An utterly ridiculous game at St James’ Park with the most bonkers of endings, as Harvey Barnes’ 103rd-minute strike secured three massive points in a Premier League classic against Leeds United.

On a night where Kevin Keegan’s name was sung around the stadium in a show of support just hours after the awful news of his cancer diagnosis, we delivered a result, fightback and finish King Kev would be proud of.

It was an absolute mess at times, as we started awfully, shot ourselves in the foot so often, forgot how to pass the ball and went 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 down across different periods of one of THE most chaotic games of football you're ever likely to see.

But (and it's a big but), we embraced the second-half chaos just when we looked down and out, we didn't give up and we kept finding a way to come back, as a superb Joelinton header, Bruno Guimaraes' penalty and heroic Barnes brace produced an enormous win on Tyneside via two stoppage time strikes.

Harvey Barnes puts an end to an all-time Premier League CLASSIC! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/nUMyrjeya9

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 7, 2026

The victory not only makes it three wins on the spin for the first time all season, but sends us up to sixth in the table; above Sunderland (who got battered at Brentford), Chelsea (who lost 2-1 at Fulham) and Man Utd (who drew 2-2 at Burnley) in a bonkers yet brilliant night.

Howe made two changes from the weekend, as Nick Woltemade and Harvey Barnes replaced Yoane Wissa and Jacob Murphy, meaning Tino Livramento remained on the bench with Lewis Miley at right-back.

Newcastle XI: Pope – Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Hall – Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton – Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon.

Substitutes: Ramsdale, Trippier, Botman, Wissa, Livramento, J.Murphy, Willock, A.Murphy, Ramsey

Leeds XI: Perri – Justin, Rodon, Bijol, Strujik, Gudmundsson – Ampadu, Gruev, Stach – Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin.

The first half was an absolute car crash of a performance. Malick Thiaw had a shocker, making errors for both Leeds goals, starting with one slip to allow Aaronson in before his handball allowed Calvert-Lewin to score from the spot right before the break.

Barnes’ goal to make it 1-1 was well worked and finished after good work from Gordon and Woltemade in the box. Between that goal and Leeds’ penalty, we piled on the pressure for a spell, as Gordon hit the bar from a searching cross, Bruno came within inches of connecting with a point blank header and a huge opening came Joelinton’s way, only for him to get his final ball all wrong.

Other than that, however, it was a total mess. Leeds were first to so many loose balls, winning their duels and giving Bruno no room to dictate the play, with Woltemade isolated, our passing erratic and defensive play painfully sloppy, summed up by two goals we gifted to Leeds either side of Barnes’ leveller.

Joelinton, Thiaw and Gordon had all been booked, leaving all walking a second half tightrope when we had to be aggressive going into a big 45 minutes. Not a great mix, and not a great refereeing performance from an official lacking consistency, control or working technology all half!

In truth, it got worse before it got better! Howe's half time changes were wise - Thiaw and Tonali were taken off and replaced by Botman and Livramento, seeing Miley move into midfield - and a lovely Joelinton header brought us level on 54 minutes from Bruno's dinked cross, but back came Leeds.

Shortly after Pope missed a cross that saw James Justin head onto the bar with the goal gaping, followed by what looks like a serious injury to Fabian Schar, Leeds retook the lead. Aaronson again, and yet another bad one to concede, as we gave the ball away cheaply, looked wide open and didn't close down the shot quick enough.

Wissa's movement was causing chaos in the box, Murphy's deliveries were dangerous and we were pushing Leeds back, but no one could predict what would unfold next in 13 minutes of sheer madness in added time.

First the 91st-minute penalty, given away by Aaronson for another handball and dispatched by Bruno for his eighth of the season, then Barnes' big moment. Bruno's cross, Botman chested down and Barnes found a way to squeeze it past Perri at the Leazes End. St James' Park erupted and it was shades of that 4-3 win at Norwich in the Championship, and also another Barnes brace to settle a classic, much like that 4-3 over West Ham in March 2024!

A moment that changes our season and truly kick-starts a strong end to a consistently inconsistent 2025/26? It just might, you know.

Next up, Bournemouth in the FA Cup on Saturday before a Carabao Cup semi-final with Man City on Tuesday and trip to Wolves next Sunday.

Keep the faith. Howay the lads!

(Featured image via Andrew J Thirlwall)