Alan Shearer stands by Newcastle prediction after 'reality check' at Leeds
Alan Shearer is sticking with his prediction of a mid-table finish for Newcastle United despite the heavy defeat to Leeds.
We suffered our first defeat of the Premier League season on Monday night, going down 4-1 at Elland Road in a wretched display from front to back.
Matthias Jaissle had enjoyed an unbeaten start to the campaign, taking five points from opening games against Liverpool, Spurs and Bournemouth, but we were handed a reality check at Leeds, a week after scraping past a much-changed Millwall side in the Carabao Cup.
Shearer expects mid-table finish
Alan Shearer believes Newcastle will finish the 2026/27 season somewhere between 10th and 15th.
The Toon legend predicted a mid-table finish before the campaign began and remains firm in that belief following Monday night’s setback, feeling ups and downs were inevitable after such a summer of change.
Speaking to Betfair about our start to the season, our 'reality check' at Leeds and his predictions for 2026/27, he said:
“Newcastle had a really promising start to the season, unbeaten before that game, and it was a reality check against Leeds.
"But I haven’t changed my mind one bit on Newcastle, though. I knew we would have these moments.
"Clearly, you can’t have too many of them because the performance the other night was unacceptable, terrible.
“They were outfought and bullied, so you can’t have too many of them in the season.
"But I did expect bumps in the road this season, and that was one of them. I still say we will finish anywhere between 10th and 15th.”
A sobering reality check
The result and display at Leeds brought everyone back down to earth after a promising start to life under Matthias Jaissle.
Not only did we fail to match Leeds for intensity, there appeared to be no plan or patterns of play in attack, our midfield was overrun all night, and we made mistake after mistake in defence, with Sven Botman in particular reverting to his poor pre-season form.
With Anthony Elanga facing a lengthy spell out, Nico Gonzalez ruled out due to concussion and Jacob Ramsey a doubt, injuries are also mounting up for Jaissle, who is unlikely to have Dan Burn, Will Osula or Joelinton back in time for Saturday's home clash with Hull.
A tricky test awaits against the unbeaten newly promoted side, who will arrive full of confidence after a 2-2 draw at Chelsea last weekend followed a win over Man Utd, victory at Coventry and 0-0 against Aston Villa in recent weeks.
