Premier League
Leeds United 0
Newcastle United 0
Leeds: Perri (GK), Bogle, Gudmundsson (Justin 80’), Struijk (C), Rodon, James (Aaronson 59’), Longstaff, Nmecha (Calvert-Lewin 70’), Stach, Gnonto (Harrison 60’), Gruev. Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Piroe, Bijol, Okafor, Bornauw.
Newcastle: Pope (GK), Trippier (Hall 62’), Botman (Barnes 69’), Schär, Tonali, Osula, Livramento, Murphy (Elanga 62’), Burn, Guimarães (C), Ramsey (Miley 46’). Subs not used: Ramsdale (GK), Lascelles, Thiaw, Krafth, Willock.
Referee: Peter Bankes
Booked: Gnonto (Leeds) Pope (Newcastle)
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,727
Leeds United were forced to settle for a goalless draw in their third Premier League fixture of the campaign, impressing against a strong Newcastle United side.
Daniel Farke made two changes to the team that faced Arsenal last time out in the top-flight, handing starts to striker Lukas Nmecha and former Magpies midfielder Sean Longstaff.
Before the encounter began, Elland Road joined together in a moment of applause, remembering members of the Leeds United family who have sadly passed away over the previous 12 months.
The Whites started brightly on the evening with a cleverly worked passing move seeing Anton Stach have an effort from the edge of the visitors’ penalty area charged down well, before the midfielder drilled a long-range free-kick narrowly wide of the upright.
Down the other end, a dangerous low delivery from Jacob Ramsey landed at feet of William Osula who would have caused problems for Lucas Perri in the United goal, if not for a sublime block and subsequent clearance from Gabriel Gudmundsson.
From a Newcastle corner shortly afterwards, Farke’s side broke with electric pace through Willy Gnonto. Racing into opposition territory, the Italian international flashed an enticing delivery across the face of goal which Nmecha was inches away from meeting at the near post.
Stach was next to go close for the hosts, arrowing a left-footed drive that whistled wide of the upright. Pressure was beginning to mount and moments later, Gudmundsson’s testing cross was met by Daniel James though, at full stretch, the attacker was unable to direct an effort goalwards.
Further chances came and went for both sides, including Jacob Murphy calling Perri into action from inside the area, before Peter Bankes’ half-time whistle sounded.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-0 Newcastle United
Farke’s side emerged from the break unchanged, whilst an alteration in personnel for the visitors saw Ramsey replaced by Lewis Miley.
With the swirling rain beginning to become heavier in West Yorkshire, the Whites were keen to use this to their advantage with a slick attacking move eventually resulting in a fizzing Jayden Bogle strike that rose narrowly above the bar.
As the game continued in its open-ended nature, Perri produced a fine intervention to keep the scores level, diving to claw Murphy’s speculative drive away from danger.
Activity from the Whites’ dugout then brought Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison into the action, replacing James and Gnonto respectively, before the hard-working Nmecha made way for Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s Elland Road debut.
With 20 minutes of normal time remaining, Newcastle substitute Lewis Hall fired over from range. Immediately down the other end, the recently introduced Calvert-Lewin also tried his luck 30 yards from goal but was unable to work Nick Pope between the posts for the Magpies.
Heading into the dying stages and Leeds went desperately close to dramatically winning the encounter through Calvert-Lewin.
Excellent reading of the play from Bogle allowed the full-back to win possession and maraud towards the edge of the Newcastle area. Releasing his teammate, the forward forced a fine save from the outstretched boot of Pope.
The visitors’ defence held firm until the final whistle sounded, taking the Whites’ tally to four points from the opening three Premier League matches before the international break.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 0-0 Newcastle United
