Leeds United maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign with a breathless 4-1 victory over Newcastle.
Both sides came into the game with five points on the board from the opening three games, but Matthias Jaissle’s bubble was emphatically burst as he suffered a dramatic first defeat as Newcastle boss.
Without the electric Anthony Elanga, the visitors offered much less of a threat and could not handle the relentless press from the home side, led by the imperious Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Unfortunately he is injured. We need to investigate further and in more detail to find out how long he will be out. We will miss him and hope he is back to play quickly.
It could be [long-term]. We hope not. He will get another MRI next week and we will see.
Leeds felt slighted when Matias Fernandez-Pardo, making his first start for his new club, avoided punishment for an alleged ‘handball’ inside the penalty area. That was soon forgotten as the hosts’ dominance soon paid off.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
There was an element of luck to their first, as Ao Tanaka’s shot deflected off two Newcastle defenders with the last touch coming off Lewis Miley to wrong-foot Lukas Hornicek.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
That then led to the Calvert-Lewin show truly beginning. The striker thought he had his eighth career goal against the Magpies with a bullet header three minutes later. However, replays showed the ball had last come off team-mate Jayden Bogle, meaning he had to settle for the assist.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The Leeds No 9 wasn’t to be denied his next goal, bulldozing his way into the penalty area before calmly slotting home a third before the break. The floodgates remained firmly open after half-time, with Noah Okafor adding a fourth – and the pick of the bunch. The forward produced a delightful weak-foot volley on the bounce, sending it arrowing into the bottom corner.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Bazoumana Toure grabbed a late consolation, but it did little to take the gloss off a thoroughly one-sided display. The result leaves Leeds sitting third at the end of the fourth round of fixtures – their highest position at this stage of a season since the 2000/01 campaign.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The key moments from Elland Road
2: NO PENALTY! Fernandez-Pardo avoids conceding spot-kick for alleged ‘handball.’
14: SAVE! Hornicek makes a top drawer save from close range to deny Bogle.
25: SAVE! Bogle again threatens as he stings the palms of Hornicek with vicious attempt.
32: GOAL! Tanaka’s deflected strike comes off TWO Newcastle players before beating Hornicek.
35: GOAL! Two in three minutes as Bogle gets last touch from Calvert-Lewin’s bullet header.
41: SAVE! Best chance of the half for Newcastle as Barnes is denied from close range.
45+1: GOAL! Calvert-Lewin can’t be stopped as he finally gets his goal.
59: GOAL! Okafor gets in on the act with stunning strike on the bounce.
89: GOAL! No clean sheet for Leeds as Toure adds late consolation.
Carragher: Newcastle got beaten up
Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football:
“Leeds are fifth in the Premier League table since December. That should make Newcastle feel better as it has been a bad night for them when the world was watching. They have been beaten up by a really good Premier League team.
“It will be a tough season at times for Newcastle with the manager and young players finding their feet in the Premier League. They just got beaten up.”
On Dominic Calvert-Lewin:
“Calvert-Lewin was unplayable. One of the greatest sights in football is seeing a centre-forward rise above everyone and attack the ball.
“Look how high his legs are. I don’t think there is a better player in the air in the Premier League.”
Big learning curve for Jaissle
Sky Sports News’ Keith Downie on X:
“That has to be a huge learning curve for Newcastle tonight. Looking at the team sheet for that opening game against Liverpool, with a midfield two and Yoane Wissa in the No 10, it looked like they were going to get overpowered.
“They didn’t. Perhaps it was the emotion of the Kevin Keegan tributes, maybe it was because it was the opening game, or perhaps it was the Alexander Isak motivation. There was a lot going on that day.
Matthias Jaissle suffered his first defeat as Newcastle boss
“But Leeds away on a Monday night, you need physicality & runners. Even a midfield three of Bruno Guimaraes-Sandro Tonali-Joelinton would find that a tough match tonight.
“Newcastle were bullied by Leeds’ physicality and numerical advantage in the engine room.
“It’s a long season, and it’s been a very good start, but that’s a real eye opener for the the new Newcastle manager.”
