adminNewcastle United suffered a brutal reality check at Elland Road on Monday night as Leeds United ran riot in a 4-1 victory, bringing Matthias Jaissle’s unbeaten Premier League start to an emphatic end.
The Magpies had made a promising start to the campaign, but there were warning signs beneath the results. Against Leeds, those concerns were finally exposed as the home side dominated Newcastle physically and overwhelmed them in midfield.
Looking back at Newcastle’s opening game against Liverpool, the decision to start with a midfield two and Wissa in the number 10 role appeared to leave the Magpies vulnerable to being overpowered.
There were several possible reasons for that. The emotion surrounding the Keegan tributes, the excitement of the opening game, and perhaps the motivation surrounding Alexander Isak all contributed to an unusual atmosphere that night.
But Leeds away on a Monday night was a completely different challenge.
At Elland Road, physicality, intensity and runners were always going to be crucial. Even a midfield three of Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton would have found the occasion extremely demanding.
The biggest problem was not simply that Leeds played well. It was the way they physically bullied Newcastle and created a numerical advantage in the engine room.
The young Magpies struggled to cope with the intensity of the contest, particularly after Nico Gonzalez was forced off injured in the 19th minute.
Newcastle’s average age dropped to 24.3, while Leeds had the oldest average-aged squad in the division at 26.7.
Under the lights at one of the Premier League’s fiercest grounds, that difference appeared significant.
Leeds looked stronger, sharper and more aggressive, while Newcastle struggled to impose themselves on the game.
From start to finish, the home side looked like the team in control.
This is where Jaissle’s tactical decision becomes difficult to ignore.
The Newcastle manager had already shown faith in his system during the opening weeks of the season, but Leeds presented a different type of test.
Newcastle needed midfielders who could compete physically, cover ground and match Leeds’ runners.
Instead, the Magpies found themselves repeatedly exposed.
Aimless long balls towards the lone forward only made matters worse, with Newcastle struggling to establish sustained possession or build attacks through the middle.
It was a completely different performance from the Newcastle side supporters had seen during their strong opening results.
Both teams arrived at Elland Road unbeaten in their opening three Premier League games.
Few could have predicted what followed.
There was only one winner.
Leeds bullied Newcastle from the opening stages, and by half-time there was genuine concern that the scoreline could become even worse.
Eventually, the four-goal battering delivered a major reality check to the Magpies.
The result does not suddenly erase what had been a positive start under Jaissle, but it does expose an issue the new manager must address quickly.
The performances since the Tottenham Hotspur victory had already contained signs that Newcastle were not completely convincing despite the results.
Against Leeds, those warning signs became impossible to ignore.
Jacob Murphy’s inclusion in the starting XI had already caused a stir before kick-off.
With Anthony Elanga missing through injury, the veteran winger was handed another opportunity to prove himself following his disappointing showing at Millwall.
The decision also reopened the debate over whether Newcastle should have accepted around £15million for Murphy before the transfer window closed.
Murphy has only one year remaining on his contract, while Newcastle’s new-look transfer policy appeared to favour moving on players when significant value could still be recovered.
Jaissle, however, reportedly viewed Murphy as a trusted figure within the dressing room.
Unfortunately, the winger endured another difficult evening.
His night was set up badly from the opening moments when he miscontrolled a simple pass, and he struggled to make an impact as Leeds dominated.
On this evidence, those who questioned Newcastle’s decision not to cash in on Murphy will feel justified.
Newcastle had previously made attempts to sign James Trafford, with the England international having been heavily linked with a move to St James’ Park.
Instead, Trafford eventually ended up at Leeds.
Midway through the second half, the home supporters serenaded their goalkeeper with chants of “England’s No.1”.
Trafford did not have an extremely difficult evening, but he kept Newcastle out and walked away with a clean sheet as Leeds celebrated a famous 4-1 victory.
For Newcastle, the defeat was a painful reminder that a good start does not mean every weakness has disappeared.
It is still a long season, and Jaissle deserves credit for the strong start he has made since taking charge.
Leeds demonstrated exactly what can happen when Newcastle are denied control of the midfield and forced into a physical battle without enough numbers and runners to compete.
And for Jaissle, it could prove to be one of the most important learning curves of his Newcastle United reign so far.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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