Newcastle 0-0 Leeds: Wasteful hosts have their six-game winning run brought to an end

Just like the rain, Newcastle United did not let up. But as relentless as Eddie Howe’s side were in pursuit of a seventh straight win, Leeds United were equally resistant.

Water resistant? Not quite. But if their yellow jerseys had not already been sodden to the skin come the end, they would have been soaked in sweat, such was the effort needed to repel the country’s most in-form team.

This was two points dropped for Newcastle and one gained for Leeds – 14 shots to four tells you that much. Still, it would be hard to argue there was great injustice in the outcome.

Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff missed a couple of huge chances to give his side all three points

The home side’s finishing was as wild as the weather at times. The good folk of the Gallowgate End were taking cover from both the rainwater and Sean Longstaff’s shooting in the second half.

Leeds offered precious little at the other end but, when they are routinely criticised for being too open and chaotic, a more disciplined display should be applauded. 

It was not pretty, however. Indeed, little was on an afternoon when the conditions aided slick approach play but were far from kind to those attempting to apply some finesse in the final third.

Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier had a fine game, saving well from Chris Wood in the second half

Nick Pope also had to be quick off his line in the first half to stop Leeds’ Brenden Aaronson

Newcastle had the better of a feisty contest, at least in terms of chances, but it said much that the majority came from set-pieces. 

Twice from Kieran Trippier corners they could have scored in the the opening half hour, first when Fabian Schar headed wide and then when Dan Burn swiped at fresh air as the ball bounced around the six-yard area. 

Trippier’s free-kick then presented a sliding Sven Botman with an opening but his close-range poke was smothered by Illan Meslier.

Newcastle defender Fabian Schar (pictured) was brought down inside the box against Leeds

It was the same story after half-time. Trippier’s free-kick was nodded down by Burn and Chris Wood, with just Meslier to beat, prodded straight into the goalkeeper. 

It was a bad miss and, soon after, Callum Wilson was introduced as his replacement.

Wilson’s arrival, along with Allan Saint-Maximin, raised Newcastle’s tempo still further. They could not be faulted for desire and intent. 

Eddie Howe was looking for his side to win for the seventh straight game, but they fell short

Jesse Marsch celebrated after the final whistle as his side managed to hang on for a draw

Schar was then denied by Meslier, his header from a Trippier corner blocked by the keeper’s shin on the goal-line. 

Longstaff then failed to test Meslier with his two openings. Although even if he had found the target, the French stopper was in inspired form.

The game drew to a close amid a mass scuffle, and those scenes just about captured a messy afternoon in which quality had been in short supply.