Leeds United’s run of four successive victories in all competitions was brought to an abrupt halt on Sunday by league leaders Newcastle United, who captured all three points courtesy of a brace from Dwight Gayle.

The match saw both clubs pay homage to Gary Speed, who had sported the colours of both sides during his playing career, in the 11th minute with a rapturous moment’s applause.

Leeds, who were unbeaten in seven home games in all competitions prior to kick-off at Elland Road, saw their impressive run of form ended by a clinical Newcastle side. When Rob Green’s glaring error presented a clear-cut opportunity for Dwight Gayle to score on 23 minutes, the former Crystal Palace hitman duly obliged by smashing the ball into the back of the net from close quarters. Although Leeds briefly rallied and thus enjoyed a welcome spell of pressure as the first-half drew to a close, their endeavour was to no avail. Indeed it would be the visitors who were to net the next goal just eight minutes into the second period; after a fluent, free-flowing foray culminated in Gayle’s second of the match, the Toon Army’s talisman turning in Vurnon Anita’s cutback from inside the penalty area.

The result sees Leeds (26) sit seventh in the table, with the Whites trailing sixth-placed Norwich (27) by a mere point. Newcastle’s success on the day sees them extend their advantage at the top of the table to five points, with Rafa Benitez’s charges having now amassed a substantial total of 40 points so far this campaign.

Team Lineups

Leeds United (4-2-3-1) - Green; Ayling, Jansson, Bartley, Taylor; Vieira (Sacko 62’), O’Kane; Roofe, Phillips, Doukara (Antonsson 78’); Wood.

Unused Substitutes: Silvestri, Cooper, Dallas, Grimes, Berardi.

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1) - Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Colback (Hayden 83’), Shelvey; Ritchie, Perez, Gouffran (Diame 76’); Gayle (Mitrovic 79’).

Unused Substitutes: Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels, Atsu.

First-Half

The hosts kicked off proceedings, shooting toward the Kop. With a sell-out crowd in attendance, the atmosphere was palpable.

It would be the visitors Newcastle who would carve out the game’s first goalscoring chance of note with seven minutes played. Jonjo Shelvey thought on his feet and played an intelligent ball into the path of Dwight Gayle, but fortunately for the hosts, Rob Green hastened to rush out and make a good save to avert the danger.

The opening 20 minutes had predominantly seen Newcastle firmly in the ascendancy, with their pre-eminence in possession plain for all to see. Sure enough, their break arose on 23 minutes, when Jack Colback attempted an audacious lob from far out. Leeds goalkeeper Green managed to get his hands to the ball before it crossed the line, but he could only tap it into the path of a lurking Dwight Gayle who scored a trouble-free tap-in from a yard out. 1-0 to the visitors, and on the balance of play, a deserved lead.

Having taken the lead by way of Green’s blunder, Rafa Benitez’s men threatened the home goal once more on 27 minutes. Yoan Gouffran surged past a couple of Leeds defenders before shooting wide from 18 yards.

With half-an-hour played, Leeds would have a good chance to pull level. Kalvin Phillips’ set-piece delivery from the right was flicked on by Chris Wood before Luke Ayling headed towards goal, forcing Karl Darlow into a diving save. The resulting corner was again whipped in by Phillips, and although Pontus Jansson managed to make contact with the ball, the Swede’s header flew straight down the throat of Darlow in the Newcastle net.

Leeds had begun to emerge from their shell, and the hosts would have another effort on 36 minutes. Ronaldo Vieira attempted to recreate his fine winning goal at Norwich from 20 yards out, but his wayward effort flew high into the stand, to the dismay of his teammates.

Three minutes later, and there was cause for controversy when Charlie Taylor appeared to have been impeded in the penalty area with three Newcastle bodies around him, but referee Graham Scott contentiously opted against awarding a penalty kick.

After a succession of Leeds corners and ensuing penalty area scrambles, the Whites would again be denied a penalty by Scott just before half-time. Jack Colback looked certain to have handled a Vieira cross but the referee once again chose not to award a penalty, to the sheer fury of the home support. Pontus Jansson also went into the book for dissent, meaning that he will be suspended for the away fixture to Rotherham next weekend.

That would prove to be the final action of note in the first-half, and after he called time on a frenetic opening 45 minutes, Scott was vociferously booed from all corners of the ground as an incensed home support made sure he knew exactly what they thought of him.

HT - Leeds United 0-1 Newcastle United

For the opening half-an-hour, Newcastle were in cruise control of proceedings, adhering to a methodical style of play and enjoying a fair share of ball possession. Towards the end of the half, Leeds rallied and managed to force a deluge of corners whilst also penning their opposition back into their own half, but alas, their effort was to be in vain. The Whites should have most certainly been conferred a spot-kick after Jack Colback’s evident handball, but it was not to be.

Second-Half

As Leeds had begun the first-half, it was the right of the visitors to kick off the second, but with just four second-half minutes played, it would be the hosts who would create a glorious opportunity to draw level. Midfielder Eunan O’Kane turned elegantly inside the Newcastle box before drilling a low effort towards goal, but the accomplished Darlow made yet another fine save to keep his side’s lead intact.

United’s failure to take that particular opportunity would return to haunt them just five minutes later, when Vurnon Anita raced onto a beautifully weighted through ball before playing a low cross into the direction of Gayle, who turned the ball in from close range to score his second goal of the game, and his 13th of the season.

Leeds head coach Garry Monk responded to that setback by bringing on flying winger Hadi Sacko for central midfielder Ronaldo Vieira, who had, unfortunately, looked like a fish out of water, having struggled to contend with two adept opposition midfielders with a far greater amount of experience in Shelvey and Colback.

The hosts would then have a chance to halve the deficit on 73 minutes when Kemar Roofe crossed for Souleymane Doukara, whose flying header forced Darlow into yet another save.

Newcastle then made their first substitution on 76 minutes with Yoan Gouffran going off in place of Mohamed Diame. Two minutes passed, before Garry Monk made an alteration to his attack, replacing the ineffective Souleymane Doukara with Marcus Antonsson. A minute later, and Newcastle made their second substitution of the match with Gayle receiving a standing ovation from the travelling supporters as he made way for Aleksander Mitrovic.

Having already been booked, Leeds fan favourite Jansson could have seen red with eight minutes of normal time remaining; the Swede went through the back of Mitrovic but only a free-kick was awarded, nothing more. The industrious Colback was then replaced by Isaac Hayden in Newcastle’s final substitution of the match.

Newcastle’s Darlow would have a rare nervous moment on 86 minutes when he saw his clearance smack against the body of Chris Wood, but fortunately for the former Nottingham Forest stopper, the ball ran out for a goal kick.

That would be the final action of note in the game, with Gayle’s double proving enough for Newcastle to extend their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship table.

FT - Leeds United 0-2 Newcastle United - Gayle (23’, 54’)

A somewhat deserved victory for the away side who converted their chances when they presented themselves, but Leeds still gave a respectable account of themselves against far stronger opposition.

Man of The Match

MOTM - Luke Ayling

Despite the defeat, the diligent, dependable right-back once again put in a solid and spirited performance. He was efficient in both attacking and defending, and was a rare calm, composed figure in possession when many of his teammates were not.

Media: Leeds’ Garry Monk and NEwcastle’s Rafa Benitez

Garry Monk, speaking to BBC Radio Leeds:

"We fell the wrong side of the critical moments, they started well in the first 20 minutes but even then we defended well and we gave them goal but after that we reacted really well.

"It was a clear cut penalty, if that goes in and we get that decision it changes the dynamic of the game and through some of the chances we just needed a goal.

"We have to respect we're playing a good side, it's alright going gung ho but we have to be smart, I thought we got to grips with it and all in all we were competitive again."

Rafa Benitez, speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle:

"I have to say thanks to every player, we could see a performance today against a good team we saw the effort, the mentality was good and the understanding of the game was very good.

"The atmosphere we were talking about as intimidating but we controlled ourselves. We knew what they could do but the players applied themselves and it's a credit to them.

"Everything we tried to do we did well, set-pieces, control of the game and counter-attack. There is room for improvement but I can't complain because we did very well."

Match Statistics and Facts

Stats - (Leeds/Newcastle)

Possession - 52%/48%

Shots - 12/10

On Target - 4/5

Corners - 10/6

Fouls - 12/11

Referee - Graham Scott

Booked - Jansson (Leeds), Colback (Newcastle)

Attendance - 36,002

Writer's View

Well, a disappointing outcome on a day where we remembered Gary Speed with a respectfully observed moment’s applause in the game’s 11th minute. Rob Green’s error for Newcastle’s first proved fatal, while the second was simply an incisive, well crafted goal.

Despite the scoreline, I take the view that it is important to maintain a tad of perspective here. Yes, Newcastle were the victors by two clear goals without reply, but when they have the enviable luxury of bringing on players such as Mohamed Diame (who cost a pittance at £8 million) you have to be realistic. The chances of us taking anything from this game were at best, meagre, and despite the disparity between the cost of the respective sides, we remained fairly competitive throughout and were in no way humbled.

It is disheartening and a great shame that our fantastic home record has been brought to a halt, but we must refrain from being overly negative when reflecting on this result. Today’s game will not define our campaign, and we stand a considerable chance of returning to winning ways next week in our televised fixture away to lowly Rotherham, who have won just once all season.

Photo: Action Images

TimWhelan added 22:45 - Nov 20 Another costly error from Green for the first goal. OK, so he was back-peddling and couldn’t catch the ball for fear of carrying it over his line, but didn't have to drop the ball in front of Gayle . He could have tipped it over the bar, punched it, or knocked it over Gayle for Jansson to deal with. Is it time to recall Silvestri? Overall a reasonable performance. We learned that we're not good enough to compete with the top team in this division, but nor are the other clubs we're battling against for a play-off place.

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