LEEDS — Leeds United maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign with a breathless 4-1 victory over Newcastle United at home, moving up to third in the table and handing Matthias Jaissle his first defeat as Newcastle boss. Both sides arrived with five points from their opening three games, but Leeds' relentless press proved decisive.
Leeds felt aggrieved when Matias Fernandez-Pardo, making his first start for Newcastle, avoided punishment for an alleged handball inside the penalty area in the second minute. Lukas Hornicek kept Newcastle level with saves to deny Jayden Bogle in the 14th and 25th minutes, before Ao Tanaka's 32nd-minute strike deflected off two Newcastle defenders, with the last touch off Lewis Miley, to wrong-foot the goalkeeper. Three minutes later Jayden Bogle got the final touch on Dominic Calvert-Lewin's bullet header for 2-0, and Calvert-Lewin bulldozed into the area to slot home in first-half stoppage time for 3-0. Noah Okafor added a fourth in the 59th minute with a weak-foot volley on the bounce, before Bazoumana Toure grabbed an 89th-minute consolation for the visitors, who were without the electric Anthony Elanga.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke told Sky Sports: “I wasn’t happy that we allowed them to score one goal. But, it doesn’t take anything away from the fact that my boys were brilliant and we fully deserved to win the game. There’s no such thing as a perfect performance though, and this is one of the rare points I have to criticise.” Farke added: “He’s in outstanding shape and he plays with lots of confidence. I expect him to lead the group and he’s taken the responsibility,” and said of Calvert-Lewin: “His work rate is top. It’s not just scoring the goals. The way he plays for us is outstanding. He’s definitely one of the stand out strikers in the league.”
Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle told Sky Sports: “That’s the Premier League. It was clear from the start and I have said many times we will have ups and downs and challenges along the way. Tonight, we faced that challenge. It’s really tough. Difficult to digest, but this is a chance to learn because there’s not long until the next match at home to show the right reaction.” He added: “You need to bring the fundamentals on the pitch against a physical and strong team. Leeds are so intense, especially at home and we couldn’t match that physicality in the first half. That was a key element. No excuses, we have to learn from it.”
Jamie Carragher said on Monday Night Football that Leeds have been fifth in the Premier League table since December and that Newcastle were “beaten up by a really good Premier League team.” Carragher added: “Calvert-Lewin was unplayable. One of the greatest sights in football is seeing a centre-forward rise above everyone and attack the ball,” and noted Newcastle were bullied by Leeds’ physicality. The result leaves Leeds third after four rounds of fixtures, their highest position at this stage of a season since the 2000/01 campaign.