Leeds United put forward a case for their promotion credentials for the upcoming season, with a 3-2 victory against a strong Newcastle side on Sunday.
Goals from Patrick Kisnorbo, Lloyd Sam and Billy Paynter secured the win for Simon Grayson’s side, with Steven Taylor and Haris Vuckic netting for the visitors in a highly entertaining friendly match at Elland Road.
With both teams fielding strong line-ups, it was evident that this was not going to be any ordinary pre-season tussle, and that proved to be the case when after just 3 minutes Australian defender Kisnorbo tapped in a gift of a goal, after Toon keeper Fraser Forster fumbled an elementary free-kick.
Alan Pardew’s men looked shell-shocked and constant darting runs from the impressive wing duo of Snodgrass and Gradel threatened the Magpies backline on numerous occasions in the ensuing period.
After soaking up much Leeds pressure, Newcastle equalised from a corner, when Steven Taylor popped up at the back post to slot past debutant Andy Lonergan. It was just reward after impressive build-play previous to the goal, most notably from Joey Barton and the stand-out Yohan Cabaye.
As the second half wore on, Grayson tinkered by making a flurry of changes, and one of those introduced, Lloyd Sam, was to restore the lead for the home side. Sam picked up the ball on the left flank and jinked his way into the area before squeezing a timid shot past Forster at the near post.
Once again though, Newcastle levelled proceedings this time through one of their substitutes. Vuckic, the Slovenian attacker, rifled a shot past Lonergan in front of the 5,000 following Geordies behind the goal.
With both teams looking completely different from the ones that started the match (Leeds alone made seven changes), a game that was looking to peter out into a draw ended in barnstorming fashion when Paynter nodded in at the back post just five minutes from time.
Newcastle went close in the dyeing embers of the game, most notably when Sammy Ameobi wasted two gilt-edged chances, but they were unable to restore parity for a third time giving the Yorkshiremen a morale-boosting win heading into the curtain-raiser at Southampton next Saturday.
Pardew’s men, missing the likes of Ben Arfa, Collocini and Tiote, host Italian side Fiorentina on the same day, in anticipation of their opener against Arsenal the following week.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Yohan CABAYE – ran the show for the Geordies and looks a quality bit of business by Pardew.
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