PLAYER RATINGS: Patrick Bamford’s crucial penalty miss proves costly as Leeds draw with Newcastle
Sam Allardyce won his first point as Leeds manager as his side earned a point in a pulsating 2-2 draw with Newcastle at Elland Road.
The home side took the lead within minutes through Luke Ayling, but then missed the chance to double their lead when Nick Pope saved Patrick Bamford’s penalty.
To rub salt in the wounds, Newcastle quickly got a penalty of their own to see Callum Wilson draw the Magpies’ level. The striker then repeated the trick with 20 minutes remaining and scored a second penalty to put Eddie Howe’s team ahead.
Rasums Kristensen managed to save a point for Leeds ten minutes from time, but if it comes to that, the point will be enough to keep them in the division.
Sportsmail’s Jason Mellor gives us his ratings for both teams in the 2-2 draw.
Sam Allardyce celebrates scoring a point in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle at Elland Road
To lead
Joel Robles5
Didn’t stand a chance with one of Callum Wilson’s clinical punishments. Too many unconvincing punches made for a far from confident display.
Luke Ayling 8
The Leeds captain led by example in another lung-bursting effort which was rewarded with an early goal.
Rasmus Kristensen 8
An unlikely goalscoring hero, the Dane enjoyed Callum Wilson’s physical struggles and earned his share of luck with his late leveler.
Rasmus Kristensen’s goal meant Leeds got a crucial point in their battle against the drop
Max Weber 5
The Australian will look back with regret on his unnecessary, ill-timed challenge on Alexander Isak, which led to Newcastle’s game-changing penalty.
Junior Firmo 5
Sent off in stoppage time and in reality it was a red card that had come in an increasingly undisciplined performance from the full-back.
Weston McKennie 4
Weston who? Having been too often since joining mid-season on loan, the US international has been a largely peripheral figure.
The American Weston McKennie was unable to get a grip on the Newcastle attackers all afternoon
Robin Cook 6
The Germany international had done his job in an unbridled midfield battle with Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes, but gave as best he could.
Sam Greenwood6
The young Wearsider has impressed Sam Allardyce since the arrival of the new manager and it’s easy to see why as the midfielder continues to underline his potential.
Rodrigo 7
Played a key role in Leeds’ early goal and reminded Leeds of the void he left during a six-week injury absence earlier this year with another genuine performance.
Patrick Bamford3
Penalties are not to be missed, especially in Leeds’ predicament. Bamford’s latest costly blunder helped turn the tide in Newcastle’s direction.
Patrick Bamford shows his disappointment after missing a penalty in the first half for Leeds
Jack Harrison5
Neat and tidy and got more than his fair share of work done, but the attacker largely lacked sharpness.
Substitutes:
Adam Forshaw for Greenwood 46 min – 8
Willie Gnonto for Harrison 64 minutes – 6
Brenden Aaronson for Rodrigo 87 mins
Pascal Struijk for Bamford 90 minutes
Substitutes (not used): Meslier, Roca, Summerville, Rutter, Gray.
Newcastle
Nick Pope 7
Showed uncharacteristically indecisive handling in the run-up to Luke Ayling’s opener, but more than penalized with his crucial penalty against Bamford.
Nick Pope was Newcastle’s hero when he saved a Patrick Bamford penalty in the first half
Kieran Trippier 7
Another cool-blooded display amidst the mayhem from the Newcastle skipper who barely put a foot wrong.
Fabian Scar 7
Put his feet and head where it hurts when it matters and remain Toon’s unsung hero of their standout campaign.
Sven Botman7
Won’t be happy if he’s part of a back-four to score two goals, but on an individual level the Dutchman did little wrong.
Daniel Burn 6
The impromptu fullback fielded most of what Rodrigo could throw at him throughout the game to underline his versatility and value to Eddie Howe.
Bruno Guimaraes 5
Has looked off pace in the last few games and a second half caution for diving is nothing to write home about.
Bruno Guimares was not at his best and was booked in the second half for diving by the referee
Jolinton 6
The centerpiece for much of Newcastle’s work going forward, but the Brazilian’s reckless challenge to conced a first-half penalty should have proved more costly.
Joe Willock 4
For the most part, the midfielder played the unwanted role of a little boy lost among the big boy challenges.
Miguel Almiron6
Put in a great shift to the right both forward and backward and came painfully close to scoring in stoppage time of the first half.
Two more goals from Callum Wilson mean the striker now has 15 goals for Newcastle this season
Callum Wilson 9
On two occasions he kept his spirits up to make it seven goals in the last five games to show the hapless Bamford exactly how to take penalties under pressure.
Alexander Isaac 8
Continues to look like a threat operating on the left after the tactical switch to put both Wilson and the Swede into the starting line-up.
Substitutes:
Anthony Gordon for Almiron 72 mins
Alan Saint Maximin for Wilson 72 minutes
Eliot Anderson for Willock 87 minutes
Replacements (not used): Dubravka, Dummett, Lewis, Targett, Manquillo, Murphy.
Referee: Simon Hooper 6