Leeds United (U21s) 4-2 Newcastle United (U21s)

Leeds United (U21s) 4-2 Newcastle United (U21s)

Premier League 2

Monday 7th November 2022

Two goals in the space of three second half minutes proved to be the catalyst for this victory as Leeds United cemented their position at the top of Premier League 2.

Max Dean was the star performer as he bagged a hat-trick whilst Kris Moore claimed one goal and could have quite easily had a couple more.

Having not been to Thorp Arch before (and with nothing better to do on this Monday afternoon), it was another perfect chance to learn about more 'new' players who I've not really seen that much before - and I wasn't disappointed by some who made a good first impression!

The game got off to a frantic start with Kris Moore (who was one of those to put in a good individual performance) rising highest to send a far-post header from Charlie Allen's cross into the net in only the second minute, but Newcastle quickly hauled themselves back level with Josh Scott slotting home an equaliser just five minutes later.

As to be expected at this level, both teams retained the ball very well and there was a decent intensity about things - plus a couple of challenges which can best be described as 'committed' with Morten Spencer fortunate in the eyes of some to avoid a yellow card before a Newcastle midfielder was booked for bringing down Cody Drameh who did enough to 'skip it' and avoid being properly clattered.

Newcastle's 'high press' tactic caused Leeds a few problems which led to the referee speaking to 'keeper Kristoffer Klaesson who he deemed to not be releasing the ball quickly enough, and there were a handful of chances as the first half progressed with Joe Snowdon having a couple of attempts blocked whilst Allen was also denied on the goal-line.

Spencer, wearing the No.6 shirt for Leeds, got a lot better as the half progressed and he made a really good contribution where he tracked back superbly to get his body behind the ball and thwart Matty Bondswell who was threatening to break away down the left-hand side. Spencer then almost put Leeds ahead with a curling free-kick on 42 minutes which was superbly tipped round the post and from the resulting corner, Moore's header at the back-post into a crowded box might have crept in on a different day but was eventually scrambled away by the Magpies defence.

Leeds remained in the ascendancy up to half-time and started the second half at a good tempo too which ultimately led to them establishing an advantage as Max Dean latched onto Drameh's floated ball over the top, got goal-side of his marker and stabbed a low effort past visiting 'keeper Jude Smith.

The Whites' third goal was a gift handed to them on a plate by Newcastle skipper Alex Murphy who was pressurised high up the pitch by Snowdon which culminated in the defender losing possession on the edge of his own box and, with the Newcastle 'keeper hopelessly out of position (and definitely not expecting his team-mate to make such a mistake), Dean got the ball and his instinctive low shot found the back of the net via the post to make it 3-1, whilst Murphy could only hold his head in his hands and wish the ground would swallow him up!

In fairness to Newcastle - away from home at the league leaders and with the game now threatening to really slip away from them, they didn't 'cave in' and soon reduced arrears thanks to a well-crafted move in and around the Leeds box which culminated in Harry Barclay side-footing a low shot into the net from 12 yards out.

The team from Elland Road responded in the best possible way, however, and made it 4-2 with a high quality finish of their own where the assist was as good as the finish itself. Someone (didn't see who) picked up the ball in the centre circle and drove a few yards with it before finding Alfie McCalmont who demonstrated brilliant intelligence to play a piercing first-time pass through to an advancing Dean who'd made a great run in-behind and duly slotted home for his hat-trick.

The latter stages were 'feisty' to say the least as there were a couple of minor altercations between opposing players where the referee did well to keep control. Amari Miller was accused of grabbing Joe White round the neck; the reality was he just fell awkwardly and landed on him during a tussle for the ball, Newcastle then sought retribution as Miller was clattered, and there was a coming together on the far side of the pitch next to the dugouts.

It was all a bit needless because Leeds had the game won, whilst Klaesson will have felt hard done to on a personal level as he also received a yellow card for 'time-wasting' by the referee which seemed quite harsh.

Overall, Leeds just about deserved the three points and that's because they created more openings during the course of almost 100 minutes which were played - and they created the better openings too. They were clinical and put most of their attempts on target, they were decent in transitions; especially in moving the ball quickly through midfield to pose a threat (and this caused Newcastle numerous issues in the second half) and they also looked dangerous when they got the ball into the channels and were able to cut the ball back towards their No.9 and No.10. 

Newcastle only had two spells when they were marginally on top whereas Leeds seemed in control for large spells in the second half once they'd opened up their advantage.

Individually, Alfie McCalmont stood out in the second half when his first team experience from prior loan spells showed because he dropped back to receive the ball a few times and then either popped passes to team-mates to set things in motion or carried it forward himself. It was a good contribution and he played a brilliant part in the fourth goal which was an example of piercing football with an end product at the end of the move.

Max Dean will grab the headlines with his hat-trick and his predatory finishing (and good technique at times) means he deserves the plaudits he will get but his strike partner, Joe Snowdon impressed a lot as well. Boasting a stocky physique, when the ball was played into Snowdon's feet it stuck. He linked things up, brought others into the game in good areas, had a couple of efforts blocked and also made one lung-busting run across the final third in the closing stages - finding Charlie Allen at the end of it (and no doubt feeling knackered afterwards). His work-rate was impressive and it's something that can only be applauded.

Charlie Allen himself was lively and a big threat in some of the transitions. He claimed an assist, delivered some good balls and played a good role in the second half.

Elsewhere, Codi Drameh's quality was evident whether it be from the quality of his play down the right flank, his good footwork, or an instance midway through the first half where he skipped a tackle which was the sort where if he'd not done so (and his feet had been on the floor when contact was made) he might have got a serious injury. It was good intelligence by him throughout his time on the pitch.

On the left flank, Keenan Carole (the son of Seb Carole) pushed up a lot and made some good contributions - especially in the second half, whilst Amari Miller showed bits and pieces and was targeted in a few incidents late on where Newcastle's players seemed to be more interested in sparking a fight rather than trying to get back on level terms.

Morten Spencer had a strange game but certainly showed his quality in parts. He was wayward with his passing in the first 20 minutes or so, nearly got booked, and he also let out a little scream when he misplaced a pass just inside his own half in the second period which nearly set a Newcastle attack in motion, but other than that, he did alright and there was still enough in his performance to make me want to watch him again at some point. Sitting just infront of the Leeds defence, he made a faultless defensive contribution to stop Newcastle's No.3 breaking away just before half-time, showed his quality with a set-piece which Jude Smith did well to claw away, and was the architect of a couple of good through balls - such as one over the top in the second half and a disguised low ball through the eye of the needle in the first which was unlucky not to lead to something as a Leeds player was offside.

At the back, James Debayo did okay, but the centre-back who really stood out from a very early stage in the game was Kris Moore. He was 'chirpy' at times (in a good way though) and always talking and encouraging his team-mates throughout; demonstrating good signs of leadership despite the fact he wasn't wearing the armband. It was always positive - and moreover he posed a threat at set-plays; scoring once and going close on two other occasions. He isn't the biggest height-wise but he makes up for it through his leap, his leadership, his positioning and his reading of the game and this was a good contribution from him. Defensively, he was sound as he was mostly up against Isaac Westendorf (Newcastle's best player) and he dealt with him especially well and the only downside was the yellow card he received which happened because his first touch got him into trouble and he tangled with a Newcastle player who ran across him as he tried to recover his position. I'll be keeping an eye on his progress for sure.

Newcastle's best two players were Isaac Westendorf (No.9) and Matty Bondswell (No.3).

Westendorf is an absolute specimen; thighs the size of tree trunks, about 6ft4 in height and a big unit who'd have no problems, in my opinion, when it comes to imposing himself in first team football. The service he got in this game wasn't brilliant; too many 'clipped balls' up to him but he did what he could and his quality still stood out with good footwork, movement and being tidy on the ball when he did have it at his feet, despite the fact he was up against a good defender.

Bondswell made a very good contribution in the first half to read a situation well and not go 'diving in' when Leeds had an overload inside the area. That was followed by being lively on the left flank where he linked a fair amount of things up, had quality on his deliveries and showed intelligent play.

Leeds United: Kristoffer Klaesson, Cody Drameh, Keenan Carole, Kris Moore, James Debayo, Morten Spencer, Charlie Allen, Alfie McCalmont (C), Max Dean, Joe Snowdon, Amari Miller. Subs: Harry Christy, Charlie Crew, Cian Coleman, Sonny Perkins, Luca Thomas.

Newcastle United: Jude Smith, Harry Barclay, Matty Bondswell, Jamie Miley, Niall Bookwell, Alex Murphy (C), Josh Scott, Nathan Carlyon, Isaac Westendorf, Joe White, Dylan Stephenson. Subs: Charlie Wiggett, Will Brown, James Huntley, Amadou Diallo, Cameron Ferguson.