Leeds United lessons learned vs Newcastle as Brenden Aaronson gets his flowers and old foe causes more pain
Lessons learned from defeat at Newcastle where Leeds United’s unbeaten run came to an end.
Leeds United came off worse in a seven-goal thriller at St James’ Park on Wednesday night after losing 4-3 against Newcastle United. Daniel Farke’s side took the lead on three separate occasions but threw each one away before conceding the decisive goal 13 minutes into second-half added-time.
Brenden Aaronson was twice on target for Leeds with Dominic Calvert-Lewin also scoring from the spot, but it ultimately counted for nothing as the Whites left St James’ Park with their seven-game unbeaten run over. Below are some of the YEP’s key takeaways from a dramatic night.
Leeds United injury boost
There was some positive news just over an hour before kick-off on Wednesday, with Joe Rodon returning not only to the squad but straight back into the starting line-up. The Welshman missed two games with an ankle ligament injury and was initially pencilled in to make his comeback after this weekend’s FA Cup third round tie against Derby County.
And despite only returning to team training earlier this week, Rodon managed to play 97 minutes of a chaotic game in which he covered runners, blocked shots and tackled Newcastle opposition. The Welshman limped off minutes before Leeds conceded their fourth but it just looked like cramp.
Brenden Aaronson’s brilliant form
Leeds started on the front foot and were rewarded for their efforts, with Aaronson on target once again from around 20 yards. The American rifled his effort into the bottom corner and got himself another goal with another brilliant finish in the second-half, working half a yard before finishing across the goalkeeper.
Aaronson has been in great form recently with Wednesday’s brace making it three goals in two games, enough for the away end at St James’ Park to sing ‘Aaronson again ole, ole’ to the tune of loanee Manor Solomon’s old chant. The energetic midfielder was unfortunate to handball inside his own box for a Newcastle penalty but his overall performance was excellent..
A regular foe returns
Harvey Barnes has long been a nightmare opponent and took his one-man mission to cause Leeds pain to another level on Wednesday, scoring Newcastle’s first and fourth goals. The winner, a pop-shot on the spin after scruffy defending, sunk anyone in blue to their knees in crushing fashion.
Before Wednesday, Leeds were one of three teams Barnes had scored six goals against but they now stand alone as his favourite opponent by some way. Luckily for the Whites, they won’t have to face him again this season and doing so in the 2026/27 campaign will be a positive, as it will mean they’ve survived.
Throwing away leads
Getting anything from Newcastle was always going to be difficult and the unbeaten run had to come to an end at some point, but to lose despite going ahead three times and being in the lead as 90 minutes passed is devastating. Leeds responded so well after conceding each time but having regained leads, couldn’t cope with the onslaught.
It will come as a surprise that prior to Wednesday, Newcastle hadn’t won a single Premier League point from a losing position but now they’ve got three. And while Leeds can take plenty of positives from their performance at St James’ Park, no one will be feeling good about the result.