There were no goals and not much more inspiration at Elland Road as Leeds United and Newcastle United fought out a goalless draw on Saturday.

Both sides struggled to create meaningful chances in a rugged, uncompromising game that fell into the ‘one for the diehards’ category, although a point was not a poor result for either.

Here, we dissect the talking points.

What’s behind Newcastle’s strange kick-offs?

Perhaps it is premature to declare the death of tiki-taka, but there have been tactical trends in Newcastle’s first three matches which suggest that possession is no longer viewed as everything.

For two away games in succession, Sandro Tonali has floated the ball deep into touch from kick-off. At Villa Park it was the first touch of the game and at Leeds it was how Newcastle began the second half. It is not coincidence.

Under Howe, Newcastle have learned to love the ball after their initial incarnation as a counter-attacking side. Yet there has always been a dash of pragmatism, too, whether in terms of their use of pace or gamesmanship. They mix things up.

Tonali’s long ball at Elland Road had little effect – on Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher referenced Graham Taylor, the late former England manager, who was “pilloried” for his direct style of play – but it was designed to take his team high up the pitch, allowing them to press Leeds, which is a strength. In this way, positioning and pressure are viewed as equal to possession.

There have been other little tweaks, with Tino Livramento again deploying the long throw he has been working on this year and which caused Liverpool some difficulties.

To borrow the old cliche, there is more than one way to win a game. The next step is to actually do it.

George Caulkin

Longstaff makes his mark

It had been a rotten week for Leeds United in the lead-up to Newcastle United’s visit. The euphoric relief of the Everton win had been forgotten in the relentless flow of abject football at Emirates Stadium and Hillsborough.

There was a fear, in just the third league game of the season, things may turn toxic at Elland Road if Eddie Howe’s side raced into a commanding, early lead. Thankfully, the hosts turned up.

Daniel Farke had been under pressure to acknowledge the shortcomings of his tactical plan at Arsenal in his team selection for Newcastle. Sean Longstaff’s full league debut was forced upon the manager by injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka, but Lukas Nmecha was preferred to Joel Piroe at the head of the attack.

Nmecha was not perfect in his link-up play, but more than justified his selection with his physical presence. He occupied Sven Botman and on several occasions, team-mates benefited from the second balls bouncing off their collisions.

Sean Longstaff was an effective enforcer for Leeds (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Longstaff, though, poetically starting against the club at the centre of his universe, was superb. He was one of many to struggle at Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup, but this was so much more promising.

The hope had been he may be able to use his inside knowledge of the visitors to good effect. He never gave Bruno Guimaraes or Sandro Tonali a moment’s rest, he read virtually their every move.

Not only was he sticking his boot in and turning the ball over, but when he had it, we saw positive, forward, snappy passes that helped moved Leeds upfield. It’s an encouraging start for the 27-year-old and he will need to build on it with the injuries Leeds have in the engine room.

Beren Cross

Newcastle need Woltemade, and fast

Nick Woltemade, Newcastle’s new record signing, was watching on from the stands at Elland Road. Finally, the club has a proper centre-forward and the Germany international cannot be integrated soon enough.

Nick Woltemade watches from the stands at Leeds (Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

With no Alexander Isak, for obvious reasons, and Anthony Gordon suspended after his red card against Liverpool, Will Osula made his first Premier League start for Newcastle but, for all his raw potential and willingness to run, the Denmark Under-21 international is not an answer for the here and now.

Osula had arguably the best chance of a moribund first half, in which the first shot on target for either side did not arrive until the 43rd minute. After picking up a ball from Jacob Ramsey, Osula took a couple of touches and then shot, but was denied by Gabriel Gudmundsson’s block.

Yet Osula, who was a goalscoring substitute against Liverpool, was also a source of frustration. In front of the dugout, Howe frequently berated him, pointing at where he should be standing or the space he should be running into. The 22-year-old has pace, but lacks tactical awareness.

What Newcastle’s position in the table might look like had Isak made himself available will forever be unknown, but it has undoubtedly had an impact. There was a hardening in attitude from the away end, from where there came chants of “Isak’s a ****, ole, ole.”

George Caulkin

Leeds fans boo the Premier League anthem — but why?

For the second home game in succession, Leeds United’s fans gave the Premier League anthem an absolute hammering before Saturday’s kick-off.

As the two teams began shaking hands, Elland Road has to stick on the league’s track of choice. There is little surprise it is audibly hated in these parts. It’s a red rag to a bull, the definition of everything a Leeds supporter hates.

Firstly, it’s a rubbish tune. Secondly, it’s forced the club’s own anthem (‘Marching on Together’) back in the running order to just before kick-off. Historically, it has been played as the teams have exited the tunnel and keeping it there would see it finished early for the league’s MP3 file.

Thirdly, perhaps most importantly, it represents The Establishment. The tune has been shoehorned into Premier League games as a marketing tool, a symbol of the ‘product’ England’s top flight has become.

Leeds fans don’t like confusing their football for a ‘product’.

Beren Cross

What did Daniel Farke say?

The Leeds boss was satisfied with his side’s pugnacious performance against what he deems to be “one of the best sides in the Premier League”.

“This is a side who has dominated on Monday (against Liverpool) with 11, but also with 10 men,” he told Sky Sports. “We were pretty competitive and it was a tight game.

“We made it difficult for Newcastle to have chances. This is always the base, and the next steps will follow, but I didn’t expect that we would come right now. If we can keep this points average then I will organise my own bus tour next summer.

What did Eddie Howe say?

Newcastle’s manager admitted his side had to improve in attacking areas and that he would be relieved when the transfer window was finally closed.

“I thought defensively, we were very strong,” he told Sky Sports. “But I think we’ve got work to do at the other end of the pitch, which is really unlike us. When you lose the quality of players that we have from last season to this, you’re going to suffer slightly.

“I think we’re really looking forward to that clarity (of the window closing). And then, of course, the noise around us, it couldn’t have been easy for the players to handle that all through preseason. Once we have clarity on the squad, we’ll move forward and I’m sure we can do really well this year.”

What next for Leeds?

Saturday, September 13: Fulham (Away), Premier League, 3pm UK, 10am ET

What next for Newcastle?

Saturday, September 13: Wolves (Home), Premier League, 3pm UK, 10am ET

(Top photo: Jack Thomas/Getty Images)