Newcastle could not find a way past Lucas Perri but the Leeds keeper only had a couple of stops to make
19:41, 30 Aug 2025Updated 23:50, 30 Aug 2025
Newcastle United’s William Osula (left) and Leeds United’s Joe Rodon battle for the ball (Image: PA)
Newcastle United were taunted with chants of “Isak is gone” at Elland Road tonight – but they could have done with the Sweden star’s killer touch in front of goal.
Just like Aston Villa two weeks ago, the Magpies created sufficient openings in either half but failed to produce that all-important clinical touch when and where it mattered.
William Osula was not the answer this evening but high profile senior attackers such as Harvey Barnes and £55m summer signing Anthony Elanga also did not manage a meaningful effort on goal.
As Nick Woltemade watched on from the stands, the German forward will walk into the team against Wolves after the international break.
It’s whether he will somehow end up playing alongside Isak with the sulking striker still praying for a late bid from Liverpool.
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On a rain-sodden night at Leeds, Newcastle fans made their feelings clear on Isak – and they didn’t wait until the end to air them this time.
Indeed, the air was turned blue when Newcastle fans responded to those “Isak is gone” chants. But Newcastle looked woefully short of a goalscoring option.
Has Isak said goodbye to his team-mates? That was one suggestion on Swedish TV today but Newcastle insist he may be forced to stay and Liverpool are yet to submit a bid.
After Tino Livramento had crossed in from the left early in the game, William Osula failed to get a touch with an opening squandered, as Nick Woltemade watched on from the stands.
Livramento then conceded a free-kick by fouling Daniel James on seven minutes but Anton Stach steered the effort wide.
A slight technical glitch with the referee’s audio equipment briefly held up the game for 15 minutes before Osula was presented with another chance from a Jacob Ramsey cross.
But rather than swiping his boot at the ball first time he opted to take three touches, giving the Leeds defence time to recover and Gabriel Gudmundsson the chance to get a block in.
The story of the first half hour was the fact Newcastle had no issues working the ball into the box whether that was through Livramento, Jacob Murphy or Kieran Trippier, they just lacked any type of clinical touch.
Keeper Nick Pope was booked on 37 minutes after charging out of his goal and almost ending up in the away end.
Pope, who sliced wildly into the crowd, was then issued with a yellow card for stopping Daniel James taking a quick throw.
Murphy managed the first shot on target from long range on 42 minutes with Lucas Perri making a fine save. Moments later, Fabian Schar tried something different with a curling effort but it ended up on the roof of the net via a deflection.
The two sides went in level at the break with Newcastle edging possession but managing just one shot on target.
Murphy would be the first Toon player to try his luck again in the second half when unleashing a powerful swerving shot from 25 yards which Perri palmed away to safety.
As the game reached the hour mark locked at 0-0, Newcastle made changes with Lewis Hall and Anthony Elanga coming on.
An injury to Sven Botman, with Lukas Nmecha standing on his boot, then forced another reshuffle with Harvey Barnes replacing him on 69 minutes and Newcastle switching to a back four.
Leeds threw on former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the final 21 minutes with the ex-England international getting a couple of early glimpses of goal.
Calvert-Lewin struck a low shot at Pope in the final minute with the Newcastle stopper saving with his boot. Had that gone in it would have been a dagger in the heart, but Newcastle scraped the point.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Lancashire)
Attendance: 36,727
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