Daniel Farke talks endlessly about Leeds’s emotional fanbase and the need to make Elland Road a fortress so, if his men are to stay in the Premier League, a point like this could prove priceless.
Farke’s newly-promoted side, who beat Everton here in their season-opener, eked out a hard-earned draw against a Newcastle outfit with far loftier ambitions.
Genuine goalscoring chances were scarce throughout for both sides and how the visitors could have used Nick Woltemade, their new club-record signing from Stuttgart who watched on from the stands.
The Germany striker, who stands 6ft 6in, completed his move in a deal worth up to £69million earlier in the day and was not eligible to feature, but looked entertained by what he saw.
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The atmosphere was raucous and Leeds, while lacking quality in the final third, showed they will be no pushovers at their vintage home this season. “We all love Leeds, we all love Leeds,” chorused the home stands at the final whistle.
Leeds went into the match on the back of a traumatic week which included a 5-0 hammering at Arsenal last Saturday and a humiliating Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday three days later.
Farke’s side lost 3-0 on penalties at Hillsborough to a Wednesday side made up largely of academy players, so the visit of Newcastle was a time for the hosts to stand their ground.
If Leeds were to suffer a second successive drubbing, could they really consider themselves ready to establish themselves in the Premier League? Leeds had not lost here in the league since 14 September last year, a run of 21 games and a record currently bettered by only two sides in the top four tiers of English football.
The locals belted out the Leeds anthem Marching on Together with almost religious zeal before kick-off and, with the old stadium resembling something of a lion’s den, there was certainly no hiding place for Newcastle.
Not that there was any suggestion they were looking. Roared on by a boisterous away following in a corner of Elland Road’s vintage West Stand, Eddie Howe’s men purred ominously at times during the opening quarter. Tino Livramento escaped down the left flank inside the fifth minute and delivered a delicious low cross across the face of goal, with no Newcastle player on hand to convert.
It was a warning to Leeds in the incessant, swirling drizzle and Will Osula, the former Sheffield United striker who was making his first Premier League start for Newcastle, then went close. He latched on to a cross from Jacob Ramsey and hit a shot which drew a vital block from Leeds’ impressive Sweden international left-back, Gabriel Gudmundsson.
The hosts gradually steadied themselves and began to pose some questions of their own, with Italy winger Willy Gnonto their biggest threat on the left flank.
Newcastle continued to probe and Ramsey crossed to Osula, whose shot was blocked by Gudmundsson.
For Leeds, Gnonto at times looked as if he was on a one-man mission to unlock Newcastle’s defence. The diminutive winger was superb, driving at the heart of the Geordies’ defence and causing them plenty of problems.
For Leeds, too often they lacked a final ball and cutting edge required to breach the visiting rearguard. That was typified in the 35th minute when Sweden left-back Gudmundsson delivered a teasing low cross to the far post.
It was crying out for a home player to bury it, but Dan James and Jayden Bogle got in each other’s way and the opportunity was spurned.
Two minutes before the break, Jacob Murphy was afforded the space to hit a fierce right-foot shot which Lucas Perri parried for a corner.
Moments later, Fabian Schär’s clever curled effort was deflected over for a corner which came to nothing.
Six minutes into the second half, Bogle collected possession 25 yards from goal and blazed over the crossbar.
Moments later, Murphy went close for Newcastle with a long-range piledriver which Lucas Perri tipped around a post. Farke threw on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jack Harrison in the final quarter as the pair helped to Leeds threaten a winner which did not quite materialise.
