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25 min: Murphy crosses low from the right but can’t find Osula in the middle. Both teams are nearly getting there. Meanwhile here’s more from James Humphries, who is definitely still not drinking on the train, officer: “To be fair, one of football’s little joys is watching a ref/assistant trying not to look like they’re dying inside as they stand on a touchline getting mocked by thousands, having their bum-bag battery adjusted and fiddling with their ear like they’re wondering if that second pass with the cotton bud was a terrible error. (I’d say ‘who’d be a ref, eh’ to close the circle but no, not quite able to take the broad view yet.)”
23 min: … nothing occurs, as Newcastle pull it back for Trippier, whose delivery from deep is no good. Leeds counter through Gnonto down the right. Gnonto crosses low, but Nmecha can’t quite extend his toes far enough to poke home at the near post. Pope gathers.
22 min: Guimaraes drops deep and nearly releases Osula down the middle with a raking ball. A little bit too much power on the pass. But Newcastle come again, through Murphy, who wins a corner down the right. From which …
21 min: … and it stops again as Ramsey gets a spot of treatment, having been caught from behind by an over-eager Longstaff. That could have been a booking. Thankfully Ramsey is good to continue, and so, having stopped again, we start again. Again.
19 min: James cuts in from the right and curls a dangerous-looking low cross into the Newcastle box. Botman dives to clear with a brilliant defensive header. Had he not intervened, Gnonto was meeting that cross, six yards out. A good game now, if a bit stop-and-start.
18 min: The rain continues to tip down. Summer’s gone, kids. Calling captain autumn.
16 min: Ramsey scampers down the left and fires a low ball into the box for Osula, who spins on the spot and fires a drive towards the bottom right. Gudmundsson makes a brave block. That was heading in otherwise. Leeds hack the ball behind, then deal with the resulting corner. So close to the opener.
14 min: The assistant has sourced some new batteries for his earpiece and the game can restart. Is the simple act of shouting at each other not the done thing any more?
12 min: Play is temporarily suspended because one of the referee’s assistants is having trouble with his headset. Good grief.
10 min: Murphy dribbles down the inside-right channel but eventually loses the ball, then gives Osula the what-for, presumably for not making a run and thus failing to give him an option to pass.
8 min: James dribbles in from the right and is caught from behind by Livramento, who is certainly putting himself about during these early exchanges. A free kick and so everyone lines up on the edge of the Newcastle box. With everyone expecting Stach to swing the ball in, he tries to catch Pope out with a low drive towards the bottom-right corner. There’s a gap there, but the shot sails harmlessly wide right. Think Gary McAllister in the final minute of the Merseyside derby at Goodison in 2001, only the other way around, and not as successful.
7 min: James combines with Stach as Leeds launch their first sortie down the middle, but Schar gets in the road to close the avenue to goal.
6 min: Other than that one burst from Livramento, this match hasn’t got going yet. Not sure whether James Humphries will care or not: “On my way back to Glasgow having watched Motherwell chuck a lead away again in the comedy/poundshop Pep style (ably assisted by the ref, but it’s a game in the SPFL so of course it was) against a team coached by one of our ex-managers, so I’m in a sufficiently foul mood that my hope for Dirty Leeds vs Dirty Money Newcastle is that they both somehow lose. A guy on the platform was handing out tins, though (which in case any of the transport polis are reading, I am definitely not drinking on the train) so maybe by the time we get home I’ll be wishing goodwill to both these fine historic teams. Maybe. Who’d be a football fan, eh?”
4 min: Livramento wriggles clear of Bogle and Rodon down the left, and into acres of space. He can’t find Murphy in the middle with his low cross, and Leeds get away with a big one. That was a fine run by the England full-back.
2 min: A fairly nondescript start to the game, during which Leeds see plenty of the ball. Elland Road in good voice.
Leeds get the ball rolling. The rain tipping down in West Yorkshire.
Before kick-off, there’s a moment of applause to remember all the Leeds fans who have passed away during the last 12 months. A beautifully warm ovation.
The teams are out! Leeds in white with blue trim that takes us back to the late seventies, Newcastle in third-choice blue that takes us back to the late nineties (19th or 20th century, the choice is yours). We’ll be off after a couple of minutes of this piccolo-infused classic.
Daniel Farke talks to Sky and is asked about his two full debutants, Sean Longstaff and Lukas Nmecha. “We have a tough start … away at Arsenal and then you play against Newcastle who were in their last game against 11 men the better side … we know it’s a tough fixture … at Elland Road we always have a chance … we want to use that today … intensity alone won’t be enough … quality on the ball … a good structure off it … Newcastle are one of the most intense sides … one of the toughest tasks … we expect a difficult game … but we will play to our own strengths … for [former Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff] it’s a pretty emotional game but also a chance to shine … we need him at his best … [striker Lukas Nmecha’s] physicality against a pretty physical defence is a good choice … hopefully they can both deliver.”
Howe also clears up any confusion over today’s selection of Fabian Schär, whose substitution against Liverpool was erroneously reported at the time to be a result of concussion. “No it wasn’t [concussion] … he was actually fine … we made the decision to take him off because we couldn’t risk going down to nine men … there was a little bit of confusion but the doctor followed all the Premier League protocols and he was fine.”
Newcastle finally landed a striker this morning, in the shape of 6ft 5in Nick Woltemade, and Eddie Howe is delighted, telling Sky Sports: “He’s got a presence, that’s for sure! … it was great to meet him in person yesterday … what a warm, great guy … friendly … he’s going to add a lot to our changing room … also add a lot on the pitch … real technical skills … hopefully he can score a lot of goals for us … I’ve got no idea on [how this signing affects the Alexander Isak] situation … I’m totally separate from it … I’m working on preparation for today.”
Leeds United make two changes to the side that started the 5-0 defeat at Arsenal this time last week. Joël Piroe and Ao Tanaka make way for Sean Longstaff and Lukas Nmecha, both of whom are making their full debuts.
Newcastle United make four changes to the XI selected to start that rollercoaster 3-2 loss against Liverpool. Sven Botman, William Osula, Jacob Murphy and full-debutant Jacob Ramsey come in for the injured Joelinton, the suspended Anthony Gordon, and Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga, who both drop to the bench. Sandro Tonali has recovered from the shoulder problem he suffered on Monday evening.
The teams
Leeds United: Lucas Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Nmecha, Gruev, Stach, James, Longstaff, Gnonto.
Subs: Darlow, Calvert-Lewin, Piroe, Aaronson, Bijol, Okafor, Harrison, Bornauw, Justin.
Newcastle United: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey, Livramento, Osula, Jacob Murphy.
Subs: Ramsdale, Hall, Lascelles, Barnes, Thiaw, Krafth, Elanga, Willock, Miley.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside).
Preamble
Both of these teams are hurting right now. And here’s why.
An opportunity to salve the sting presents itself at 5.30pm UK time. It’s on!
