Goals from wingers Raphinha and Jack Harrison gave Leeds United a 2-1 win at Newcastle United on Tuesday, piling more pressure on Magpies manager Steve Bruce after the club’s winless Premier League run extended to nine games.
With seven defeats in those nine, the result left Newcastle 16th on 19 points from 20 games, while Leeds stayed 12th on 26 from 19 after ending their own three-game winless streak in all competitions.
Brazilian Raphinha fired Leeds ahead in the 17th minute when he side-footed a clinical finish into the bottom right corner from 15 metres after a fine build-up, as Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo carved open the Newcastle defence.
Lacking any bite up front and fortunate not to be trailing by more goals in the first half, the home side equalised out of the blue in the 57th as Miguel Almiron burst forward and steered a low shot past goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Newcastle’s joy was short-lived and they fell behind again four minutes later as Harrison was given time and space on the left to take Raphinha’s pass into his stride and volley past keeper Karl Darlow into the far corner.
Newcastle pressed in the closing stages and missed several chances to salvage a point, with Meslier pulling off a pair of good saves to deny the Magpies who were also guilty of some poor finishing.
CRYSTAL PALACE 2-3 WEST HAM
In Tuesday’s other early kick-off, West Ham United moved into the Premier League top four after Tomas Soucek’s double helped them to a 3-2 victory at London rivals Crystal Palace.
Wilfried Zaha gave Palace the perfect start with a goal after two minutes at a drizzly Selhurst Park but the visitors hit back impressively to claim a fourth straight league victory.
Czech Soucek headed the equaliser after nine minutes and put his side in front after 25 minutes in a dominant first half from the Hammers for whom Michail Antonio twice struck the post.
Craig Dawson’s header gave West Ham breathing space midway through the second half and Palace could not respond until deep into stoppage time when Michy Batshuayi struck a consolation.
West Ham moved above Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool into fourth place with 35 points from 20 games although their nearest rivals all have games in hand.
Palace have now won once in their last seven league games and remain in 13th spot on 23 points.
REUTERS