The incessant rain had long since plastered Jesse Marsch’s hair flat to his head and left water dripping down the back of his neck, but the Leeds manager appeared almost oblivious to the discomfort.
As the final whistle blew, all he cared about was the precious point that, in ending Newcastle’s run of six successive Premier League victories, suggested he is doing a decent job after all. On this evidence he and Leeds should end the season in the top tier.
After restraining himself sufficiently to exchange a polite handshake with Eddie Howe, the American subsequently toured the pitch, exchanging embraces and high fives with his team as they celebrated the successful execution of an impressively streetwise gameplan.
Special hugs were reserved for Tyler Adams, who was excellent against Bruno Guimarães in central midfield, and Illan Meslier, superb in vital moments on a day when he was often underworked in goal.
“The clean sheet is as important as the point,” said Marsch, who has spent much of the past few weeks refining his defensive tactics. “We played very well in the first half, in the second half Newcastle went very direct but we fought tooth and nail.”
Howe, whose side remain third, understandably regarded it as two points dropped. “It was just one of those days when it wasn’t to be,” he said. “Leeds were very good defensively; they’re a tough opponent and it turned into a very difficult game. But it shows how far we’ve come that by the end they were doing everything they could to waste time.”
The heavy, icy rain galvanised the visitors from the off and they refused to allow Newcastle to settle, let alone establish any sort of coherent passing rhythm.
Apparently oblivious to the soaking he was receiving, Marsch applauded enthusiastically as time after time his team closed Newcastle down so assiduously that suffocation appeared a real danger – particularly for the uncommonly quiet attacking trident of Miguel Almirón, Chris Wood and Joelinton.
The only exception to this defensive discipline seemed to be at set pieces. As an unmarked Fabian Schär directed a header fractionally wide from Kieran Trippier’s corner, Leeds could count themselves extremely lucky not to have fallen behind. Dan Burn, Sven Botman and Wood followed Schär’s example in spurning inviting chances from set plays.
Once again, a team whose alarming vulnerability to dead balls has so often cost them dear, were without Patrick Bamford. The good news for their fans is that the striker, who spent 2022 either sidelined by injury or playing when less than fully fit, has recently undergone a groin operation that is being regarded as the solution to those long-term problems. Marsch hopes Bamford will resume training this week and believes he can still play “a very big part” this season.
Albeit in a different position, Guimarães exerts a similarly talismanic effect on Newcastle but Adams did a fine job of shackling the Brazil midfielder.
Leeds’s refreshing first-half refusal to sit back and defend in depth ensured that the Newcastle defence needed to be alert during those moments when Wilfried Gnonto and Jack Harrison ran at them with the ball at their feet. “The important thing is we didn’t lose,” said Howe, who saw Nick Pope make an important, if isolated, second-half save from Rodrigo.
Quick Guide
How do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts?
Show
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for ‘The Guardian’.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
After Pascal Struijk, who despite playing out of position at left-back had excelled, picked up a booking, it seemed as if Leeds were about to be stretched to the limit but Adams and company somehow maintained their indefatigable resistance. “It was about us bending but not breaking,” said Marsch. “I feel good.”
If Bamford really is about to be restored to former glories, his team may yet spring a few more surprises between now and May.