17 mins A throw-in directed at Jacob Murphy inside the Leeds half in front of the East Stand saw him stumble and lose possession to Ezgjan Alioski, who passed to Patrick Bamford.

He strode forward and played it right to Rodrigo who pulled a pass back to Raphinha on the edge of the box. With Jamal Lewis in his vicinity but failing to chase him down, the Brazilian took a touch before smoothly dispatching the ball beyond Karl Darlow into the far corner. 0-1

Half time: Magpies 0 Whites 1

57 mins Jamaal Lascelles regained possession outside the visitor's box and a passing combination between Jonjo Shelvey and Callum Wilson led to Miguel Almiron forcing the ball past Illan Meslier at the Gallowgate End. 1-1

Almiron's celebration referenced the fact his lass is pregnant

61 mins Raphinha played in Jack Harrison on the left side of the area, and his first-time effort flew beyond Karl Darlow. 1-2

Full time: Magpies 1 Whites 2

A first goal in 455 minutes may have raised spirits on Tuesday, but harsh reality rapidly returned for a Newcastle side now winless in 11 games.

Leeds arrived on Tyneside winless and scoreless in their last three games, but made light of an early enforced reshuffle only required a moderate exertion to take a 17th minute lead through Raphinha and deservedly go in ahead at half time - the same player also having hit a post from close in on 42 minutes.

The same Magpies line-up emerged for the second period, but a long-overdue injection of intensity and controlled aggression saw them threaten to make a game of it - and draw level 12 minutes after the restart.

Isaac Hayden's intervention regained possession outside the visitor's box and a passing combination involving Jonjo Shelvey and Callum Wilson led to Miguel Almiron forcing the ball past Illan Meslier at the Gallowgate End.

The Paraguayan had been pushed upfield towards Wilson after a first half ploy of playing the return Ryan Fraser in an advanced role hadn't paid dividends (aside from one perceptive centre that Jacob Murphy should have exploited).

Just 238 seconds after being pegged back though, the visitors had retaken the lead when Raphinha played in Jack Harrison on the left side of the area, and his first-time effort flew beyond the helpless Karl Darlow.

Again Newcastle tried to respond, forcing a series of corners and actually managing to find their own men from them for once - although free kicks remained hopeless and brainless in equal measure.

And almost uniquely for this season, the Magpies managed to dominate possession statistics - indicative that we were emerging from hibernation, or belatedly waking up to the clear and present danger of relegation. It's also worth recording that Leeds were all over the place at the back, as befits a side who have the leakiest defence away from home in the division.

After Jamal Lewis fired over from an excellent position however, Meslier was equal to Shelvey's 76th minute header and Fabian Schar's shot five minutes later. We've won matches this season while spending less time in opposition penalty areas than we did tonight, but you don't get any points for that...

The introduction of Allan Saint-Maximin had the dual effect of inspiring his own colleagues and putting the wind up the opposition, who could only keep him at bay via illegal means, even when doubling up.

Having failed to do it in successive halves here yet again though, it remains to be seen which Newcastle turns up at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Seeing encouraging signs in the defeat at Villa that few others did, Bruce was doubtless boosted by his side's second half revival - but only he can answer why they were so passive and jittery in the first half.

For the coach to claim any credit from this game is proof positive of his continual ineptness. For the eleventh time in succession, he picked a side that at no point in the entire game was winning, or ever looked like going ahead. Nowhere else would that be tolerated.

If it takes going a goal down to trigger any sort of a response then our fate is sealed - or at least dependent on the misdeeds of sides around us.

That's a very risky game, as we've found out before to our cost on two occasions under this owner - not to mention another pair of near-misses.

Biffa