Newcastle outclass sorry Leeds

Solano curls home the winning goal

Newcastle 2-1 Leeds

Clarence Acuna's first goal in English football helped Newcastle to a deserved win over David O'Leary's expensively-assembled Leeds.

The Chilean crashed home a header from Nol Solano's inswinging free-kick just before half-time as the injury-hit Magpies came from behind to claim the points.

Olivier Dacourt gave Leeds the lead with a controversial free-kick early on, but even the appearance as substitutes of Robbie Keane and David Batty failed to improve their sorry Premiership run.

They have now failed to win away from home since 26 August - a sequence that threatens to utterly scupper their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.

This was one of the worst performances since I've been at this club

  David O'Leary

Solano celebrated his 100th appearance in a Newcastle shirt with an assured all-round performance, curling in a delightful free-kick from thirty yards to bring his side back on level terms after a rocky start.

Paul Robinson, keeping his place in the Leeds goal despite Nigel Martyn's return to full fitness, left a huge gap to his right which the Peruvian exploited with glee.

Leeds had opened the scoring on nine minutes when referee Andy D'Urso ordered a free-kick forward ten yards after the Newcastle wall refused to retreat far enough from the original kick.

To a cacophony of boos and jeering, Dacourt casually sidefooted past helpless keeper Steve Harper from well inside the box.

That was a very good performance, considering the injuries we've had

  Warren Barton

Newcastle, without injured skipper and leading scorer Alan Shearer, battled back with admirable determination.

Bassedas headed wide from six yards when 19-year-old Shola Ameobi, standing unmarked behind him, would surely have scored.

The teenager, making his first start for Newcastle, caused Rio Ferdinand a number of problems in the first half.

It took a fine tackle from Bakke to deny him after he had slipped Woodgate with ease and raced into the penalty area.

Keiron Dyer, three days before his 22nd birthday, also troubled the Leeds rearguard constantly with his pace and direct running.

You can't give free headers away from three yards out - I thought that was disgraceful

  David O'Leary

His fierce shot from Speed's knock-down smacked against the bar, while he shinned an even better chance wider after Ameobi's determination had left him clear five yards out.

And he almost won a penalty in the final seconds when Dominic Matteo appeared bring him down after a typical burst into the area.

Newcastle:
Harper, Barton, Marcelino, Griffin, Bassedas, Hughes, Speed, Dyer, Solano, Acuna, Ameobi.
Subs: Cordone, Glass, Lua-Lua, Karelse, Gary Caldwell.

Leeds:
Robinson, Kelly, Ferdinand, Woodgate, Matteo, Bowyer, Bakke, Dacourt, Kewell, Viduka, Smith.
Subs: Martyn, Radebe, Keane, Mills, Batty.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay)