29-07-09: Newcastle United (a) 0-0 (HT 0-0) Crowd (16,945)

Programme:

On 29th July 2009 United travelled to St James' Park to take on Newcastle United who had lost their EPL status at the end of the previous season. The Geordies were captained by Alan Smith, once of Leeds United, and unfortunately Manchester United, and he led a team bristling with EPL experience, while United relied upon the same starting eleven that had played so well against Blackburn Rovers. It was starting to look as if that eleven might be Manager Simon Grayson's preferred team with just one more senior pre-season friendly, against EPL side Burnley, still to come. There was a huge following of Leeds supporters, in excess of 3,000, taking up the entire section that had been allowed, whereas the rest of the stadium was sparsely populated and, although the official count was 16,945, the visiting fans were far more vocal than their home equivalents. They soon had plenty to cheer about as Robert Snodgrass sent a shot wide of the target, but it was Shane Higgs who was the first of the keepers to be called into action as he saved from Ryan Taylor after pressure from Newcastle. In fact, there was a period of sustained pressure from the home team but on twenty-four minutes it was Jermaine Beckford that sent an angled shot just over the top as United managed to break clear. Six minutes later it was Shola Ameobi tried his luck from distance but Shane Higgs got down to it well to make an easy save. Newcastle continued to threaten and after forty minutes Shane Higgs made the save of the game when he thwarted Ryan Taylor from point-blank range and as half-time approached Leeds had their best period to date as Robert Snodgrass had two free-kicks on target. Leeds kept the same team for the start of the second half, but it was Newcastle that had the first real chance when Sebastien Bassong headed wide from close range after a good cross from the left and then Ryan Taylor rattled the bar during a spell of early pressure from the home side. On fifty-five minutes Leeds replied and keeper Steve Harper was forced to come to his team's rescue as he palmed away a Jermaine Beckford header. Just before the hour mark Simon Grayson rang the changes bringing on Casper Ankergren for Shane Higgs in goal, Lubomir Michalik for Patrick Kisnorbo in central defence and Andy Hughes for Robert Snodgrass. In the next minute the home side made a triple change of their own as Tim Krul took over from Steve Harper in goal, Fabricio Coloccini replaced Sebastien Bassong in Central Defence and Kevin Nolan came on for Shola Ameobi up front. It was Andy Hughes who was the first to announce his presence, when he forced Newcastle replacement keeper, Tim Krul, into saving his deflected flick on goal from a Bradley Johnson shot. In the seventieth minute Newcastle made a double substitution, with Kazenga Lua Lua replacing Andy Carroll and Xisco coming on for Habib Beye, While Leeds sent on Andy Robinson for Bradley Johnson and one minute later made a double substitution, with Jonathan Howson and Luciano Becchio making way for David Prutton and Mike Grella. Newcastle should have made more of a seventy-seventh minute free-kick but Fabricio Coloccini blazed well over the bar. Moments later it was their own keeper, Tim Krul, who was called upon as Andy Robinson won a corner and from the set-piece by Andy Hughes, Lubomir Michalik headed on to Jermaine Beckford, and his header had Krul clinging desperately to it. Then it was Mike Grella who quickly started causing problems and again it was Krul who got the faintest of touches after the American had made an opening for himself. In the eighty-fourth minute Aidan White came on for Ben Parker, while Newcastle sent on Ryan Donaldson to replace Alan Smith in the final substitutions of the game. Casper Ankergren kept Leeds in the game as he raced from his line to deny Kazenga Lualua with five minutes left on the clock. As the clock ticked down Jermaine Beckford had a shot deflected into the arms of Krul, after more good work from Mike Grella but there were to be no goals as the match ended with a 0-0 scoreline. Nigel Miller of Durham was the Referee.