31-07-11: Newcastle United (h) 3-2 (HT 1-1) Crowd (20,457)

Programme:

There were home debuts for Andy Lonergan and Michael Brown in United's final friendly of the summer and Andy O'Brien made his first appearance of the season while Robert Snodgrass returned from injury for the visit of EPL side Newcastle United on 31st July 2012 and trialists Alexandre Mendy and Boldiszar Bodor were both included on the bench as United lined up: Andy Lonergan; Paul Connolly, Patrick Kisnorbo, Andy O'Brien and Ben Parker; Adam Clayton and Michael Brown; Robert Snodgrass, Jonathan Howson and Max Gradel; Ross McCormack. Andy Haines of Sunderland was the referee, in front of a 20,457 crowd, and United were quickly on the attack and hit the lead after just five minutes as Robert Snodgrass took a free-kick with his left-foot and the Newcastle goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, could not safely gather and it spilled out straight to Patrick Kisnorbo who had a simple task of tapping the ball into the net to celebrate his first game at Elland Road since March 2010. Soon after Ross McCormack took advantage of a mistake by Steve Taylor but his cross was just behind Jonathan Howson as Leeds continued to press. There was action at the other end but Andy O'Brien denied Demba Ba, but the Newcastle striker was quickly to his feet and regain possession with only Andy Lonergan to beat, but Patrick Kisnorbo came from nowhere to dispossess him once more. On fourteen minutes Max Gradel headed home a free-kick but it was disallowed for offside. Six minutes later Joey Barton created a good chance for the Magpies but Demba Ba could not make the vital contact. But Leeds were soon back on the attack and the Geordie keeper, Fraser Forster, had to be alert to tip over a Max Gradel shot. However, after thirty-five minutes the visitors were level as Steve Taylor scored at the far post following a corner, with the Leeds players appealing for a foul on Michael Brown. Approaching half time Max Gradel needed treatment after a lunge from Yohan Cabaye caught his thigh and soon afterwards United had a good shout for a handball in the box turned down. Leigh Bromby came on after the interval for Andy O'Brien as Simon Grayson made his first substitution. Jonathan Howson was quickly onto the attack as the second half started but his shot was wide. Michael Brown had a shot from long range before Howson was again threatening, but his shot was deflected for a corner, then Leigh Bromby almost got his foot to a good cross from Adam Clayton. After fifty-seven minutes Ryan Taylor replaced James Tavernier, who had filled in well at left back and two minutes later Tom Lees, Boldiszar Bodor and Lloyd Sam came on for Patrick Kisnorbo, Ben Parker and Robert Snodgrass, as Simon Grayson rang the changes. After sixty-five minutes Newcastle made three changes with Leon Best replacing Demba Ba, Haris Vuckic coming on for Daniel Gosling and Sammy Ameobi replacing Jonas Gutierrez. Leeds responded by sending on Billy Paynter for Ross McCormack, quickly followed by Ramon Nunez and Alexandre Mendy for Adam Clayton and Max Gradel after sixty-six minutes. The strategy worked as Lloyd Sam scored in the sixty-seventh, as the former Charlton winger won the ball on the by-line and then scored from the tightest of angles to make it 2-1. He almost created a third for the home side with the next attack but his cross was too powerful for Ramon Nunez to get a foot to it. At the other end Andy Lonergan was called upon to deny Joey Barton as Newcastle made a rare threat. However, after seventy-six minutes they equalised when Haris Vuckie beat Andy Lonergan with a powerful shot. Paul Dummett was introduced by Newcastle after seventy-nine minutes in place of Danny Simpson , leaving goalkeeper Tim Krul unused on the Newcastle bench and similarlykeeper Paul Rachubka and left-back Aidan White on the Leeds bench. But justice was done five minutes from time when Billy Paynter got up at the far post to head home a cross from the right. It was Paynter's first goal of the season and also his first goal at Elland Road and gave Leeds a well-merited win over Premiership opposition.