{"id":23093,"date":"2021-09-17T17:25:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T21:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23093"},"modified":"2021-09-18T10:27:51","modified_gmt":"2021-09-18T14:27:51","slug":"saint-maximin-saves-a-point-for-newcastle-against-leeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23093","title":{"rendered":"Saint-Maximin Saves A Point For Newcastle Against Leeds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Allan Saint-Maximin\u2019s brilliance failed to spare Steve Bruce further punishment as Newcastle had to come from behind to draw with Leeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 24-year-old Frenchman blasted home a superb equalizer to cancel out Raphinha\u2019s opener on a night when sections of the home support among a crowd of 50,407 at St James\u2019 Park once again chanted for the 60-year-old to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 1-1 draw at the end of a pulsating encounter left both sides still awaiting a first Premier League win of the campaign and with Bruce knowing his critics are far from placated, but equally that his players are playing for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leeds took the lead with 13 minutes gone when Raphinha crossed from the left and Rodrigo attempted to back-heel the ball towards goal, but appeared to make little contact, in the process wrong-footing keeper Karl Darlow, who could only look on in horror as it sailed into his net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chants of \u201cWe want Brucey out\u201d immediately rang around the stadium as the collective mood took a decided turn for the worse, and it was not improved as the home side labored in their efforts to keep Leeds at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Magpies finally responded with Miguel Almiron dragging an attempt across the face of goal after Matt Ritchie\u2019s cross had been only half-cleared and Joelinton firing straight at keeper Illan Meslier following Saint-Maximin\u2019s blistering run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Rodrigo steered a 25th-minute shot wide when he might have done better and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips was similarly inaccurate four minutes later with the visitors picking holes at will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darlow had to get down well to claim Mateusz Klich\u2019s deflected strike, but opposite number Meslier needed the help of a post to keep out Ritchie\u2019s 35th-minute effort after it had clipped a defender on its way to goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the half-time whistle approached, Bruce abandoned the back three with which he had started, switching to a four and his side restored parity in the penultimate minute of the half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saint-Maximin, by far Newcastle\u2019s most impressive performer on the night, collected Joelinton\u2019s square ball on the edge of the box and side-stepped two prospective challenges before smashing a low drive across Meslier and into the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruce\u2019s half-time address might have been markedly different had either Raphinha or Junior Firpo managed to finish off a stoppage-time break with his defenders at sixes and sevens, but they somehow survived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The home side had a better, more resilient shape about them immediately after the break, although Daniel James was still gifted time and space to drag a 50th-minute volley wide and Darlow had to make a fine reaction save from team-mate Jamaal Lascelles\u2019 headed clearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with Saint-Maximin, Joelinton and Almiron repeatedly stretching the Leeds defense, the Magpies continued to carry a threat and Meslier had to save from the Frenchman at his near-post with 59 minutes gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patrick Bamford should have restored Leeds\u2019 advantage with 18 minutes remaining but shot tamely at Darlow from Rodrigo\u2019s inch-perfect through-ball, and Meslier made a vital 84th-minute stop to deny Saint-Maximin what would surely have been the winner.<\/p>\n

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