An utterly ridiculous game at St James’ Park with the most bonkers of endings, as Harvey Barnes’ 103rd-minute strike secured three massive points in a Premier League classic against Leeds United.
On a night where Kevin Keegan’s name was sung around the stadium in a show of support just hours after the awful news of his cancer diagnosis, we delivered a result, fightback and finish King Kev would be proud of.
It was an absolute mess at times, as we started awfully, shot ourselves in the foot so often, forgot how to pass the ball and went 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 down across different periods of one of THE most chaotic games of football you’re ever likely to see.
But (and it’s a big but), we embraced the second-half chaos just when we looked down and out, we didn’t give up and we kept finding a way to come back, as a superb Joelinton header, Bruno Guimaraes’ penalty and heroic Barnes brace produced an enormous win on Tyneside via two stoppage time strikes.
Harvey Barnes puts an end to an all-time Premier League CLASSIC! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/nUMyrjeya9
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 7, 2026
The victory not only makes it three wins on the spin for the first time all season, but sends us up to sixth in the table; above Sunderland (who got battered at Brentford), Chelsea (who lost 2-1 at Fulham) and Man Utd (who drew 2-2 at Burnley) in a bonkers yet brilliant night.
Howe made two changes from the weekend, as Nick Woltemade and Harvey Barnes replaced Yoane Wissa and Jacob Murphy, meaning Tino Livramento remained on the bench with Lewis Miley at right-back.
Newcastle XI: Pope – Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Hall – Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton – Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon.
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Trippier, Botman, Wissa, Livramento, J.Murphy, Willock, A.Murphy, Ramsey
Leeds XI: Perri – Justin, Rodon, Bijol, Strujik, Gudmundsson – Ampadu, Gruev, Stach – Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin.
The first half was an absolute car crash of a performance. Malick Thiaw had a shocker, making errors for both Leeds goals, starting with one slip to allow Aaronson in before his handball allowed Calvert-Lewin to score from the spot right before the break.
Barnes’ goal to make it 1-1 was well worked and finished after good work from Gordon and Woltemade in the box. Between that goal and Leeds’ penalty, we piled on the pressure for a spell, as Gordon hit the bar from a searching cross, Bruno came within inches of connecting with a point blank header and a huge opening came Joelinton’s way, only for him to get his final ball all wrong.
Other than that, however, it was a total mess. Leeds were first to so many loose balls, winning their duels and giving Bruno no room to dictate the play, with Woltemade isolated, our passing erratic and defensive play painfully sloppy, summed up by two goals we gifted to Leeds either side of Barnes’ leveller.
Joelinton, Thiaw and Gordon had all been booked, leaving all walking a second half tightrope when we had to be aggressive going into a big 45 minutes. Not a great mix, and not a great refereeing performance from an official lacking consistency, control or working technology all half!
In truth, it got worse before it got better! Howe’s half time changes were wise – Thiaw and Tonali were taken off and replaced by Botman and Livramento, seeing Miley move into midfield – and a lovely Joelinton header brought us level on 54 minutes from Bruno’s dinked cross, but back came Leeds.
Shortly after Pope missed a cross that saw James Justin head onto the bar with the goal gaping, followed by what looks like a serious injury to Fabian Schar, Leeds retook the lead. Aaronson again, and yet another bad one to concede, as we gave the ball away cheaply, looked wide open and didn’t close down the shot quick enough.
Wissa’s movement was causing chaos in the box, Murphy’s deliveries were dangerous and we were pushing Leeds back, but no one could predict what would unfold next in 13 minutes of sheer madness in added time.
First the 91st-minute penalty, given away by Aaronson for another handball and dispatched by Bruno for his eighth of the season, then Barnes’ big moment. Bruno’s cross, Botman chested down and Barnes found a way to squeeze it past Perri at the Leazes End. St James’ Park erupted and it was shades of that 4-3 win at Norwich in the Championship, and also another Barnes brace to settle a classic, much like that 4-3 over West Ham in March 2024!
A moment that changes our season and truly kick-starts a strong end to a consistently inconsistent 2025/26? It just might, you know.
Next up, Bournemouth in the FA Cup on Saturday before a Carabao Cup semi-final with Man City on Tuesday and trip to Wolves next Sunday.
Keep the faith. Howay the lads!
(Featured image via Andrew J Thirlwall)
Oh my, what a game, on a day we heard the awful news about King Kev what was served up at St James’ Park was pure Keeganesque.
A roller coaster of end to end football that was heart attack inducing at times with not one but two extra time goals.Comical at times but the thing that shone through was grit, character and determination that has at times this season been sadly lacking.
What a result from a goal down 3 times to come back and win it, if that doesn’t instill confidence nothing will. Comical at times but the thing that shone through was grit, character and determination that has at timesthisseason been sadly lacking.
Hopefully Schar will be ok but it didn’t look good and we’ll forgive Thiaw as he’s been amazing all season for us.
You have to feel for Leeds as they played their part and really deserved at least a draw, well played the Yorkshire lads.
Just one extra thing Lewis Miley playing 3 positions in one match and doing it with ease, what a player that lad already is and what he’ll become is frightening.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
We were great. We were rubbish. All at the same time! Unbelievable.
A quick shout out for Jacob Murphy. If he didn’t come on we don’t win that game. He was as superb last night as he was dreadful on Sunday.
The Panther(Quote)
God how good did it feel to be on the winning end of one of those for a change!!!.
People are of course right to reference Keegan – it was definitely one of those games & I like every Geordie wish him all the best in his battle ahead. Hopefully it’s been caught early and he can make a full recovery.
But it also had me thinking of Tiote and his screamer against Arsenal.
But more than anything, it just strengthened my hope that we upgrade SJP rather than moving stadium because there is so much history and great memories.
Sharpy17(Quote)
A performance fitting of any Keegan side makes me laugh they bang on about pep and his brand of football but king kev was playing that 30 odd year ago eieieio up the premier league we go
Jonboy72(Quote)
Agree, especially on Miley, remarkable talent.
Really enjoyable ending after being on the wrong end of late winners this season and actually getting shafted by officials for that first half penalty which really wasn’t a pen.
How can a player who is falling over because of being leaned on be in control of his limbs ?
Late in the game the game stats flashed up and we were edging it, so probably right we won. Seen a lot of Leeds fans saying the extra 3 mins on top the 10 was so we could score but those extra mins came from their players down with cramp and some time wasting by them also. After our goal and the restart they had another attack so the play until we score theory is ****.
Sore losers, didn’t think Leeds fans were cry babies, thought that only applied to Man u fans and Gooners.
kimtoon(Quote)
On the game itself – is it one to analyse or do you just accept it?! 🤷🏼♂️.
Let me say this much. I thought Miley & Barnes were brilliant last night.
I thought Thaiw got owned by Calvert Lewin – but I think that will only make him a better player longer term. He’ll fix that I’m sure.
I thought Tonali was anonymous again sadly, but I do think he’ll find his form again.
Everyone else was somewhere in between.
But for Schar. I’m gutted for him coz it looked a nasty one, but hopefully there are no complications with it and he heals & recovers well.
I hope we are smart enough to bring in cover this month because with Burn still out – and let’s be honest Botman & Lascelles are regularly injured, it leaves us vulnerable at CB – even if it’s a loan deal for now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
hope schar will be ok we need to keep him tremendous player still. miley outstanding again he can play anywhere and young hall what a star finally i do hope king kev will be ok the best manager we ever had apart from sir bobby howay the lads what a game
jen(Quote)
What a game. As has been said already, very Keeganesque, and I think he’d have loved watching that. We made some horrible mistakes and very sloppy at times to give away the goals, the ref was awful, but perhaps redeemed himself with our penalty in injury time, but what we did last night, and haven’t done this season until now, was get back up and have a go back at them. We found the heart and passion to go and win and not give up.
Too many times this season, when going behind, we’ve just given up but not last night. We can forgive Thiaw I think. He had a howler last night but has been immense all season. We need him back to his best form for Saturday.
Barnes! Never gave up, great game and just, marginally, MotM, but special mention for the other contender, young Lewis Miley. 3 different positions and did superbly in all of them.
I don’t understand why Eddie brought on Ramsey and put Miley back into central defence when he had Alex Murphy on the bench though. This is time for A Murphy to make his mark.
Onwards to Bournemouth
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Schar was outstanding too until his injury. I really hope it’s not a season ender. It looked bad though. Defence reinforcements absolutely needed.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Me personally I’m not even going to attempt to analyse that and I’m putting it in the just accept it for what it was folder.
Nice nod to the Tiote game that also came to mind for me, I guess the best way is to just pretend to be a neutral and enjoy it for the barnstorming game it was.
Mistakes and bad defendig/goalkeeping along with questionable ref decisions make these games what they are.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Schar is an excellent defender for us but he’s also a great distributor from defence to attack.
His long range passing is a big bonus in our team. When we had Thaiw and Burn at the back they are excellent defenders, tall, powerful – Burn brilliant in the air & Thaiw with the pace – but we missed that range of passing that Schar offers.
I hope it’s something our scouts are looking out for because I think it’s a big asset we miss when Schar isn’t in the team.
Sharpy17(Quote)
If one of their players had handled like Thiaw did I would have been screaming for a penalty. I must be the only NUFC fan who thinks it was a penalty! Unfortunate, yes, but still a penalty. No corruption. No conspiracy, just an unfortunate handball.
Interestingly, would any of the fans who were horrified at the thought of Calvert-Lewin signing for us (including me, by the way) be happy if we had him in our squad right now?
Finally, can any NUFC nerd confirm my suspicion that Barnes’ winner was his first at the Leazes End? If so, there’s a reason for it – all those 2nd half sub appearances attacking the Gallowgate.
The Panther(Quote)
Congrats to Sandro & his missus who had a little boy last night – probably explains his half time substitution.
She probably went into labour watching that game last night 😂.
His first child I think & a Geordie 🖤🤍
Sharpy17(Quote)
You’re not alone but probably an outlier to the majority emotional myopics that frequent (un)socials. It was a penalty by the, admittedly stupidly complex, rules.
I was not and am not a fan of the dcl links and while he’s enjoying a good spell (for which he is to be applauded) no I wouldn’t want him at the toon as his injury history suggests he’ll break down at some point.
GR(Quote)
The commentary team didn’t think it was a pen and they had the luxury of replays and slow mo.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I think they referred to it as harsh and I tend to agree. But because the ref gave it VAR were never going to overturn it.
I think it was harsh – but then I think ourselves was soft too. But by the letter, they are both handball and so both a penalty.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ours was harsh for sure.
kimtoon(Quote)
He was falling down and put his hand out to stop his face plant on the ground. The ball hit his arm.. in my book, not a penalty, but it doesn’t matter anymore. It didn’t cost us the game in the end.
Gilly Toon(Quote)