Newcastle 0-0 Leeds: Lavish hosts have ended their six-game winning streak

Only like the rain, Newcastle United did not let up. But as relentless as Eddie Howe’s side were in their quest for a seventh straight win, Leeds United were just as resilient.

Waterproof? No chance in this downpour. But if their yellow jerseys hadn’t ended up soaked to the skin, they would have been drenched in sweat, such was the effort it took to fend off the country’s in-form side.

Those were two points lost for Newcastle and one gained for Leeds – 16 shots on eight tells you that much. Still, it would be hard to argue that the result was a gross injustice.

Fabian Schar missed three big chances as Newcastle had to settle for a point against Leeds

Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff missed a couple of big chances to give his side all three points

The conclusion of the hosts was sometimes as wild as the weather. The good people of Gallowgate End took cover from both the rainwater and Sean Longstaff’s gunfight in the second half. When they found the target, Illan Meslier was as stubborn as the monsoon.

Leeds offered precious little at the other end, but if they are routinely tapped for being too open and chaotic, a more disciplined performance and a first clean sheet in nine games should at least be applauded.

The tie puts them three points ahead of the last three while Newcastle stay in third place.

Unlike Jessie J, Jesse Marsch says Newcastle’s recent rise is all about the money.

What he forgets, or conveniently ignores, is that Howe has coached his team into one of the most cohesive and energetic in the Premier League. The criticism of Marsch is that he didn’t do that.

Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier had a good game and made a good save from Chris Wood in the second half

Nick Pope also had to be quick off his line in the first half to stop Leeds’ Brenden Aaronson

So this felt like progress, at least for the American, when a game plan was executed.

However, it wasn’t pretty. Indeed, there was little action on an afternoon when conditions encouraged a skilled approach play but were far from kind to those attempting to apply some finesse in the final third.

“It was a frustrating afternoon and all that was missing was the goal,” Howe said. “We created enough opportunities for ourselves, but it wasn’t to be.

“Set pieces were a massive threat to us today. Recently we took one of those chances and it changed the game.

But there was a sense of impatience. We really wanted to score and controlled the game. The weather perhaps suited Leeds as it stopped the game from the start.

Newcastle defender Fabian Schar (pictured) was brought down in the box against Leeds

A year ago Newcastle was 19. Howe smiled when reminded later.

“It’s important that the players keep that perspective,” he added. “There is absolutely no need for negativity from me towards them or from them towards each other.

“You gave everything. They created the chances, but sometimes that’s how football works. I would support us to comfortably win this game if we played it again.

Not that anyone wants to ride out this tide for another 90 minutes. Marsch, his wet sweater still stained, was certainly glad to have walked away with a point made and proven.

“Before the World Cup we gave away goals cheaply and wanted to do better,” he said.

“We talked about the tactics and mentality that would be required to make that happen. Newcastle were very direct in the second half and for us it was about bending but not breaking.

Eddie Howe wanted his side to win their seventh straight game, but they failed

Of Meslier he added: “This is probably his best performance since I’ve been here. We see a goalkeeper growing right before our eyes.’

Newcastle were definitely better than lively competition but it was saying a lot that the majority of their chances came from set pieces, as Howe alluded.

Twice they could have scored in the first half-hour from corners by Kieran Trippier, first when Fabian Schar headed wide and then when Dan Burn swabbed for fresh air as the ball bounced around the six-yard box.

Trippier’s free-kick then presented a slithering Sven Botman with an opening, but his close-range push was smothered by Meslier.

It was the same after halftime. Trippier’s free-kick was nodded by Burn and Chris Wood, who was only beaten by Meslier, and thrust straight at the keeper. It was both a good save and a bad miss, and for Wood it was almost a disappointing game against his former club.

Jesse Marsch celebrated after the final whistle as his side held a tie

He was replaced by Callum Wilson in the 64th minute and the striker’s arrival, along with Allan Saint-Maximin, increased Newcastle’s pace even more.

They could not be accused of craving and intent. Schar was then denied by Meslier, the defender’s header from a Trippier corner being blocked by the keeper’s shin on the goal-line.

Longstaff then failed to test Meslier with his two wonderful chances. Even if he had found the target, the Frenchman would probably have kept them away, that’s how inspired he was here. It was such an inspiration for Newcastle that they lacked.