Jonjo Shelvey scores free-kick after blunder from ‘chocolate wrists’ Illan Meslier as Newcastle beat Leeds in ‘gargantuan’ win for Premier League survival bid

Newcastle could well have launched their Premier League survival bid with a hard-fought victory at Leeds United, thanks to Jonjo Shelvey’s free-kick.

It was a pulsating end-to-end encounter at Elland Road, with a bucketful of chances for both teams, but ultimately it was Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier’s mistake that saw Newcastle seal only their second victory of the season.

5

The momentum was freely swinging all game with both teams went head-to-head in their pursuit of the opener, and Leeds coming closest in the opening stages.

But it was Jonjo Shelvey who finally broke the deadlock in the second-half, although he maybe had Leeds goalkeeper Meslier to thank.

Positioned to the left of the penalty area, anyone would have expected the former Liverpool man to loop the ball over the wall and towards the top left corner of the net.

Instead, he aimed the other way, striking the ball hard and low towards the bottom right corner of the goal, and he found his mark through the ‘chocolate wrists’ of the Whites goalkeeper - the words of talkSPORT pundit Perry Groves.

5

5

Leeds had their chances, with the likes of Raphinha, Jack Harrison and Daniel James a threat, but Newcastle No.1 Martin Dubravka was in top form to keep a clean sheet.

New Magpies striker Chris Wood was also lively but the New Zealand international couldn’t mark his second Newcastle appearance with a goal.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men piled on the pressure in five minutes of added time, with three injuries throughout the match - including Toon duo Joelinton and Jamaal Lascelles.

But Newcastle hung on to claim a three points manager Eddie Howe so desperately craved.

Great escape on? The Magpies remain in the bottom-three despite the win, but Groves certainly thinks so.

“The momentum and confidence they will take from this win is huge,” said the former Arsenal man, speaking live from Elland Road for talkSPORT.

“Newcastle have the worst record in the Premier League of surrendering the lead after going a goal up. This would have been the 11th time being pegged back after scoring the first goal, had Leeds scored at the end.

“But they held on and, I’ve got to say, this gives them a real chance.

5

5

“You have to say Newcastle showed real resilience and fight. They were under the cosh in the opening 25 minutes as Leeds put them under pressure, but they stayed strong.

“They need a vital moment to kick start their season and I think Shelvey’s free-kick could be a massive, massive goal in the history of Newcastle football club.

“They’re off the Saudi Arabia now for a winter training camp during the international break, and they will go there in great spirit and can galvanise themselves even more as a team.

“That goal from Shelvey, it would be gargantuan for Newcastle. It’s a gargantuan result for the team.”