Barnes settles Premier League classic

Harvey Barnes scored a 102nd-minute winner as Newcastle United came from behind three times to beat Leeds United 4-3 in a Premier League classic at St James’ Park.

On the day it was announced that former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has been diagnosed with cancer, the Magpies prevailed in a game reminiscent of the legendary ‘Entertainers’ he oversaw in the 1990s. Keegan’s name was sung throughout on an emotional night.

In-form Leeds contributed hugely to a remarkable spectacle on Tyneside and looked as if they would take all three points when Brenden Aaronson’s second goal gave them a 3-2 lead in the 79th minute.

Aaronson had earlier opened the scoring to punish a sloppy a Newcastle start, with a hugely contentious Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty restoring their advantage on the stroke of half-time after Barnes had swiftly equalised. Joelinton’s deft header made it 2-2 nine minutes into the second half.

Yet Aaronson contributed to Leeds’ downfall, with his handball allowing Bruno Guimaraes to level things up for a third time from the penalty spot in the 91st minute.

That might have been the last act in most games, but injuries during the 10 minutes of stoppage time provided ample time for either side to find a winner.

It was Newcastle who did so, with Barnes taking advantage by firing in on the turn after Leeds failed to deal with a last-ditch ball into the box from Guimaraes, his goal the latest winner on record in the Premier League.

Newcastle move up to sixth in the table, with the Magpies just two points outside the top four. Leeds stay eight points clear of the bottom three.

Thiaw pays controversial penalty

Leeds started very brightly, with Pascal Struijk guilty of wasting two excellent chances, while Barnes was denied by Lucas Perri at the other end.

The usually composed Malick Thiaw struggled in the first half, and it was his slip that allowed Calvert-Lewin to play in Aaronson to open the scoring with an unerring strike into the bottom-left corner.

Newcastle’s response was rapid, with excellent hold-up play from Nick Woltemade seeing the German lay the ball off for Barnes to restore parity with a cool finish.

Anthony Gordon then hit the post as his free-kick delivery evaded everyone, with the stranded Perri saved by the woodwork, which would come to his rescue several times.

Luck was firmly on Leeds’ side in first-half stoppage time as Michael Salisbury pointed to the spot after the ball bounced off Thiaw’s arm as he came under pressure from Calvert-Lewin. VAR upheld the decision despite the handball appearing to be a result of Thiaw losing his balance.

Calvert-Lewin continued his stunning run of form with a composed penalty, with boos aimed at Salisbury ringing round St James’ Park at half-time.

Barnes brace seals memorable Newcastle win

In response, Howe brought on Tino Livramento for Sandro Tonali to start the second half and ended Thiaw’s rare off night by replacing him with Sven Botman.

Those boos soon turned to cheers after Joelinton smartly turned home Guimaraes’ clever cross, with Fabian Schar, who was later taken off on a stretcher, then hitting the post before Woltemade’s follow-up was saved by Perri.

For all their attacking threat, Newcastle still struggled to control the game and were fortunate to see James Justin’s header hit the crossbar.

But there was no reprieve after Yoane Wissa carelessly lost possession inside his own, Aaronson surging down the right channel and shooting in off the left-hand post to stun the home fans once more.