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Joshua Hobbs

Alan Shearer makes claim Leeds United fans will agree with after home defeat to Newcastle

Eddie Howe's Newcastle United were victorious at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon as Leeds United missed an opportunity to pick up three consecutive wins.

It was an open game but Leeds will feel they had the better of it for the most part, with two excellent chances falling to Daniel James either side of half-time.

However, the Whites were unable to take advantage and they were punished at the other end as Jonjo Shelvey's free-kick squirmed past Illan Meslier and Marcelo Bielsa's side were unable to come up with a response as time dwindled away.

Speaking after the game on BBC Radio 5Live, Alan Shearer highlighted an issue many Leeds fans were talking about online.

"Leeds were desperately lacking a centre-forward, they didn't really have a presence in the box particularly for the first half, but Newcastle had to dig deep for that and dig deep they did," said the ex-Newcastle number nine.

Bielsa attempted to solve this problem with the addition of Tyler Roberts from the bench but it was the Welshman who gave the ball away in the lead up to the free-kick from which the winning goal was scored.

Teenager Joe Gelhardt also joined the fray after the goal, but was unable to conjure up a magic moment as Leeds looked bereft of ideas in looking to break down their opponents.

The number nine position has been something of a problem for Bielsa all season as Patrick Bamford's injury troubles have meant he has only been available for six games all season. This has led to the Argentine trying James, Roberts, Gelhardt, Rodrigo and Jack Harrison in the position, with none of the players really making the position their own.

Leeds will hope to have Bamford able to return soon after the international break.

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