'Frustration'. 'Disappointment'. 'Sadness'. It had been a long time since Newcastle United players and staff had used these words after a game.
Following six successive Premier League wins, the Magpies dropped points for the first time since October in a goalless draw against Leeds United on New Year's Eve. In truth, Newcastle did everything but score in torrential conditions at St James' Park. Newcastle had more possession, five times as many shots on target and nine corners all told yet, somehow, Eddie Howe's team did not find the back of the net against a Leeds side who even resorted to time-wasting.
Leeds certainly won't be the last visiting outfit who look to slow the game down and disrupt Newcastle's rhythm and, in the final game of 2022, this 0-0 stalemate felt like a glimpse of what lies ahead for the black-and-whites at home in 2023. Teams now come to St James' looking to frustrate which, in a way, shows how far Newcastle have come in the last 12 months.
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After all, it was just a year ago that Newcastle ended 2021 in 19th place; now Howe's side are in the top three at the turn of the year for the first time since Sir Bobby Robson was in charge. If that is a good omen, well, this Newcastle side are also the first since Kevin Keegan's Entertainers to win this many top-flight fixtures (21) in a calendar year.
You can see why Newcastle supporters rang in the New Year with such optimism. Fans are no longer nervously looking at Burnley's results like they did 12 months ago; they are now taking note of champions Man City dropping points.
A team that conceded more goals (80) than any other side in the Premier League in 2021 now has the meanest defence in the top-flight after only letting in a measly 11 goals so far this season. As Dan Burn told the club's match day programme ahead of this game, Newcastle are 'not just a team of nice guys' but a side who can 'mix it up and give as good as we get'.
Newcastle may have taken those words a little too literally when a frustrated Callum Wilson shoved Illan Meslier deep into stoppage time. The Leeds goalkeeper took his time getting to his feet, much to the anger of Bruno Guimaraes, and the ensuing brawl between both sets of players in front of the Gallowgate End ate up some precious seconds.
Jesse Marsch had tasked his players with 'doing whatever it takes to defend your goal' and Leeds ultimately did just that - much to Howe's frustration.
"At that moment, I wanted the game to restart," Howe told reporters. "We didn't really see the four minutes of injury time because it was taken out of the game so a cool head is always important.
"The Premier League is so difficult - you are never going to have easy wins in this league so however you find a way to win it, you will take it, whether that's a 95th-minute winner....we need to remain level to give ourselves a chance of winning it that way."
This was never going to be a straightforward game against a Leeds side fighting for their lives at the other end of the table. Leeds defeated Liverpool just before the World Cup break while Pep Guardiola called Jesse Marsch's side the 'most intense Premier League team' following Man City's 3-1 win at Elland Road on Wednesday night.
In saying that, Newcastle certainly had their chances. Indeed, in the first half hour alone, Kieran Trippier's set-piece deliveries caused Leeds real problems with Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Sven Botman all having decent opportunities. Schar, who headed wide in the 20th minute, also had a penalty appeal waved away before the break after Tyler Adams cut across the centre-back inside the area.
Newcastle clearly smelt a weakness from free-kicks and corners and went even more direct after the break. There were just 47 minutes on the clock when Trippier's floated delivery was flicked across to Schar, but the defender fired over after cutting onto his left foot. If that felt like a big chance in an edgy game like this, well, just a few minutes later, another Trippier free-kick was knocked down to the unmarked Wood but Meslier raced out to block the striker's effort.
Leeds soon sent a warning shot of their own - Rodrigo forced Nick Pope into a fine save after cutting inside and letting fly with a curling effort - but it ultimately proved the visitors' only effort on target as Newcastle pushed for an opener. Howe threw on both Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin after the hour mark but it was Trippier's right boot that troubled Leeds once more in the 62nd minute when the England international's corner found the head of Schar but Meslier made a fine stop of his own.
Just a minute later, Joelinton's cutback from the left-hand side ricocheted into the path of Sean Longstaff. However, the midfielder blazed over when he should have hit the target. It was the story of Newcastle's afternoon, but 2022 as a whole? Well, that could not have gone much better for Newcastle.
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