'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.
