Match Recap: Leeds fall to deserved defeat at Newport County

First of all, apologies if this article looks a bit different to normal. Having to write it on a mobile phone.

Leeds United fell to a late, but fully deserved defeat at Rodney Parade against an impressive Newport County side.

After the winner Samu Saiz was sent off and as of the time of writing, no-one knows why. EDIT: It appears he was sent off for spitting.

A Conor Shaughnessy own goal and a late header from Shawn McCoulsky cancelled out Gaetano Berardi's first ever professional goal.

Leeds fans everywhere will be disappointed by the performance but it is important to give Newport County credit. They did well at Elland Road and lost 5-1 undeservedly. Today they got their revenge.

Leeds almost scored after 8 seconds. Mateusz Klich played a long ball over the top from kick off. A mix up at the back lead to a big chance for Jay-Roy Grot, but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

In the 3rd minute Newport had their first chance. Newport launched a long throw and Joss Labadie (who scored at Elland Road) headed it wide.

Then, HOLY S**T, after 8 mintues, Newport cleared a cross to Gaetano Berardi, who struck a swerving ball from 25 yards past Newport Goalkeeper Joe Day. The disbelief was visible on everyone's face. Even better that he scored his first ever goal while captaining the side.

There wasn't the promised pitch invasion.

Leeds had a real let off in the 16th minute, a Newport corner lead to a scramble in the box. It fell to Padraig Amond but his shot was blocked on the line by Mateusz Klich.

Newport were gaining in confidence at this point. Another cross, this time from the left wing and another Labadie header was saved by Lonergan. It was a good chance but the header was weak.

In the 23rd minute it was Vurnon Anita's turn to have a shot from distance, but he didn't catch it properly and it was a simple save for Day.

In the 26th minute another long throw caused havoc, Anita was weak in the challenge and it again fell to Labadie but his shot was blocked by Berardi.

In the 32nd minute, Robbie Willmott with good work down the right and a good cross. It was flicked on by Frank Nouble but Amond's left-foot volley was comfortably over the bar.

In the 35th minute Leeds got a free-kick 30 yards out but Pawel Cibicki's free kick was weak and resulted in a simple save.

A minute later Willmott again crossed the ball, it was cleared but fell back to him. He cut in onto his left-foot but his shot was high and wide.

The rest of the half didn't really have many clear chances but Newport were getting some joy, particularly down the right hand side where Willmott consistently had the beating of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.

First decent bit of play of the second half came in the 48th minute. Good link up play between Anita and Lasogga resulted in the ball being played out to Cibicki on the left. His cross found Lasogga but he mistimed his header and it went wide.

Two minutes later Scott Bennett got the ball deep on the left wing and swung in a terrific ball, however no player from either side got a touch and it went just wide of the far post.

In the 54th minute it was again Willmott beating Borthwick-Jackson, his cross was knocked down to Amond, who went for the overhead kick but found the side netting.

After 56 minutes some good work down the left created some room for Borthwick-Jackson his cross was poor and came out to Klich 25 yards out but his shot was deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing.

In the 59th minute Lasogga received the ball to feet and played in Grot but his shot was a long way wide.

Lasogga then played in Sacko a minute later but he went for goal from a tight angle and put it well over.

On 61 minutes Leeds made their first change. Liam Cooper replaced Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.

After 62 minutes Willmott, this time down the left got in again. His cross looked for Nouble but Cooper just did enough against him. Newport's shouted for penalty against Lonergan but replays showed a clear dive by Nouble.

After 65 minutes Lasogga received the ball 25 yards out and struck it left-footed but it was saved well by Day in the Newport goal.

In the 67th minute Jay-Roy Grot, having initially done well to beat his man, overran the ball and in trying to win it back committed a foul for which he received a yellow card.

69th minute and (stop me if you have heard this before), a ball in to the box wasn't dealt with and fell to Joss Labadie, this time he volleyed the ball over the crossbar.

Leeds were soon up the other end and some good work found Sacko on the right wing but his shot was blocked and went for a corner which was dealt with well by Newport.

A sign of how well Newport were doing came after 74 minutes. Samu Saiz replaced Jay-Roy Grot, using Saiz cannot have been part of the plan if all went well.

Newport got a deserved equaliser in the 76th minute. Frank Nouble (who had been impressive all match) crossed from the right hand side and Conor Shaughnessy sliced a left-foot clearance into his own goal from about 8 yards out.

Nouble again had a chance 2 minutes later when he outjumped Berardi at the far post from another Willmott cross.

All the pressure was from Newport and after 80 minutes Bennett shot wide from the edge of the box after Klich had denied Newport with a good tackle.

83rd minute, more good work from Willmott, this time a good free-kick, knocked down but Amond's header was straight at Andy Lonergan.

After 86 minutes an effort of real quality from Padraig Amond (Another who impressed) as he hit a dipping volley from 30 yards which wasn't far over the bar with Lonergan a few yards off his line.

Leeds again failed to deal with a cross, a poor header clear fell to Bennett who had his shot blocked for a corner.

Newport got the deserved winner after 89 minutes when substitute Shawn McCoulskey powered a header home from another Willmott corner. Great ball in and a terrific header, he was well above Kalvin Phillips.

After the goal Samu Saiz was sent off, it was not shown on camera so as of right now, I have no idea what happened.

EDIT: It appears Saiz was sent off for spitting.

Robbie Willmott was then substituted having been by a mile the best player on the pitch. If I were Victor Orta I would send a scout to watch him again. If this is his usual level he is in the wrong league.

Make no mistake with this one. Leeds United lost this game because they were second best. A poor performance but credit to Newport.