Nick Woltemade was all smiles at the final whistle, posing happily for pictures with Leeds fans next to the directors’ box with Alexander Isak, the man he could in effect replace at Newcastle, again nowhere to be seen.
Woltemade, the Germany striker who stands 6ft 6in, completed his move in a deal worth up to £69m earlier in the day but was not eligible to feature, so watched on from the stands at Elland Road.
How Eddie Howe’s men could have used the imposing frontman as they struggled to break the resolve of Leeds, leaving the visitors without a win in their opening three games.
Credit to Daniel Farke’s side, who fought hard in filthy conditions to fashion the right response to last week’s 5-0 mauling at Arsenal and embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.
Farke talks endlessly about Leeds’s emotional fanbase and the need to make Elland Road a fortress so, having beaten Everton here in their season opener, this was not a result to be sniffed at.
With Newcastle having signed Woltemade, it remains to be seen if Liverpool will finally be able to push through a move for Isak and maybe also sign Jørgen Strand Larsen from Wolves. “I’ve no update for you on Alex’s situation,” said Howe. “We are still looking to actively recruit, but I don’t know if that has any relation at all to Alex’s situation.”
Howe brushed off suggestions that Isak had already said his farewells to teammates at Newcastle’s training ground. The Newcastle manager added: “I can’t tell you it didn’t happen, but I can’t tell you it did. That’s the first I’ve heard of it and I’m pretty sure I would have heard.”
Genuine goalscoring chances were scarce throughout for both sides and it was difficult to escape the feeling that Woltemade could have made all the difference.
“Everything that we were probably lacking today, I think he can bring,” said Howe. “There will be a period where he has to adapt, but I’ve got really high hopes for him. I just don’t want to add to the pressure that he’s going to be under. But I think he can be a difference-maker.”
Leeds have collected four points from their opening three games but have scored one goal and Farke remains keen to add another forward before the window closes.
He said: “Everyone wants to add something up top. If not, we won’t wave the white flag. But it will be more difficult. It’s important until the last minute of the window that we do what we can, yet we have to be happy with four points and two clean sheets from three games.”
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Leeds have not lost a home league game since 14 September last year, a run of 22 games and a record currently bettered by only two sides in the top four tiers of English football.
The home fans belted out the Leeds anthem Marching on Together with almost religious zeal before kick-off and, with the old stadium resembling something of a lion’s den, there was certainly no hiding place for Newcastle. Not that there was any suggestion they were looking.
Roared on by a boisterous away following Howe’s men purred ominously at times during the opening quarter. The hosts gradually steadied themselves and began to pose some questions of their own, with the Italy winger Willy Gnonto their biggest threat on the left flank.
For Leeds, too often they lacked a final ball and cutting edge required to breach the visiting rearguard. That was typified in the 35th minute when left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson delivered a teasing low cross to the far post. It was crying out for a home player to bury it, but Dan James and Jayden Bogle got in each other’s way and the opportunity was spurned.
Two minutes before the break, Jacob Murphy was afforded the space to hit a fierce right-foot shot which Lucas Perri parried for a corner. Moments later, Fabian Schär’s clever curled effort was deflected over.
Farke threw on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jack Harrison in the final quarter as the pair helped to Leeds threaten a winner which did not quite materialise. Nevertheless, on a rain-lashed, windswept evening, both sides had made their point.
