Leeds United put Newcastle United to the sword on Wednesday night at Elland Road with goals from Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo, Stuart Dallas, Ezgjan Alioski and Jack Harrison.
The Whites moved up to 13th in the league table with their first win in three matches, but here are some of the moments you may have missed at Elland Road.
Bruce’s warm welcome
Marcelo Bielsa is not known for his longing embraces with opposition managers. Amiable yes, but he is so focused on the task in hand these frivolities around the edges sometimes get little more than a handshake.
Of all people in the Premier League, all of those who can speak to Bielsa in Spanish, Northumberland’s Steve Bruce does not jump out as a candidate for warm and lasting introductions.
However, the two men were very friendly with one another as they crossed paths by the technical areas between their media duties pre-match.
They were smiling, talking, back-patting and almost chuckling with one another by the time they went their separate ways.
Rob Price shows his worth
It’s already been proven a few times, with miraculous recovery times, how handy an operator head of medicine and performance Rob Price is.
If that’s the impact he has had throughout his distinguished career it is no surprise to see former colleagues hold him in such high esteem.
While Newcastle were warming up, Price spent a several minutes chatting with striker Andy Carroll, whom he spent plenty of time with during their Liverpool days.
Jonjo Shelvey, another player under his care at Anfield, also made the effort to come over and exchange pleasantries with the medicine man.
Bamford’s old Boro link
One of Bamford’s many former coaches was in the backroom staff at Newcastle last night.
As the players from both sides came in from their warm-ups, Bamord was pulled aside for a quick chat with Bruce’s number two Steve Agnew.
Agnew was working at Middlesbrough during Bamford’s time on Teesside including the first spell when Bamford was crowned Championship Player of the Year.
Does Bruce talk Alioski?
There was one odd moment, of which there are many where Alioski is concerned, when, during a break in play, Bruce and the North Macedonia international were deep in conversation for a good 30 seconds.
We all know how offbeat Alioski can be, so it’s a wonder what they must been able to hold a conversation about in the middle of a full-blooded Premier League fixture.
Still, at least Alioski didn’t prompt Bruce to headbutt him like a certain Ivorian winger.
