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Chris Knight

'Nursing regrets': National media verdict as Leeds United told it may not be Mission Impossible

Here is a round-up of the national media reports after Leeds United played out a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at Elland Road on Saturday.

'Nursing regrets'

Phil McNulty wrote for BBC Sport: "Sam Allardyce might have had trouble deciding if his glass is half full or half empty when he settled his nerves after a pulsating introduction to Elland Road's fevered atmosphere as Leeds United manager.

"Do not mistake pulsating for quality because there was precious little of that commodity on show as Leeds went ahead then looked to have turned potential victory into defeat before snatching a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle United.

"Instead, amid the sound and fury of one club fighting for Premier League survival against another reaching out for the riches offered by the Champions League, both Leeds and Newcastle were left nursing regrets.

READ MORE: Allardyce ally emerging as Leeds United kingmaker if they can stop shooting themselves in the foot

"Leeds will have to wait until the final reckoning before they can measure just how vital Patrick Bamford's missed penalty when they were leading 1-0 and rattling Newcastle in the first half will be.

"This would surely have been a very different game with Leeds holding that advantage in this atmosphere but Bamford, who suffered fierce criticism after missing a stoppage-time sitter in the recent home draw with fellow strugglers Leicester City, looked a bag of nerves as he placed the ball and there was a sense of inevitability as Newcastle keeper Nick Pope saved his spot-kick with some comfort.

"It looked a potentially decisive miss when Newcastle went ahead through two Callum Wilson penalties before Leeds, to their great credit, roused themselves to earn a point, Elland Road exploding with elation and relief as Rasmus Kristensen's shot deflected past Pope via Kieran Trippier's head."

'If Bamford could take penalties like Wilson'

Joe Bernstein wrote for the MailOnline: "If Patrick Bamford could take penalties like Callum Wilson, Leeds United may be feeling more confident of playing Premier League football again next season.

"A pulsating game which left Sam Allardyce joking he needed Valium was turned on its head in the 28th minute when Leeds were awarded a penalty to go 2-0 up.

"You sensed nervousness around the ground as an out-of-form Bamford stepped up and their worst fears were recognised when his effort was saved at a comfortable height by Nick Pope.

"It triggered a massive change-around with Leeds gifting Newcastle a couple of their own spot-kicks, both of which Callum Wilson put away ruthlessly for a 2-1 advantage.

"A fortuitous late equaliser by Rasmus Kristen at least rescued a point for Leeds but not the three they needed to climb out of the relegation zone."

'Might not be quite mission impossible'

Louise Taylor wrote for the Guardian: "When Sam Allardyce managed Newcastle his players eventually tired of hearing near constant instructions to “nullify the opposition” but a mastery of the destructive arts may still breathe new life into Leeds.

"Admittedly, the survival hopes of Allardyce’s latest team remain touch and go, yet it speaks volumes that the two goals Callum Wilson scored here for Newcastle came from the penalty spot.

"The visitors, chasing a Champions League place, are rarely rationed to so few clear-cut chances and had Patrick Bamford not missed a first-half penalty the outcome might have been different.

"Although they played the closing minutes with 10 men after Junior Firpo’s self-destructive collection of a second yellow card, this represented a significantly improved performance on the part of Leeds. Granted, avoiding relegation may well involve them winning their final two games, at West Ham and at home to Tottenham, but, on this evidence, it might not be quite mission impossible."

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