You couldn’t make it up as Leeds United boss blames referee for Newcastle United win

Daniel Farke watched on as his Leeds United team took the lead three times, yet still lost to Newcastle United.

A match where the visitors came and started well, their attacking commitment paying dividends as they caused the hosts problems.

When they opened the scoring on 32 minutes, it was deserved for Leeds United.

However, it was one of those where the goal galvanised the opposition and Newcastle United were the better team for the remaining hour (and the rest!).

Poor ball retention, making mistakes, saw Newcastle gift Leeds further chances.

However, Eddie Howe’s side with more opportunities and despite one of the most appalling displays by a referee that Newcastle United fans have witnessed, the black and whites eventually won it in such dramatic fashion.

Despite getting so much help from the useless match officials, quite incredibly Daniel Farke claiming it was Leeds United who were hard done by.

The referee finally getting something right when with Newcastle 3-2 down, he signalled for a spot-kick after a clear handball, Bruno dispatching it and the rest is history.

For Daniel Farke though, he blamed the referee: “The [Newcastle] penalty, if that is a penalty, in this situation, then I have got no clue about football, it is not in the sense of the game to give such a situation, such a decisive penalty… it was heartbreaking for the lads.” 

After Newcastle United had been given such an appalling series of decisions throughout the match, very ironic that Daniel Farke believes his side were hard done by.

Especially when at the end of the first half when Newcastle had equalised and were dominating, Leeds were awarded a laughable penalty of their own, it was handball by Malick Thiaw, BUT after watching the TV replays when getting back from the match, you can clearly see that his arm only goes out because Calvert-Lewis clearly knocks him over. That foul meaning Thiaw will instinctively put his arm out, as otherwise it would be his head making first contact with the ground!

Anyway, to be fair to Daniel Farke, he also came out with a lot of the right stuff after this astonishing 4-3 classic: “Congratulations to Newcastle, many compliments I would say for both sides…both sides have played this game in the manner the game should be played…very passionate, very emotional, very attack-minded.”

The Leeds United boss also getting this absolutely correct.

As Daniel Farke admitted: “Of course, there were also a few mistakes on both sides…otherwise there wouldn’t be so many goals. This is what both teams have to accept in terms of criticism, but…I have to say that I am more than proud of the performance of my lads, the desire and belief and the bravery that we showed here,  against a side that was playing on Champions League level.”

Newcastle United fans have suffered in the odd 4-3 in the past but this time the (Harvey Barnes) boot was on the other foot.

Daniel Farke lamenting: “Late heartbreak for my lads in the 90th or 91st minute, a handball given, then the last ten minutes was a bit like a basketball game. Of course if it is not a draw, one team was on the unlucky side.”

Newcastle 4 Leeds 3 –  Wednesday 7 January 2026 8.15pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Barnes 36, 90+12, Joelinton 54, Bruno 90+1

Leeds United:

Aaronson 32, 79, Calvert Lewin 45+5 pen

Possession was Newcastle 63% Leeds 37%

Total shots were Newcastle 18 Leeds 14

Shots on target were Newcastle 8 Leeds 6

Corners were Newcastle 8 Leeds 4

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 37 Leeds 26

Newcastle team v Leeds:

Pope, Miley, Thiaw (Botman 46), Schar (Ramsey 76), Hall, Tonali (Livramento 46), Joelinton, Bruno, Barnes, Gordon (Jacob Murphy 81), Woltemade (Wissa 75)

Unused subs:

Ramsdale, Trippier, Willock, Alex Murphy