Leeds United 0-1 Newcastle United: Player ratings, heroes and villains as Magpies WIN at Elland Road

A win. Three points. And it feels like lift off for Newcastle United.

A second-half Jonjo Shelvey strike claimed all three points for the Magpies at Elland Road, moving Eddie Howe’s side to within a point of getting out of the Premier League relegation zone.

And here’s a summary of the game, the heroes and the villains on a successful afternoon for the Magpies.

The heroes

Jonjo Shelvey - Aside from the goal this was one of his best performances in a long while, particularly defensively. After a poor fortnight, he came back with a bang in Yorkshire.

Joe Willock - Another who looked transformed on the afternoon. A quiet first 45 sparked into life after the break as the gaps opened up in midfield. And the former Arsenal man made sure he ran into them at will.

Fabian Schar - One quite brilliant, goal-saving block in the second half rounded off what was an imperious performance at the heart of defence.

The villains

None. This is not time for negativity - not when wins are so few and far between. Each player, to a man, played their heart out, put their bodies on the line.

Player ratings

Newcastle: Dubravka 7; Trippier 8, Schar 8, Lascelles 7 (Clark 68; 6), Dummett 6 (Manquillo 63; 7); Willock 8, Shelvey 7, Joelinton 6 (Longstaff 42; 7); Fraser 6, Saint-Maximin 6; Wood 6.

Subs not used: Darlow, Lewis, Hendrick, Murphy, Almiron, Gayle.

Leeds: Meslier 7, Ayling 6, Koch 6, Raphinha 7, Llorente 6, Dallas 6, Rodrigo 7, James 6 (Roberts 71; 6), Struijk 7, Harrison 6, Klich 6 (Gelhardt 81; N/A).

Subs not used: Klaesson, Bate, Hjelde, McKinstry, McCarron, Moore, Kenneh.

Who do Newcastle play next?

Newcastle take on Al-Ittihad in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday to finish their warm weather training camp. They are not in Premier League action until Everton are at St James' Park on February 8.