Newcastle: Players see Jaissle’s angry side – can they respond?

Jaissle was parachuted into the hot seat just three weeks before the start of the season after predecessor Eddie Howe stepped down.

He is still adapting to the Premier League and injuries to, among others, Dan Burn, Joelinton, Anthony Elanga and William Osula have hardly helped in that regard.

That being said, no team have faced more shots (76) in the opening weeks of the season in the top flight, while at the other end Newcastle have been averaging little more than three efforts on target per game in the league.

The visitors struggled to gain a foothold against an aggressive Leeds side, even before influential midfielder Nico Gonzalez went off with a concussion in the 19th minute.

Vertical football is Jaissle’s trademark, in an effort to “stress” the opposition, but too often Newcastle‘s main tactic appeared to be punting the ball forward for Yoane Wissa and Matias Fernandez-Pardo to chase hopefully at Elland Road.

Leeds‘ three towering centre-backs outnumbered the pair and Newcastle were also swarmed in midfield after Jaissle stuck with his preferred two-man pivot.

However exposed Jaissle’s system was, though, that does not excuse those on the field failing to do the basics from the off against one of the most physical sides in the league.

Meek Newcastle lost 56% of their duels in the first half against Leeds and defenders Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman were bullied by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored twice.

A warning had previously been sounded when Newcastle failed to match Bournemouth‘s intensity and found themselves 2-0 down after just 35 minutes earlier this month.

Jaissle’s team showed admirable grit and spirit to come back and draw that game at St James’ Park, but a similar response was never on the cards in West Yorkshire.

No wonder one or two Newcastle players threw out their palms apologetically as they trudged over to the away end at full-time.