Newcastle’s Champions League destiny remains in their own hands after Leeds draw — but only just

LEEDS: Newcastle United remain the guardians of their own Champions League destiny — but only just.

The Magpies played out an entertaining, if at times bruising and scrappy, 2-2 draw at Leeds United’s Elland Road, as they missed the opportunity to open up a six-point gap to fifth-placed Liverpool, who will surely smell blood now given the chance to close that to one by Monday night. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds take on relegation-threatened Leicester City that evening.

With three games to go, the next two of which are on home turf, Eddie Howe’s men still remain in the driving seat when it comes to a top four finish, with Manchester United also less than certain to get in. But they still, as things stand, need six points from nine to make sure it is Champions League football and not Thursday nights in the Europa League to look forward to next season.

Howe made a bold call from the off in Yorkshire as he kept with the two forward experiment, retaining Alexander Isak on the left with Callum Wilson through the middle. And while two goals from Wilson appears to have underlined that tactical move, it was clear to see, watching the game, that another readjustment is needed.

In the one alteration Howe did make it was Miguel Almiron for Jacob Murphy.

The Magpies started this one the better side, as they so often do, but again, as they did against Arsenal, they fell behind to some swift play on the break. From a Newcastle perspective both goals conceded felt very preventable — and a defense that had looked so resolute for so long this season, is finally showing some war-weary cracks.

A hopeful break down the right opened up for Patrick Bamford on seven minutes and his curled ball beat the passive Kieran Trippier before nestling