A Newcastle United writer has hailed the atmosphere at Elland Road as 'proper'. Matthew Philpotts reflected on the venue in a piece for the TF1892 Substack.
Philpotts said the fixture was a 'proper match between two proper clubs'. His comments come as Leeds United seek to regroup after a chaotic 6-3 defeat away to Chelsea last weekend, a result that leaves them 11th in the Premier League with five points from three games.
Reflecting on a classic venue
The writer's piece contrasted the current Newcastle project under head coach Jaissle with the traditional challenge of a trip to West Yorkshire. Philpotts noted his club is in a clear transition, having signed eight players with an average age of just 21. "We've just bought eight players with an average age of 21, for heaven's sake," he said, acknowledging a 'brave' strategy that has still yielded competitive early results.
For Leeds, the heavy away defeat is part of a mixed start. The team's recent form reads two wins, two draws and one loss from its last five matches across all competitions.
Building from a heavy defeat
The immediate focus for Daniel Farke's squad is responding to the 6-3 loss at Stamford Bridge. In that match, Leeds showed attacking threat with goals from Tarik Muharemovic, Brenden Aaronson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but were ultimately undone defensively. They have scored three and conceded two in the league so far, leaving them seven points behind early leaders Arsenal.
Injuries are a concern, with defender Joe Rodon and striker Mateo Joseph currently sidelined. Their absence will be felt as the team prepares for its next challenge.
Looking ahead to Palace
Leeds return to Elland Road on Sunday, 20 September to face Crystal Palace. The visitors sit 16th in the table, offering a prime opportunity for Leeds to get back to winning ways in front of their own supporters.
The club will hope to channel the kind of intense home atmosphere praised by Philpotts to secure a much-needed three points. The match kicks off at 14:00 BST.
