Lucas Perri’s split-second decision before Newcastle’s winner made Leeds’ pain even worse
Despite the defeat, Leeds’ eight-point cushion above the relegation zone remains intact after West Ham also suffered a midweek loss. However, while the Hammers’ home defeat to Nottingham Forest carried an air of looming danger, Leeds’ setback felt particularly cruel given how close they were to escaping with a valuable point after a breathless seven-goal contest on Tyneside.
The match developed into a relentless end-to-end battle, with Leeds taking the lead on three separate occasions, only for Newcastle to claw their way back each time. As the clock ticked deep into stoppage time, it appeared Leeds had weathered the storm until the final, decisive moment shattered those hopes.
A quick throw-in led to a cross into the penalty area, where the ball broke kindly for Barnes. The Newcastle winger swivelled sharply under pressure and fired a low effort through a crowd of bodies. Somehow, the shot slipped through the grasp of Lucas Perri, sending St James’ Park into delirium and leaving Leeds players collapsed in disbelief.
Statistically, it was a moment that should not have ended in a goal. Data showed Barnes’ effort carried an 81% probability of being saved once it left his boot. That context only deepened the frustration and head coach Daniel Farke did not shy away from addressing it after the final whistle.
“In this moment, I can’t protect him from the criticism. He should have saved it,” Farke admitted, speaking to Adam Pope at St James’ Park.
The failure to keep out Barnes’ effort alone was enough to anger Leeds supporters, especially given Perri’s recent struggles, including the goal he allowed Matheus Cunha to score at Elland Road last weekend. Yet what followed moments before the strike arguably compounds the disappointment even further.
Until that point, Perri had largely stood up well to Newcastle’s sustained pressure. The Magpies relentlessly peppered Leeds’ box with crosses during the second half, often delivering the ball dangerously close to the crossbar, and the goalkeeper handled the aerial bombardment with commendable composure.
However, football’s most basic lesson one drilled into players from childhood is to play until the whistle. When Leeds initially cleared the corner in the 101st minute, the final whistle felt imminent, but it had not yet arrived. Newcastle quickly restarted play with a throw-in, launching the decisive attack.
As the cross came into the area, Perri set himself to deal with the delivery, but his attention appeared split a glance toward the clock behind him prevented him from fully organizing his defense. That lapse proved costly. Barnes was once again afforded the space to turn and shoot from almost the exact area he had exploited earlier in the match.
It would be unfair to place the blame solely on Perri. Leeds’ defenders also failed to close down Newcastle’s most dangerous attacker at the crucial moment. Still, for a Premier League goalkeeper, turning away from live play even briefly is a fundamental error.
In a game defined by fine margins and relentless momentum swings, that moment of lost focus ultimately proved fatal, transforming what could have been a hard-earned point into another painful lesson for Leeds United.
