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Chris Wood was denied a goal against his former club by Illan Meslier in the second halfNewcastle will finish 2022 third in the Premier League despite being held to a goalless draw by Leeds at St James' Park.
The Magpies, a club transformed this year, offered almost all the attacking threat across the 90 minutes but were unable to find a winner which would have given them a seventh consecutive league win.
Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier saved excellently from both Chris Wood and Fabian Schar in the second half - a half played almost exclusively in the visitors' territory.
Still, Newcastle are now unbeaten in 12 games - a run which goes back to August - and are two points behind second-placed Manchester City. They are only six adrift of leaders Arsenal, who can increase their cushion against Brighton from 17:30 GMT.
The hard-earned point for Leeds, who had one shot on target all match, moves them up a place to 14th.
Jesse Marsch's side are now three points clear of the relegation zone.
Stubborn Leeds hold impressive Magpies
A year ago, three months after their Saudi Arabia-backed takeover, Newcastle were 19th in the Premier League.
At that stage manager the thought of Eddie Howe refusing to rule out a title challenge, as he did before this game, would have been fanciful at best.
They end the year in the top three for only the third time in the Premier League era - and the first since the 2001-02 campaign.
Much has been made of Newcastle as an attacking force this season with Miguel Almiron the most obvious improvement. Despite almost constant pressure, the winger was largely kept in check by Leeds' organised defence who repelled wave after wave of Newcastle attack.
Sean Longstaff blazed over from inside the area but otherwise Newcastle's clearest opening came from set-pieces with Kieran Tripper's delivery proving dangerous.
Meslier spread himself to make the block at the feet of Wood after a knock-down and saved with his feet to keep out Schar's header.
Callum Wilson, fit again after illness, came on after 64 minutes for his first appearance since the World Cup but was kept quiet.
The clenched-fisted celebrations at the end from Leeds, whose one goalbound effort was a curling strike by Rodrigo tipped away by Nick Pope, suggested this was a point gained from their perspective.
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Newcastle United
Squad number22Player namePope
Squad number2Player nameTrippier
Squad number5Player nameSchär
Squad number4Player nameBotman
Squad number33Player nameBurn
Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
Squad number28Player nameWillock
Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
Squad number20Player nameWood
Squad number7Player nameJoelinton
Squad number9Player nameWilson
Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin
Squad number23Player nameMurphy
Leeds United
Squad number1Player nameMeslier
Squad number2Player nameAyling
Squad number5Player nameKoch
Squad number6Player nameCooper
Squad number21Player nameStruijk
Squad number4Player nameForshaw
Squad number12Player nameAdams
Squad number7Player nameAaronson
Squad number11Player nameHarrison
Squad number29Player nameGnonto
Squad number19Player nameRodrigo
Squad number8Player nameRoca
Squad number10Player nameSummerville
Squad number25Player nameKristensen
Squad number30Player nameGelhardt
Squad number43Player nameKlich
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Pope
- 2TrippierBooked at 42mins
- 5Schär
- 4Botman
- 33Burn
- 36S Longstaff
- 39Bruno GuimarãesBooked at 90mins
- 28WillockSubstituted forSaint-Maximinat 64'minutes
- 24AlmirónSubstituted forMurphyat 84'minutes
- 20WoodSubstituted forWilsonat 64'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 7Joelinton
Substitutes
- 6Lascelles
- 9Wilson
- 10Saint-Maximin
- 11Ritchie
- 12Lewis
- 19Manquillo
- 23Murphy
- 26Darlow
- 32Anderson
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1MeslierBooked at 90mins
- 2AylingBooked at 45minsSubstituted forKristensenat 70'minutes
- 5Koch
- 6Cooper
- 21StruijkBooked at 59mins
- 4ForshawSubstituted forRocaat 45'minutesBooked at 64mins
- 12Adams
- 7Aaronson
- 11HarrisonSubstituted forKlichat 64'minutes
- 29GnontoBooked at 67minsSubstituted forSummervilleat 70'minutes
- 19RodrigoSubstituted forGelhardtat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Firpo
- 8Roca
- 10Summerville
- 14Llorente
- 22Robles
- 25Kristensen
- 30Gelhardt
- 42Greenwood
- 43Klich
Live Text
Match ends, Newcastle United 0, Leeds United 0.
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 0, Leeds United 0.
Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mateusz Klich (Leeds United).
Hand ball by Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United).
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
Illan Meslier (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card.
Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
Hand ball by Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United).
Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Robin Koch (Leeds United).
Attempt blocked. Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Brenden Aaronson.
Foul by Dan Burn (Newcastle United).
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Joelinton (Newcastle United).
Tyler Adams (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Jacob Murphy replaces Miguel Almirón.
Attempt missed. Joelinton (Newcastle United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Allan Saint-Maximin.
Substitution, Leeds United. Joe Gelhardt replaces Rodrigo.
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Marc Roca.
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