JONJO SHELVEY curled home a priceless second half winner to give Newcastle renewed hope of beating the drop.
His late free-kick was a perfect way for Eddie Howe to mark his 200th game as a Premier League manager and puts the Toon just one point from safety.
Despite losing three players to injury, the visitors kept a clean sheet for only the second time this season and go into the winter break in good spirits.
Buoyed by back to back league wins, it was Leeds who made the brighter start as Rodrigo’s sweeping pass saw Raphinha get in down the right.
He pulled it back for Dan James and the Wales international got his shot away but Martin Dubravka got a big hand up to keep It out and the Toon had survived.
Then Rodrigo cut in from the same flank and got his shot away but Toon skipper Jamal Lascelles got across to block.
Having hung in there, Newcastle grew into the game though and enjoyed their best spell just before the break.
A corner was only half cleared and fell perfectly for Shelvey whose thumping volley brought a flying save out of Illan Meslier.
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The Toon’s hopes of winning were not helped by three players – Joelinton, Paul Dummett and Lascelles – all going off injured.
They almost fell behind as Jack Harrison weaved across the box and got his shot away but Fabian Schar got the block in – and James could not convert at the back post.
But 15 minutes from time a foul from Diego Llorente on sub Javier Manquillo gave Shelvey the chance on the edge of the box.
His low free-kick was well struck around the wall but Meslier will be disappointed not to have kept it out.
A VAR check for a possible offside in the line of the keeper’s vision was quickly over – and the visitors had their goal.
The young keeper was clearly rattled and spilled a cross at his near post only for Llorente to spare his blushes by hoofing off the line.
Robin Koch then appeared to take Allan Saint Maximin’s heels as he turned in the box – but Chris Kavanagh did not agree and nor did the VAR.
And ASM teed up Joe Willock with a late opportunity to seal the victory but Meslier made a decent save this time.
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