Late, late show at St James' Park as Geordies pip breathless seven-goal thriller against Leeds

Kevin Keegan, who made news of his cancer diagnosis public before kick-off, would have approved of this swash-buckling display

Harvey Barnes scored in the 12th minute of added time. Pic: Owen Humphreys/PA

Newcastle 4 Leeds 3

As the Geordie nation stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Kevin Keegan, St James' Park bore witness to the kind of breathless contest patented by Special K. It just had to end 4-3, didn't it?

The Geordie legend, whose cancer diagnosis was made public shortly before kick-off, would no doubt heartily approve of the swash-buckling manner in which both sides went toe-to-toe at his spiritual home as the footballing world begins to come terms with the devastating news.

It could have ended 6-6. Dominic Calvert-Lewin restored the visitors' lead before half-time with an eighth goal in his last nine appearances after Harvey Barnes' seventh goal in eight league starts against the Elland Road side cancelled out Brenden Aaronson's third goal of the season.

Joelinton hauled Newcastle level a second time with a memorable diving header in an engaging tussle with Daniel Farke's side, who were bidding to take their latest stride towards safety by becoming the first newly-promoted Premier League team to go eight games unbeaten since Birmingham in 2010.

With 10 minutes remaining, Aaronson restored the visitors lead for a third time, finding the bottom corner from close range at the culmination of a swift counter-attack. It wasn't enough to secure victory.

The game's sixth goal arrived in stoppage-time from its second successful penalty as Bruno Guimaraes sent Lucas Perri the wrong way after the ubiquitous Aaronson handled in the box.

Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes (left) and Joelinton celebrate with assistant manager Jason Tindall (centre) following victory. Pic: Owen Humphreys/PA

As the 100th minute clicked past, Barnes' shot on the turn found the bottom corner to win it and break Leeds hearts. Are you keeping up with this?

All four sides of St James' Park rose in an emotional show of support for Keegan prior to a first-half where Leeds produced a passable impression of the kind of high-octane start Newcastle usually reserve for visitors here.

Pascal Struijk should have rewarded that with a goal inside the opening 10 minutes, but the unmarked defender headed Anton Stach's free-kick over from six yards.

Newcastle finally recovered from their sluggish start and had the ball in the net midway through the first-half.

Fabian Schar's effort was rightly chalked-off after the Swiss defender inadvertently used his hand to knock the ball out of the grasp of Perri in an aerial tussle for Malick Thiaw's looping header towards goal.

Leeds took the lead 13 minutes before the interval. Thiaw was dispossessed by Calvert-Lewin, and the forward's deft pass afforded Aaronson the luxury of not having to break stride as he thumped a low opener past Nick Pope from 18 yards.

The lead was short-lived as Barnes levelled four minutes later. Leeds stood off when Guimaraes poked the ball into their area, allowing Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade to ferry the ball to Barnes, who buried a shot into the bottom corner from a dozen yards.

Farke's side restored their lead in first-half stoppage-time. Thiaw rounded off a torrid 45 minutes when he was harshly adjudged by referee Michael Salisbury to have handled in the area after being pushed off balance by Calvert-Lewin, who rubbed salt in the wounds by confidently sending Pope the wrong way from the ensuing penalty.

There was still time for Joelinton to go down in the area looking to even-up the penalty count but Salisbury wasn't to be fooled, and rightly booked the Brazilian for a risible dive.

Pope saved with his left foot to prevent Aaronson doubling his tally with an angled drive shortly after the break and Newcastle made the most of their escape to level in the 54th minute.

Lewis Miley somehow kept the ball in play by the corner flag to feed Guimaraes, whose cross with the outside of his right boot was met with a sublime diving header by Joelinton.

Ethan Ampadu provided a sliding goal-saving intervention before from the following corner, a crazy goalmouth scramble saw Woltemade's effort saved by Perri as Newcastle peppered the Leeds goal with four shots in as many seconds where Schar's shot hit the post - the defender's last contribution before he was carried off with a serious-looking knee injury after an accidental coming together with Calvert-Lewin.

Leeds weren't done and Justin's header came back off the bar. Aaronson ensured no such escape for the hosts to restore his side's lead, before the US international inadvertently handled a Lewis Hall cross and Guimaraes slotted home Newcastle's 21st consecutive successful penalty at their Geordie Cathedral. There was still time for Barnes to win it with almost the last kick to do King Kev proud.

NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Pope 5; Miley 6, Thiaw 3 (Botman 46min, 6), Schar 6 (Ramsey 76, 6), Hall 6; Guimaraes 6, Tonali 5 (Livramento 46 min, 6), Joelinton 7; Barnes 9, Woltemade 6 (Wissa 75, 6), Gordon 6 (Murphy 81, 6).

Booked: Thiaw, Gordon.

LEEDS (3-1-4-2): Perri 6; Rodon 7 (Bornauw 90, 6), Bijol 6, Struijk 6; Ampadu 6; Justin 7, Gruev 6 ( 90,6), Stach 8 (Okafor 81, 6), Gudmundsson 6; Aaronson 9 (90, 6), Calvert-Lewin 7 (Nmecha 88, 6). 

Booked: Calvert-Lewin, Ampadu.

Referee: Michael Salisbury.