Our interest in this years' League Cup sunk on the banks of the River Tyne as goals from Papa Cisse and Yoan Gouffran saw off a youthful Leeds side.
Brian McDermott at least gave us a glimpse of the bright future to tomorrow may hold by blooding Byram, Mowatt and Poleon, all academy products. Matt Smith started up front, a reward for his consolation goal against Burnley at the weekend and the more experienced Stephen Warnock returned at left back.
Leeds, roared on by 6000 fans started positively, McCormack clipping the bar after chipping Krul. In the 11th minute a touching social media inspired tribute to Gary Speed, who graced both clubs in the number 11 shirt brought the United's of Tyneside and West Yorkshire together.
Under-fire Newcastle boss Alan Pardew named a strong side, including Papa Cisse without a goal since April and his five month drought ended on the half hour mark when he headed home Sammy Ameobi's cross to put the Premiership strugglers in front.Ameobi picked out his man from the left superbly, delivering the perfect quick cross for the striker to head home from the penalty spot.
Another Ameobi cross could have caused danger for Paddy Kenny on the stroke of half-time but Check Tiote was adjudged to have hand balled. Still Leeds could take some credit from a spirited first half, Smith in particular putting himself about a bit in search of another Premiership scalp.
McDermott made his typical early second-half substitution on the hour, bringing on White for Poron and Diouf came on for Tonge, West Yorkshire's favourite son from Senegal roundly booed by the locals who remember his stay down the road in Sunderland however Leeds fell further behind when Gouffran added a second on 67 with admittedly a stunning strike from the edge of the box.
There was nothing much else of any interest to report on afterwards, the Leeds fans kept up the terrific support as best they could up in the heavens. Alex Mowatt picked up a yellow on 83 for a foul on Dan Gosling and Newcastle's players showed their petulance by surrounding the referee demanding the 18-year-old be red-carded.
Okay, it was always going to be a tall order to pull off a shock here despite the hosts well-publicised problems, however given last season's excellent run to the quarter-finals there is an air of disappointment amongst the travelling army as we head home down the A1.
A better performance than of late but three straight defeats for McDermott's men make it an unhappy Autumn for us. More boardroom upheaval earlier with the departure of Hisram Alrayes and yet more rumours of a wealthy Saudi coming in, it is perhaps understandable that glass half empty syndrome is kicking in particularly as we leave the warm Geordie hospitality behind and head for hate-filled cauldron Millwall on Saturday.