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Mitro looking forward after late heartache
Written by Rory Mitchinson
Aleksandar Mitrovic was quick to look to the future after Newcastle United let a deserved victory against Leeds slip from their grasp late on.
The Magpies were dominant throughout at St. James’ Park – clocking up 19 corners and more than 20 efforts at goal.
Yoan Gouffran, Matt Ritchie and Ayoze Perez all came close before the break, before Jamaal Lascelles finally made the breakthrough midway through the second half.
Garry Monk’s side barely threatened after falling behind – until the very last minute. Deep into added time, Kemar Roofe swung in a cross from the left flank, and leading goalscorer Chris Wood found the net.
Mitrovic – who provided the assist for Lascelles’ effort – was left to rue the Magpies’ luck on a deflating evening, but is hopeful that their fortunes will start to turn against Ipswich Town on Monday.
“We played probably our best game this season, and we definitely deserved to win – but this is football,” he told nufc.co.uk. “We didn’t score the second goal, and they scored in the last second. This is why football is the most amazing, popular thing in the world – maybe on Monday, we will get the win in the last second, you never know.
“We are still in a good position. In the Championship, there are so many games, so you don’t have a lot of time to think about (your last) game – in a few days, we have another one. We have to recover and prepare for that, because it will be a tough game as well.
“We keep going. This is game is finished. We have lost two points, and we have to learn from this. We have to stay focused, and from tomorrow we have to recover fast and prepare our bodies and minds for the Ipswich game.”
Mitrovic had only made a single Sky Bet Championship appearance for United since February, but impressed after being handed a starting berth.
The Serbian was satisfied with his own contribution, but spoke of his desire to find the target next time out.
“It has been a really long time since I started, but I was happy to play the whole game and I think I played really well,” he said.
“I held up the ball, won 80 per cent of balls in the air, and I got an assist – so it is alright. I didn’t get the goal but I will try and score next time.”
"We didn’t score the second goal, and they scored in the last second. This is why football is the most amazing, popular thing in the world – maybe on Monday, we will get the win in the last second, you never know."