Dwight Gayle believes he was rewarded for following up after he grabbed a brace to help Newcastle United put Leeds United to the sword 2-0 in a Championship clash.
Newcastle quickly started the process of taking hold of the game and quietening the capacity crowd at Elland Road, with Gayle looking lively.
And Gayle showed a clinical touch when he put Newcastle ahead in just the 23rd minute. The striker followed up well as Jack Colback sent a high ball into towards Leeds goalkeeper Rob Green.
Green surprisingly mishandled as he was trying to catch the ball, it dropping then to Gayle, with the striker making no mistake as he dinked it into the net.
Leeds looked to get back into the match after the half time break, but Newcastle were always comfortable and added to their lead in the 54th minute.
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The visitors sliced open the Leeds defence, with Vurnon Anita supplying a low ball into the box for Gayle, who had lost his marker Kyle Bartley and was left to poke the ball past Green.
Leeds brought Hadi Sacko and Marcus Antonsson off the bench as they chased the game, but Newcastle saw the match out to claim all three points.
Gayle had put Newcastle ahead by following up what could have looked like a lost cause and he told Sky Sports after the match: "You've got to follow everything in and luckily he's dropped it and I was there to tap it in."
On his second goal and doubt over him playing, Gayle added: "The second one, great play from the team, they set me up and I just tapped it in.
"There was no doubt I'd play today."
Gayle has now scored 13 goals this term.
