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Leicester City 1-0 Newcastle United

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Shinji Okazaki

Leicester extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points as Rafael Benitez’s first match in charge of Newcastle ended in defeat.

Shinji Okazaki’s spectacular overhead kick earned the Foxes a win which, with just eight games left, moved them closer to their first league title.

An improved Newcastle went close through Ayoze Perez and Moussa Sissoko.

But ultimately Leicester’s pressing foiled them and the defeat leaves the Magpies second from bottom.

Leicester show no signs of wavering

Before the match, Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri refused to accept his team were favourites to win the title, insisting that qualifying for the Europa League was the target.

But as Ranieri gesticulated on the sidelines in the closing minutes, urging the home fans to increase the volume, his actions suggested that he and his team are chasing more than a chance to compete in Europe’s second-tier competition.

Claudio Ranieri<!–

With every passing week, the prospect of the Foxes achieving what their former striker Gary Lineker describes as possibly the most “unlikely triumph in the history of team sport” becomes more likely.

A team which at the start of the season were among the bookies’ favourites to be relegated are on the home straight, unbeaten in four matches and closing in on history.

Ranieri’s men are 12 points clear of Manchester City and 11 ahead of Arsenal, leaving many to believe the title is a two-way fight between the leaders and second placed Tottenham.

A hint of a Rafa revival?

This match perhaps came too soon for Benitez to whip Newcastle into shape, having only taken over from the sacked Steve McClaren on Friday.

The Magpies started like a team buoyed by the Spaniard’s appointment, engineering two chances early on – an iffy Wes Morgan nearly put Sissoko through, while Pérez went close moments later.

Newcastle’s deep defensive line initially caused the hosts problems, but once Okazaki struck, the Foxes took control, attacking with pace and defending in packs.

Rafael Benitez<!–

There were hints that Benitez can revive a team which has struggled all season, but the former Liverpool boss – who nine weeks ago was in charge of Real Madrid, coaching Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale – has just nine games to save Newcastle from relegation.

On the flip side, Newcastle were well organised and the introduction of Andros Townsend after the break boosted their attacking options.

Had Sissoko possessed the poise to find a team-mate when the visitors had a three-on-two advantage they could have equalised, while the Frenchman also sweetly struck a volley only to be denied late on by Morgan’s block.

Pérez, too, should have done better than fire high and wide during Newcastle’s period of second-half dominance.

Benitez had said he had “done the maths”, that he was positive of survival, but for that optimism to remain, the Magpies – who have now lost 17 of their 29 league matches – must beat fellow strugglers Sunderland on Sunday.

What next?

Leicester travel to Crystal Palace to face a side which has not won in the league in 2016 but have progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Newcastle, meanwhile, will host Sunderland in what should be a tasty derby against two teams fighting for survival. The Magpies are a point adrift of the Black Cats but with a game in hand.

The stats you need to know

  • Leicester have lost just one of their last 18 Premier League games at the King Power Stadium (W12 D5 L1).
  • Claudio Ranieri’s team have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven Premier League home matches.
  • Leicester have scored in 27 Premier League games this season, more than any other team.
  • The Foxes have made just 25 changes to their starting XI this season, fewer than any other side.
  • This game was the 10th time this season that Ranieri had named an unchanged starting XI.
  • Leicester have won 12 games by a single goal this season, more than any other Premier League team.
  • The home side scored with their only shot on target of the game.

Line-ups

Leicester

  • 1Schmeichel
  • 17Simpson
  • 5Morgan
  • 6Huth
  • 28Fuchs
  • 26Mahrez
  • 14Kanté
  • 4Drinkwater
  • 11AlbrightonSubstituted forUlloaat 75′minutes
  • 20OkazakiSubstituted forSchluppat 65′minutes
  • 9Vardy

Substitutes

  • 13Amartey
  • 15Schlupp
  • 22Gray
  • 23Ulloa
  • 27Wasilewski
  • 32Schwarzer
  • 33Inler

Newcastle

  • 21Elliot
  • 22Janmaat
  • 27Taylor
  • 15Lascelles
  • 4Colback
  • 8AnitaSubstituted forTownsendat 56′minutes
  • 12ShelveySubstituted forDoumbiaat 87′minutes
  • 17PérezSubstituted forde Jongat 71′minutes
  • 5Wijnaldum
  • 7Sissoko
  • 45Mitrovic

Substitutes

  • 10de Jong
  • 23Saivet
  • 25Townsend
  • 26Darlow
  • 28Doumbia
  • 29Riviere
  • 42Sterry
Referee:
Craig Pawson
Attendance:
31,824

Match Stats

Home TeamLeicesterAway TeamNewcastle
Possession
Home50%
Away50%
Shots
Home10
Away13
Shots on Target
Home1
Away2
Corners
Home8
Away4
Fouls
Home4
Away9

Live Text

Match ends, Leicester City 1, Newcastle United 0.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Leicester City 1, Newcastle United 0.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Jack Colback.
Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Moussa Sissoko.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Andros Townsend.
Foul by Jack Colback (Newcastle United).
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie Vardy with a headed pass.

Substitution

Substitution, Newcastle United. Seydou Doumbia replaces Jonjo Shelvey.
Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Daniel Drinkwater (Leicester City).
Attempt missed. Siem de Jong (Newcastle United) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Foul by Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle United).
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andros Townsend with a cross.
Attempt missed. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jonjo Shelvey with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Robert Huth.
Attempt blocked. Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Danny Simpson (Leicester City).

Substitution

Substitution, Leicester City. Leonardo Ulloa replaces Marc Albrighton.
Foul by Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United).
Danny Simpson (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Substitution, Newcastle United. Siem de Jong replaces Ayoze Pérez.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Daryl Janmaat.
Attempt blocked. Jeffrey Schlupp (Leicester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.

Substitution

Substitution, Leicester City. Jeffrey Schlupp replaces Shinji Okazaki.
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United).
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by N’Golo Kanté.
Attempt blocked. Ayoze Pérez (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Marc Albrighton.

Substitution

Substitution, Newcastle United. Andros Townsend replaces Vurnon Anita.
Attempt saved. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United) header from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Daryl Janmaat.
Attempt blocked. Christian Fuchs (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Drinkwater.
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Daryl Janmaat (Newcastle United).
Attempt blocked. Wes Morgan (Leicester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Christian Fuchs.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Jack Colback.
goal

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