An Andy Carroll strike no more than a consolation as Maddison and Tielemans sink poor Newcastle
Newcastle United 1-2 Leicester City
A James Maddison second half smash after good work form Vardy early in the second half, and a Youri Tielemans stunner were more than enough to undo Newcastle United at St James Park this afternoon.
There would be time, with 10 minutes left for collectors item though. A corner for Newcastle finally dropping to Andy Carroll 10 yards out who lashed the ball home to set up what should have been a grand stand finish. But there would be no way back for the Magpies who deserved nothing from the game.
A pretty awful first half would end goalless with little being created of any real quality by either side. Newcastle, for their part, combative and resolute in defence was about the best you could make of another poor shift at home. Leicester did managed to breach to the United back line once and get the ball in the net, only to see the Vardy effort correctly ruled offside by the assistant referee with his delayed flag.
But a goal for Maddison after good work from Vardy and both Longstaff brothers were left flat footed by Barnes in midfield would put Leicester ahead. The lead would then be doubled when Youri Tielemans would fire an absolute stunner in from 20 yards.
Moments after walking onto the pitch there would be a goal for the Magpies when a Newcastle corner was only cleared as far as Carroll, who had dropped out of the front line would then smash the ball past the Leicester keeper. His first goal for Newcastle since Boxing Day 2010.
Only Liverpool had managed to beat Leicester on their travels this season, such was the task in hand for Newcastle United this afternoon. Leicester had also won their previous 4 trips to St James Park.
To try and turn the tide, Steve Bruce made a couple of changes for this one with Sean Longstaff and Miggy Almiron restored to the starting lineup after a battling draw against Liverpool last week.
See Match FACTFILE at the foot of the page for game stats.
A fairly frantic and physical start to the game didn't allow either side to get much of a foothold in the game in the early stages.
The first big chance of the match would come In the 10th minute when Leicester should have had the ball in the net. A quick free kick allowed Vardy to get free but instead of shooting he squared and the chance was lost. Replays showed Vardy would have been ruled offside in the build up, but as is the way the flag stayed down until the passage of play was complete. A real warning for the Magpies.
Vardy would make a similar run moments later, this time rounding the keeper before slotting home. Again though, a late offside flag would rule out the effort.
A dangerously game being played by Newcastle even when sitting relatively deep.
Joelinton would get a header on target, although straight into the hands of Schmeichel, on 19 minutes after some better play on the Newcastle right.
United were looking solid enough at the back, Leicester not moving the ball quickly enough to trouble the Magpies back line. But a lack of forward momentum continued to be their downfall with any foray into the visitors half petering out repeatedly given the lack of numbers to support anyone with a moment of two on the ball.
'It must be a hard watch for Newcastle fans' was the commentary from Graeme Souness in the Sky studio at half time. Or is Roy Keane put it... 'Awful'.
The media, perhaps, starting to see what we've been watching for more than a year now.
0-0 at half time.
Into the second half and it wouldn't take long for Leicester to strike first blood. Newcastle perhaps trying to force themselves a little further up field allowed the Foxes to break past both Longstaff brothers, who looked like they had lead in their boots, before releasing Vardy. The striker doing well to cut inside the box before finding James Maddison 15 yards out who did the rest, smashing the ball past an unsighted Darlow.
Leicester were now fully in control, forcing Bruce into a couple of changes with Shelvey and Murphy on for Alimiron and Joelinton.
Some great work from Murphy on 68 minutes eventually found its way to Matty Longstaff who's inviting cross was about the only moment of threat United had posed to the Leicester goal in the second half.
But as United stretched the game it certainly seemed they would be exposed to more of the Leicester counter attack as the game moved on.
And sure enough, with 72 minutes the clock, a simple pass from Mark Albrighton into the path of Youri Tielemans who did the rest, unleashing an unstoppable drive form 20 yards out to again give Darlow no chance.
There would be a moment of hope for United. A corner with 10 minutes left would be cleared only as far as Andy Carroll who would unleash his own thunderbolt, through a crowded box, and past Schmeichel to get one back for the Magpies.
Vardy would hit the bar, only to be ruled offside again, in what would be another depressing afternoon for Newcastle.
Just awful from start to finish.
Match FACTFILE
