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Newcastle 0-3 Leicester: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Foxes Cruise to Routine Victory

​An error-strewn and injury-ravaged Newcastle United were the latest side to be undone by Leicester City, as the Foxes left St. James' Park with a 0-3 victory in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Joelinton fluffed a decent one-on-one opportunity to put his side in front, before a couple of Florian Lejeune clangers had the Magpies up against it. Firstly, the French defender played a horrible ball across his box that Ayoze Perez pounced upon to net the opener against his former club. Just two minutes later he gave the ball away poorly again, however, James Maddison's 25-yard screamer was a finish of the highest order.

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After losing three players to injury in the first half, Newcastle were struck with a killer blow less than a minute into the second period, as Fabian Schar was forced off with a hamstring strain. Ten-man ​Newcastle were up against it from this point, and they offered close to nothing as the second half fizzled out.


With Leicester controlling the match, it took until the 87th minute for them to cap off a routine win, although Hamza Choudhury's stunning curling effort was a goal straight out of the top drawer. He caressed an effort with magnificent precision into the top corner and in off the bar, to round off a fine day's work in the ​Premier League for Brendan Rodgers' side.

NEWCASTLE


Key Talking Point

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Not without their opportunities in the first half, in particular a one-on-one that Joelinton had, when you are playing opposition of his quality, gifting them goals in that manner is just criminal.

And while that is simply inexcusable, the Magpies suffered from horrendous bad luck too. Both full-backs were hauled off in the first period with injuries that will simply be put down to the hectic festive period. But then at half-time with his side trailing 2-0, to have his star midfielder unable to make it out for the second period was another cruel blow, as Jonjo Shelvey failed to emerge from the tunnel.

Then to make matters even worse, Fabian Schar went and pulled his hamstring not 20 seconds into the second half. You can do everything you can to try and win a football match, but when your luck is out, your luck is out. Poor Bruce.

Regarding matters on the pitch, the Magpies were up against it at half-time anyway, but taking on a Leicester side with ten men and two goals down, well, you know the rest.

Player Ratings


Starting XI: Dubravka (6); Schar (6*), Fernandez (7), Lejeune (3); Manquillo (5), Hayden (6), Shelvey (6), Willems (6); Muto (5), Joelinton (5), Almiron (5)


Substitutes: Yedlin (5), Krafth (5), Longstaff (6)

Star Man

Kelechi Iheanacho,Federico Fernandez

While the visitors were largely dominating proceedings, they were being kept at bay by some fine defending from Federico Fernandez. The Argentine put in some crucial blocks to half the Foxes going in front, but could do little to prevent his fellow centre-half from dropping the clangers he did.

It probably would have been an even more comfortable scoreline than it was were it not for the 30-year-old, so he'll get an honourable mention as the best of a bad bunch.

LEICESTER


Key Talking Point

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They were doing pretty well up until the Newcastle players started dropping like flies, but after that, this was a training session played in first gear for the Foxes players. In a gruelling festive period where the games come thick and fast, fixtures such as the one they played on Wednesday will have been exactly what Brendan Rodgers would have wanted. 

With Maddison in the middle, ​Leicester ran the show. They were well on top before they were gifted the opener, but it always looked as if there was only going to be one winner. 

Composed and assured when faced against ten men, the professionalism that Rodgers has instilled into this side came to the fore, as they cruised their way through the second half.

It got the Foxes off to a superb start to the calendar year, and two of the goals that got them there will be in the running for goal of the season, let alone goal of the month.

Player Ratings


Starting XI: Schmeichel (7); Soyuncu (7), Evans (7), Fuchs (7); Pereira (8), Tielemans (8), Ndidi (8), Maddison (9*), Chilwell (7), Perez (8), Iheanacho (6)


​Substitutes: Gray (6), Morgan (N/A), Choudhury (8)

​Star Man

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There were strong performances throughout this Leicester side, but none more deserving of a mention than James Maddison. Played out on the left hand side in the club's defeat to Liverpool, Rodgers has since realised his mistake and put him back in his favoured central role.

He excels in that position, where his technical ability in tight areas comes to the fore, and he ran the show at St. James' Park. If he keeps this form up, there is no way Gareth Southgate can leave him out of upcoming England lineups.

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Looking Ahead


The Foxes are in FA Cup action next as they host Championship outfit Wigan at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, while Newcastle are doing likewise, but travel to Rochdale instead.


Source : 90min