NEWCASTLE UNITED’S PREMIER League status is virtually secured after Ayoze Perez’s first-half header earned a 1-0 win away at in-form Leicester City.
Leicester had won four in a row, with Brendan Rodgers among the nominees for March’s Premier League manager of the month award after succeeding Claude Puel in February.
But despite dominating possession at the King Power Stadium on Friday they fell to a loss due to a clever Perez header, his seventh Premier League goal of the season moving Newcastle up to 13th, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Newcastle started well and Salomon Rondon cracked a free-kick against the crossbar with Kasper Schmeichel beaten by the 25-yard curling effort.
But Leicester gradually gained control and Martin Dubravka had to make saves from Ben Chilwell and Harvey Barnes, both players exploiting gaps down Newcastle’s right.
Newcastle took the lead in the 32nd minute, though. Matt Ritchie burst away from Ricardo Pereira on the left wing and whipped in a fine cross that Perez met in front of Wes Morgan.
Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tielemans had long-range efforts after the break but the Foxes were struggling to create clear chances against a Newcastle defence sitting increasingly deep.
Set-piece specialist James Maddison wasted a free-kick from a good position in the 75th minute and Jamie Vardy fluffed his lines later still with a miss that summed up Leicester’s lack of clinical edge.
But Newcastle had a nervy finale and Javier Manquillo was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he appeared to tug Tielemans’ arm in the box in the closing stages.
With 38 points on the board, Rafael Benitez has steered Newcastle to near-certain safety, although his future remains in doubt. Benitez’s contract expires at the end of the season.
- Omni
Newcastle look safe now. Hopefully they will already be on holidays when Liverpool go there on May 5th. Either way I’d say Rafa won’t be trying his hardest to stop Liverpool if they are still in with a shout of the title then.
@Flaming Mo: I hope you’re right but Rafa’s as straight as an arrow and I can’t picture him telling a player to go easy can you?….it would be a bit like the time Kenny brought Blackburn Rovers to Anfield looking for a win to secure the premiership, no quarter given that day and none expected by Kenny, you play to win, that day Utd blew it themselves fortunately :)
@Caoimhin O’Murchadha: Matt ritchies left foot is like something sent from heaven his some man to whip a ball across the box
@Ings on Fire: is he not right footed?
@John: no his clearly left footed but ur glasses on
@John: he’s left footed, but he ain’t too bad with his right either
Where is C Clark?
@GARFARKLE: find out yourself
@Aj Leahy: shut up he just asked a question like to get aj /John which is the same account banned
@Ings on Fire: Thank you.
@GARFARKLE: no bother man
@Ings on Fire: funny that ings on fire is also my account
@Aj Leahy: shut up aj everyone knows about u and johns account is a joint account u salmon
@GARFARKLE: he got injured a few months back. Still not fit
@David O’Brien: Thank you.