Back-To-Back Premier League Wins For City
Manager Claude Puel made eight changes to the side that defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers on penalties in the Carabao Cup in midweek, with Jamie Vardy, Wes Morgan and Ricardo Pereira all retaining their spot in the starting XI.
Opportunities fell to both sides early on in Newcastle. Ayoze Perez had a strike blocked by midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi, who at the other end headed over shortly after.
Magpies stopper Martin Dubravka then had to be alert to Ricardo’s low effort on 10 minutes, while Harry Maguire, whose name was chanted from the away end by the Blue Army all afternoon, put in a superb last-ditch challenge to deny Joselu.
Headers from Mohamed Diame and Maguire followed in the first period and it was the latter who played a role in the eventual opener.
The England international’s strike from a corner hit DeAndre Yedlin's arm and City were awarded a penalty – Vardy slotted in from 12 yards for his third Premier League goal of the 2018/19 campaign.
Newcastle came out fighting after the interval as City had to weather the storm at St James’ Park. However, the hosts failed to create any clear-cut chances and it was Leicester who would add to their advantage.
Having volleyed wide of the mark with 59 minutes gone, Maguire continued to threaten the Newcastle goal and with under 20 minutes to play made it 2-0 with a towering header from James Maddison’s pin-point corner.
Comfortable for the closing stages, City were happy to defend their two-goal advantage to register their fourth Premier League win of the campaign.
Major moment
Much has been said about City’s early play over the last few weeks, but they capitalised on an assured opening display on Saturday by taking the lead through Jamie Vardy’s penalty.
Vardy, as cool as you like from the spot, put the Foxes into a deserved lead before they made sure of the win from another set-play after the break.
Who impressed?
A rock in the heart of defence and a menace in the air, Harry Maguire put in a brilliant display against Rafael Benítez’s men at St James’ Park.
The City centre-back produced a goal-saving tackle to prevent Joselu from pulling the trigger at one end in the first half, before powering home a header after the break in front of the stand housing the travelling Leicester fans.
Maguire is further cementing his status as a fans' favourite in Leicester.
Where do we stand?
A second-straight Premier League victory means Leicester City now sit seventh in the table after seven gameweeks.
Coming up…
Everton visit King Power Stadium on Saturday 6 October (3pm kick-off) in the Premier League prior to the second international break of the season.