Claude Puel praises Leicester City’s attitude following Newcastle win

Claude Puel has commended his players for showing the right attitude to come from behind to beat Newcastle United 3-2 on Saturday.

Magpies striker Joselu got Newcastle off to a flyer four minutes in before Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez and Demarai Gray hit back to give the visitor’s the lead.

Dwight Gayle soon levelled the score not long after but it was an own goal by Ayoze Perez which ensured Leicester a third successive Premier League win.

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The match marked the 125-year-anniversary of when Newcastle United were first founded which produced a buoyant atmosphere.

However Foxes manager Puel, who has now won three consecutive matches for the first ever time in his managerial career, believes his side dealt with the occasion expertly.

"“I think we deserved this win with a fantastic positive attitude,” he told reporters after the match.“It was a difficult game – we had to play against Newcastle and against this atmosphere, and it’s always difficult to play, to resist  under pressure.”"

Having previously let leads slip against Stoke City and West Ham, Puel was quick to heap praise onto his players for displaying the right determination to get the job done.

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"“The second goal gave us the lead, but it was difficult, but a draw would have been difficult to accept,” he admitted. “So my team deserved the third goal with a fantastic and positive attitude.”"

The Frenchman had special mention for substitute Shinji Okazaki, who played the duration of the match with a bandaged head.

Okazaki forced the third goal having looked to get onto the end of a Jamie Vardy cross but instead applied pressure on Ayoze, who could only turn the ball into his own net.

"“The first example is Shinji – he is a kamikaze and it’s a good thing for the team,” he enthralled. “He’s a fantastic player with fantastic spirit and all the squad like him because he gives everything and he also gives his body for the team.”"

Leicester now find themselves in 8th place five points adrift seventh place Burnley. The win also means the Foxes have recorded five successive wins over Newcastle, a statistic which goes back to October 2014.

Next up for Leicester is a trip to the St Mary’s Stadium, where they will face  Puel’s previous employer’s Southampton.

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