Leicester City 0-1 Newcastle United: match report, player ratings

Statistics from the first-half were as such: four attempts to seven in favour of Leicester City; a whopping 73 per cent possession for the home team; Newcastle had five more successful tackles with 11 – showing their combative approach.

In the second-half the assured nature of City’s beginning 30 minutes evaded them at the start. When Leicester’s attacking prowess is frenetic and lack end product, the opposition often smartly take the ball away and begin their own more settled yet very swift offence.

At around 50 minutes gone, the North East side should’ve arguably gone further ahead as Ricardo Pereira was twice caught in no man’s land. Once more the match went from one end to another countless times.

Throughout the contest, it is most noteworthy that Leicester needed their fullbacks and wingers to utilise the width; this is because the Magpies packed the middle. Thus rendering the usually more creative key passers Maddison and Tielemans almost ineffective in advanced places on the pitch. With 60 played the Foxes’ forwards looked void of invention too.

Finally the meticulous buildup play came to fruition as Barnes and Maddison link-up to supply Vardy, almost. But the positivity increased up to 70′ with openings arising. Still, Benitez’s side push well with strength along with speed on the break, through more often than not Miguel Almiron. Kelechi Iheanacho made his entrance for the ghostly absent Demarai Gray.

Barnes them applied the required width and made things happen: firstly a free-kick in opposition penalty box territory. Maddison stood ominously over it, looking as confident as ever, but alas, skies it nearly out of the ground. Maybe it wasn’t the King Power club’s night.

An introductory Toon substitute was not a defensive manoeuvre as some may have expected but an almost life-for-like forward. A distinctly negative omen for the Blue Army. Marc Albrighton then received a raucous welcome back form injury from the Filbert Way faithful.

Albrighton duly provided the defined stretched play as well as industry, which Barnes occasionally leaves vacant. Once the crosses came in it was too late – for the visiting side had compacted their penalty area and dealt with pretty much everything, even when Maguire joined the attackers.

Iheanacho appeared upset as Maddison had a rather easy chance, by his impeccable standards, to slot the Nigerian in for a one-on-one but over hit his pass. 1-0 was the final score as Benitez won the battle of tactical wits.