Shinji Okazaki's overhead kick sent Leicester City five
points clear at the top of the Premier League table as Rafa Benitez suffered a
1-0 defeat in his first game as Newcastle manager on Monday.
The Premier League leaders went in front through Okazaki's
acrobatic finish on 25 minutes after Jamie Vardy, who appeared to be standing
in an offside position when the cross came in, nodded across goal for his
strike partner.
Newcastle had missed the chance to go ahead when Ayoze Perez
dragged his shot wide early on, while Moussa Sissoko and Siem de Jong both
spurned promising opportunities to equalise after the break.
The visitors had 13 shots to Leicester's 10 in an improved
performance under new boss Benitez, and had a penalty claim turned down when
Sissoko's shot struck Morgan's arm, but the defeat leaves them second bottom
with Sunderland to come in the Tyne-Wear derby next Sunday.
As for Leicester, who scored with their only shot on target
at the King Power Stadium, the win means they will definitely stay top through
to April with a visit to Crystal Palace up next.
Benitez made two changes for his first game in charge as
Aleksandar Mitrovic and Vurnon Anita replaced Paul Dummett and Emmanuel
Riviere, and the visitors started the stronger.
But Leicester edged in front when Okazaki found the bottom
corner with a stunning piece of improvisation for his fifth league goal of the
season.
Albrighton had the chance to double the hosts' lead
immediately, but the winger flashed his shot wide of the far post.
And, with a sell-out King Power in full voice, Benitez's
side struggled to carve out another opportunity before the break.
Sissoko wasted their clearest opportunity to level when he
failed to pick out a team-mate after breaking past the Leicester defence on the
hour mark, but Newcastle midfielder then set up Perez, whose low drive
deflected narrowly wide of Kasper Schmeichel's near post.
The Magpies continued to grow into the game as the final 10
minutes approached, and they had a penalty appeal ignored when Sissoko's
powerful shot came back off Morgan with eight minutes to play.
The victory puts them five points ahead of Tottenham with
eight games remaining, while Newcastle have now lost their last seven league
matches on the road.
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