Newcastle 2-1 Leicester City
Report by Chris Griffin
A sunny but breezy north east afternoon: for its last ten minutes the game had been quietly drifting to a draw – an outcome both sides seemed content with. Until, with seconds remaining, City poked the hornets’ nest. A long ball deep into Newcastle’s half saw Justin and Targett tussle for possession. Energetically, Targett came away with the ball, raced along the touchline then passed to Willock. His cross took a deflection into the path of Guimaraes who headed into the City net.
No point moaning that we were in the fifth minute of a four-minute over-time period. No point moaning that City – with 69% possession – had failed to make this statistic count. But moaning there would be about our woeful defending of corners and our penchant for conceding goals right at the last knockings of a game (remember Tottenham and West Ham games at Filbert Way.) Overall there were many positives in the performance, but few City fans would disagree with Brendan Rodgers’ assertion that the outcome was “bitterly disappointing”.
City made eight changes to the side that beat PSV in the Europa Conference on Thursday. Only Kasper Schmeichel, Youri Tielemans and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall kept their places.
Amartey picked up a yellow card within minutes of the kick-off after he upended Almiron. Shelvey’s long shot from the free kick was easily saved by Schmeichel. Play was held up to allow Burn to have treatment after he and his goalkeeper Dubravka collided on the edge of the area, The opening period was proving a very bitty and unsatisfactory affair with neither team establishing a pattern or rhythm. The home side had a chance but Joelinton blazed over following a long Newcastle throw in.
In the 19th minute City took the lead with a cracking move. Dewsbury-Hall drove a low, “daisy-cutting” corner towards the near post. Perez lost his marker and with a great touch off the outside of his boot deflected the ball towards the penalty spot from where Lookman drove a low shot into the Newcastle goal through a crowd of players. It was a training-ground gem.
Newcastle retaliated through a good St Maximin dribble but he seemed to be caught in two minds and his shot cum cross went harmlessly wide. A smart passing move between Dewsbury-Hall and Lookman ended with Perez’s shot being blocked. The subsequent corner came to nothing.
But that was not the case when Newcastle had a corner in the 30th minute after Dewsbury-Hall had misdirected a pass. Burn reached the corner first although he seemed to treat Amartey as step-ladder. The ball fell to ground at the post. Schmeichel made a grab but couldn’t hold it and Guimaraes poked the ball home from close range.
Initially referee Gillett disallowed the goal, presumably for the ball being kicked out of the goalkeeper’s hands. Sadly, Schmeichel never had the ball in his grasp so VAR instructed the referee to check the screen which he did and so awarded the goal (although how he and VAR overlooked Burn’s highly suspect climbing over Amartey remains a mystery.)
Newcastle continued to press and City looked nervy when defending long throws, free kicks and corners launched into the box. Targett reached one cross but Schmeichel saved the shot comfortably. In the 40th minute a Newcastle counter attack saw Wood head Joelinton’s cross wide.
There had been substantial periods when City had retained possession. Even so, by half time, Newcastle had both more shots and more shots on target than City. Dewsbury-Hall revived memories of his goal against Brentford the previous week when we worked some space on the edge of the area. Dubravka dealt with the effort comfortably. Half-time arrived with the home team on the front foot. This was disappointing for City fans given how much possession the team had in the first 30 minutes of play.
The second half had a lively start. St Maximin had two efforts: one wide and one over the bar. At the other end an excellent Justin dribble led to him playing to Perez, but the forward’s cross into the box was too fast for Lookman. Aggressive play by Thomas saw him link with Dewsbury-Hall but the midfielder shot wide via his less favoured right foot. Perez then found Lookman in the area but the winger delayed his shot.
A City corner led to Thomas crossing to Justin who was brought down by Burn. VAR was not helpful. With thirty minutes left Maddison came on for Perez. Daka just failed to reach a Dewsbury-Hall through ball before Dubravka. St Maximin then went on a bewildering diagonal run, slaloming between opponents, but eventually ended in a cul-de-sac.
Barnes came on for Lookman but in all honesty the game was drifting in an aimless manner. Neither side seemed to be pushing hard for the points. From a City point of view it was frustrating to see Maddison playing a wide role where his space and options were restricted. He is a game changer and match winner but is more dangerous when given the freer No. 10 role. Iheanacho came on for Daka. Meanwhile Newcastle won a corner. The unmarked Burn was given a free header but he mistimed his effort and the ball looped to safety.
Leicester continued to dominate possession but found it hard to penetrate the tight and well organised lines of Newcastle defenders. The closest City came was when Barnes dispossessed Krafth and the ball went via Dewsbury-Hall to Iheanacho who could not deflect the ball into the net from close range. Dubravka gathered the ball safely.
And that seemed to be that until the unwanted coda in over-time. A trip to Everton and a home game to Villa are up next. Let’s hope the performances are assured enough to gain better results.
Newcastle United: Dubravka, Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett, Bruno Guimaraes, Shelvey, Joelinton, Almiron, Wood, Saint-Maximin. Subs: Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Fernandez, Murphy, Darlow, Willock, Gayle, Longstaff.
Leicester City: Schmeichel, Justin, Amartey, Soyuncu, Thomas, Tielemans, Mendy, Perez, Dewsbury-Hall, Lookman, Daka. Subs: Evans, Barnes, Maddison, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Choudhury, Ricardo Pereira, Castagne, Jakupovic.
Referee: Jarred Gillett Attendance: 52,104
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation