Newcastle United put "all 11 players" behind the ball but deserve "credit" for the manner in which they "fought for their lives" at the King Power Stadium, believes Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers.
Ayoze Perez scored the Magpies' winner during an unexpected 1-0 victory in the East Midlands on Friday night, handing Newcastle their first Premier League victory on the road since mid-December.
This result all-but confirmed Newcastle's top-flight status for next season, too, as United moved on to 38 points with the victory.
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And, while Leicester enjoyed 72 per cent possession, they had just one more shot than United's 11, and conjured up the same number on target with five.
Yet those statistics do not necessarily portray an accurate picture of a match which Newcastle thoroughly deserved to win, having frustrated the Foxes throughout.
“It was the first game of this type that I’d seen us play in,” Rodgers reflected after the Magpies' 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium.
“When you play an opponent that’s very deep and put all 11 players in the final third of the pitch then, of course, it’s difficult.
“It was interesting for me to see; there are areas that we could be better. First half, we were too slow in our passing, in order to get in between the lines and unbalance their defence.
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"Second half, we were better. I thought we played through the lines better. There are lots of areas that we can improve in. There weren’t too many chances in the game and sometimes that’s the way it is in these types of games.
“It was one of those nights where it didn’t quite come off for us, but the players gave everything. We’ll go away and analyse it, and hopefully we’ll be better the next time we face that kind of opponent.
"We had enough of the ball but you need to be dangerous with it and [against Newcastle] we didn’t create enough when we had it. You’ve got to give credit to Newcastle for that.
"They sat in deep and they’re fighting for their lives in the league and, of course, when they get the goal, it makes it even more difficult. So there’s plenty for us to look at, and we’ll go away and improve from it."
Leicester went into the match having recorded four successive victories, but Rafa Benitez tactically out-thought Rodgers; United allowed the Foxes possession in the middle third of the pitch, but pressed the opposition whenever they advanced forward or dallied with the ball in their own half.
Rondon's audacious effort, Ritchie helps winded Dubravka & fans celebrate wildly: moments you missed , and repeatedly exploited the gaps left behind the Leicester backline, particularly targeting Wes Morgan's lack of pace by consistently running in behind the former Premier League winner.
"It's difficult to break down a team like that. It's an area we will get better at," Rodgers added of Leicester's defeat to Newcastle.
"There wasn't a lot in the game, our final pass just wasn't there but we gave everything. We couldn't break down their defence.
"We will learn from it; this is why I am here. In games like that, you have to stay patient and have tactical discipline. The players have been first class since I came here but, if you're not quite on it, a result like this can happen.
"The speed of our passing in particular can be much better. We let them get into shape too early. It needs to come quicker. We changed it around a few times, but it was one of those evenings. It will be good for our learning going forward."
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