That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with Paul Doyle’s match report on another very happy day for all connected with Leicester City. Night!
The Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles speaks
“Terrible. We’ve nobody to blame except ourselves. It’s just not acceptable. We really do need to look ourselves in the mirror. We’ve never considered five goals since I’ve been at the club. I dunno… The boys do care, and being a man down is a disadvantage, but you can still roll your sleeves up and get into a shape where they don’t score anymore. We didn’t do that. It ain’t good enough.
“It doesn’t matter what manager you have, you need to have a bit of pride yourself and make sure you win your flipping duels: don’t let one-twos, stay with the runner, the little simple things. We didn’t do that. I don’t want to say we gave up, but we really need to sit down and look back at that because it’s not acceptable. But we can’t let it affect us going forward.”
Post-match reaction
Jamie Vardy
“We thought the first goal would be all-important, and in the end we got a good win. We’ve got lots of different ways we can score. We used to be a counter-attacking side but now we’ve got different dimensions to our attack, and you saw that with our goals today.”
Ricardo Pereira
“I saw the space [for the goal]. Jamie’s movement dragged one of the defenders away, and then I tried my luck and I scored. It’s nice to keep a clean sheet as well, that’s my first job.”
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That was a mismatch even before Isaac Hayden was sent off for a horrible tackle on Dennis Praet just before half-time. Leicester are an excellent side - so much fun to watch and, it seems, to play in. Elite football isn’t supposed to be enjoyable but Leicester’s players look like they’re having a whale of a time. Their next game is at Anfield next Saturday, and there’s already water in my mouth.
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Full time: Leicester 5-0 Newcastle
Peep peep! Leicester thump 10-man Newcastle to move up to third in the table. It’s their biggest win in the Premier League era.
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90+2 min “I fear you’re being too optimistic,” says Scott Bassett. “Shelvey is erratic, Yedlin functional, Leujeune, to be fair is very good. But keeping Carroll fit is far from given, Joelinton, Willems and Saint-Maximin are unproven and, worst of all, Bruce seems to be a complete mediocrity. It was the tactical knowhow of Rafa that made a decent team from an average-ish bunch of players. Bruce has none of that, as best I can tell.”
I quite like a front four of Saint-Maximin, Almiron and Ritchie behind Joelinton. My gut feeling is that they’ll stay up, though they need to start winning at home very quickly.
GOAL! Leicester 5-0 Newcastle (Ndidi 90)
Wilfred Ndidi gets one for the road, beating Dubravka with a smart shot on the turn from 12 yards. Leicester are going to the top of the Premier League’s Second Division in some style.
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88 min Schar is booked for something or other. Something, I think.
87 min “It’s funny how you can just take to certain players for almost no reason,” says Matt Dony. “I know little about Almiron, I have no real ties to Newcastle, but I really like him. I enjoy watching him, and it’s disappointing how things still haven’t quite come together for him. He’s got so many good qualities, and in all honesty, I’m not even completely sure exactly how Newcastle fans feel about him, but I hope he sticks around the league for a good while.”
Admirable sentiments which you’ll doubtless repeat when he roofs one from 30 yards to deny Liverpool the title on the final day of the season.
84 min Imagine how messy this might have been for Newcastle had James Maddison been fit.
83 min Another Leicester change - Demarai Gray replaces Ayoze Perez.
82 min Leicester put together a move of at least 20 passes, and then Ricardo ruins it all by being offside.
79 min A Leicester change: Hamza Choudhury, whose Hayden-esque tackle on Matt Ritchie caused such controversy when these sides met in the Carabao Cup, replaces Dennis Praet.
74 min Tielemans’ stinging shot from 20 yards hits Longstaff and goes behind for a corner. Nothing comes of it.
73 min Another Newcastle change: DeAndre Yedlin replaces the sadly anonymous Miguel Almiron.
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71 min The Newcastle fans are still making most of the noise. They’re a hardy bunch all right.
68 min “The Hayden red card unfortunately hands Bruce a ready-made excuse for this Newcastle disaster, who have looked awful since maybe the 10th minute,” says Scott Bassett. “The loss of Rondon and Perez were major, but obviously the most consequential loss for this team was Benitez. Is it too early to say Newcastle are doomed?”
Yes, but it’s not too early to say they’re in bother. They are missing some very good players through injury, though. A team with Ritchie, Shelvey, Yedlin, Lejeune, Willems and a match-fit Carroll and Saint-Maximin would be so much stronger.
GOAL! Leicester 4-0 Newcastle (Vardy 64)
It’s grim and grimmer for Newcastle. The substitute Albrighton floats a delicious cross from the left towards Vardy, who gets behind Dummett and heads past Dubravka from close range.
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64 min “Vardy seems to be dangerous again,” says Ian Copestake. “I really thought he would not buy into Brendan’s way of doing things. It is quite impressive seeing the team go from one with a penchant for downing tools when their Perrier water is not the right temperature to style trailblazers.”
63 min A Newcastle change: Joelinton off, Andy Carroll on.
61 min “Rob,” says Ron Harris. “Surely the reason why there are far fewer broken legs these days is because of the carpet slippers that players wear compared to the much more rigid footwear of yesteryear.”
Ah, I meant the opposite – why were so few legs broken back in the day, given the number of eye-watering challenges.
60 min Vardy misses his kick, 12 yards from goal. Leicester have the full swagger on now.
59 min I’d like to see a replay of the second goal. The only one we have seen, from a dodgy angle, suggested Barnes probably had a nasal hair offside in the build-up. But presumably the proper replays were shown to the VAR people.
58 min A Leicester change. Marc Albrighton replaces Harvey Barnes.
GOAL! Leicester 3-0 Newcastle (Dummett own goal 57)
This is getting grisly for Newcastle. Ricardo finds Praet, whose cross deflects off the stretching Dummett and beats the wrongfooted Dubravka at the near post.
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GOAL GIVEN! I thought there was an offside in the build-up, but apparently not. It was a nicely worked goal. Praet’s long, angled pass from centre to left found Barnes, who cushioned the bouncing ball into the area for Vardy. He was too quick for Schar and drove a low shot from a tight angle that beat Dubravka at the near post. That’s a goalkeeping error.
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VAR check Hang on, I think this is offside.
GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Newcastle (Vardy 54)
Goodnight.
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52 min “I predicted Leicester would finish top four before the season started, so feeling faintly smug,” says Norrie Hernon. “You could argue that the Prem has never been poorer, given the giant gap between top two and everyone else. Or you could argue that the ridiculous wealth in the league has actually resulted in a levelling of sorts, so there’s not much between 3rd and 8th. But it’s all good fun. City don’t seem to be quite as good as before. Liverpool pulling off April wins in September. Ah, don’t you just love it?”
Yep, watching City and Liverpool become probably the best two teams in the world is the stuff dreams are made of.
50 min Leicester’s next match is ... away to Liverpool, next Saturday at 3pm. That, for mine, is the most intriguing fixture of the season so far. I don’t know whether to be irritated or happy that it won’t be televised.
49 min Leicester have picked up where they left off, moving the ball from side to side in an attempt to open up the Newcastle defence. A second goal shouldn’t be too far away.
46 min Peep peep! Newcastle begin the second half.
“Good afternoon Rob,” says John Davis. “On first sight, I thought that was reckless but not too bad - a dark yellow (yes, I am a Newcastle fan). Having seen it back, that’s exactly why the law has been changed over the years. It was out of control and could have broken his leg easily. I understand Hayden protesting he had to go for it and what else was he to do, but even if you win the ball you can’t endanger someone like that.
“I know - crowbar - Souness was playing in a different era, but he’d barely have finished a match. Just like in rugby, you have to be able to be physical but you shouldn’t be able to put your opponent at such a high degree of physical risk. You need to be better and not be put in that position in the first place.”
Indeed. I watch a lot of old games, for work and for the purest pleasure. Many of the tackles are brutal and/or guiltily hilarious. Even this, for example, might be a red card for either player or both in 2019. One thing I don’t understand is why more players didn’t suffer broken legs. The game isn’t that much faster these days.
Some half-time reading
Half time: Leicester 1-0 Newcastle
Peep peep! Leicester are a goal up, a man up, and 45 minutes away from moving up to third in the table. Ricardo Pereira’s majestic solo goal was the least they deserved for a performance full of style and swagger. Newcastle were hanging on even before Isaac Hayden was sent off for a 20th-century tackle on Dennis Praet. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.
45+3 min After another neat move down the left by Leicester, Barnes hits a sizzling drive from 18 yards that just clears the crossbar.
45 min The more you see that tackle, the worse it gets. Praet’s leg almost gave way, and he is limping heavily. Newcastle have made a necessary tactical change, meanwhile, with Ki Sung-yeung replacing Muto.
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44 min Hayden got the ball first but his follow through took him into Praet, studs first at shin height. He’s not happy, saying ‘What’s the point in playing?’ to the fourth official as he leaves the field, but it looked a clear red card.
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Isaac Hayden is sent off!
43 min Newcastle are down to 10 men. Hayden ploughed through Praet, a horrible challenge that could easily have broken his leg, and Craig Pawson gives him a straight red.
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42 min Tielemans’ inswinging cross from the left is headed over at the near post by Vardy. He needed a gentler touch, though it was only really a half chance.
41 min Nothing much to report in the last few minutes. It’s hosing down at the King Power Stadium, as it has throughout the match.
36 min The biggest danger for Leicester is complacency. They are in total control of the game.
35 min “Rob,” says Redmond Grimes. “I think you will find that Schar was shooting.”
Either way, it was a hot hot mess.
34 min Atsu runs at Pereira, beating him on the outside before thrashing a shot over the bar from the left side of the box.
31 min Schar leads a Newcastle counter-attack, reaching the halfway line before trying to pick out Muto with a driven pass from the right wing. Goalkick to Leicester. Dear lord.
29 min Barnes’ cross is punched away by the flying Dubravka. It goes only as far as Praet, whose fierce shot from 15 yards is blocked by a defender on the six-yard line. Leicester are much the better team.
27 min “Rob, I agree with you about the Foxes chances,” says Mary Waltz. “Before Rodgers’ arrival Leicester were limited to a counter-attacking strategy. Rodgers has introduced a more well-rounded offensive attack while keeping their defensive rigour.”
I know he is occasionally ludicrous, but I think Rodgers is a superb manager. He’s also world-class at choosing which jobs to take, which sounds obvious but often isn’t the case. It’ll be fascinating to see how he does if he ever inherits a top side.
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25 min I’m not sure I’ve ever met a better judge of a footballer than my colleague Paul Doyle. This week, in an email exchange about the joys of James Maddison, he added, “Ricardo Pereira = diamond.” Doyle knows.
24 min Vardy is booked for a late tackle on Schar.
18 min That could have been 2-0. Tielemans’ exquisite little pass down the inside-left channel releases Chilwell, whose shot is excellently saved by the outrushing Dubravka. The ball comes back to Chilwell, whose follow-up is blocked desperately by Lascelles on the line.
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That really was fantastic. Ricardo received the ball just inside his own half, played a one-two with Ayoze Perez and surged into space. Once he got within range he shifted the ball onto his left foot, away from Schar, and cracked a beautiful daisy cutter from 20 yards that swerved just inside the far post. Brilliant.
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GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Newcastle (Ricardo 16)
What a wonderful goal from Ricardo Pereira!
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16 min “Rob, as much as I dislike The Brodge, Leicester are definitely more fun to watch again since he took over,” says Joe Pearson. “But predictions of top three may be premature. The only ‘good’ team they have beaten so far this season is Spurs. And well, ‘lads, it’s Spurs’.”
Oh, I don’t think they will finish third, just that they could. And since Rodgers took over they have won more points than any team other than City and Liverpool. They’re a terrific side. And lovely to watch too.
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15 min Ayoze Perez lofts a cross beyond the far post to Tielemans, whose sweetly struck left-foot volley deflects off Krafth and flashes into the side netting. The referee, presumably unsighted, gives a goalkick.
12 min Muto misses a good chance for Newcastle. Hayden’s mishit shot from 25 yards fell to him 10 yards from goal, but he was unable to sort his feet out and missed the ball completely. I thought he might have been offside but replays showed he was fine.
8 min Leicester are having loads of possession, as you’d expect. They are a very confident, watchable side.
6 min It’s been an open start to the game. Newcastle’s revamped team look quite bright going forward.
3 min Barnes’s cross was just slightly behind Perez, which is why he ended up shooting a bit too close to Dubravka.
2 min Dubravka makes a smart save from Ayoze Perez. Barnes played a one-two with Tielemans on the left, surged into the area and crossed low towards the near post. Perez got in front of Dummett to shoot from eight yards, but Dubravka got down quickly to his left to save.
1 min Peep peep! Leicester get the match under way, kicking from right to left.
The players are ready for business. It’s a dank afternoon in the East Midlands, and both of the managers have gone for a bit of cagoule chic.
“Bob,” chirps Mac Millings. It’s a controversial position, I know, but I hate VAR. To register my displeasure here’s my all-time VAR XI, or, as I like to call them, VARcelona:
- Edwin van der VAR
- Hawkeyle Walker
- Harry Maguire we using this?
- Frenkie de Wrong
- Marginal offside deci-Sean Longstaff
- Frame-by-Fraeme Souness
- Davideo Assistant Silva
- Clear and Bobvious Latchford
- Replay operatore André Flo
- Tony CascariNO GOAL
- Frankie Bunnatural position.
Pre-match reading
Team news
Dennis Praet replaces James Maddison, who is out with an ankle injury, in the Leicester side. Another promising midfielder, Sean Longstaff, returns to the Newcastle team after a month out.
Leicester City (4-1-4-1) Schmeichel; Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Ndidi; Perez, Tielemans, Praet, Barnes; Vardy.
Substitutes: Ward, Justin, Morgan, Gray, Albrighton, Choudhury, Iheanacho.
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1) Dubravka; Krafth, Schar, Lascelles, Dummett; Longstaff, Hayden; Almiron, Muto, Atsu; Joelinton.
Substitutes: Darlow, Fernandez, Manquillo, Yedlin, Ki, Carroll, Saint-Maximin.
Referee Craig Pawson.
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Preamble
Hello. At the start of the season, Leicester were an outside bet to break into the top six. Now they look a useful bet to break into the top three. Since Brendan Rodgers took over, they have probably been the best team in the Premier League outside the Really Big Two, and a win at home to Newcastle today would move them to third in this season’s table.
The likeliest scenario is a comfortable Leicester win, although they are without the injured James Maddison. And Newcastle can be a contrary bunch; their only win so far this season was away at Spurs, and they have won on their last two visits to the King Power Stadium. But their ambitions are more modest than Leicester’s. Never mind the top three; they’ll be happy to finish outside the bottom three.
Kick off is at 4.30pm.
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