Gamethread: Leicester 2 - 4 Newcastle - Full-time

Final Say

What a win for Newcastle. Quite extraordinary to be honest. It wouldn’t have been a real Newcastle performance without making a hash of it towards the end, but as Callum Wilson said in his post-match interview, there were tired minds and tired legs out there. Fortunately for United, they’d put the game beyond Leicester by that point and the tired legs were well earned.

A cracking response to the performance at Arsenal. Wilson back amongst the goals, Willock further proving his worth (SIGN. HIM. UP.), Dubravka with some signature close range stops, Almiron & Saint-Maximin pushing the counter-attack and the defence staying strong (last 10mins aside).

Tough match against Man City next time out, as they’ll potentially be looking to wrap up the league in that game but if we come out like that, who’s to say we can’t get a result there? Look out for all the Post-Game material on the Coming Home Newcastle pages!

Thanks for joining, and see you next week for that Man City game!

Post Match Reaction

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Second Half

Full-time. Newcastle utterly dominant for the first 80 minutes, but they of course made it difficult for themselves at the end, but a huge three points for the Magpies!!

94mins- Joelinton does really, really well to bring the ball out, he’s then fouled from about 40yards out. No wall. No Newcastle players going forward. Shelvey attempts a shot and it’s deflected behind. Newcastle attempt to keep it in the corner but Leicester get it clear.

92mins- HUGE MOMENT. Newcastle fail to clear their lines, Thomas gets a header towards goal and Perez is free! He volleys it straight towards the goal but Dubravka throws his arms up and somehow, SOMEHOW, manages to keep it out.

How is this tight?!

90mins- Time for cool heads here, Leicester with another corner. Hendrick’s first involvement is an inability to keep the ball in play. The Foxes with everyone getting forward now, Soyuncu between LM and LW, whips a ball in that gets a glance out for ANOTHER corner.

FOUR ADDED MINUTES.

88mins- Substitution: Newcastle - Almiron OFF, Jeff Hendrick ON.

I know, right?!

Potentially getting to squeaky bum time here. Leicester throwing bodies forward.

87mins- GOAL Leicester 2-4 Newcastle
Iheanacho picks the ball up on the edge of the box and hits a hard low drive into the bottom right corner with his left foot. Dubz didn’t even move.

86mins- Leicester keeping ball well, but Newcastle dealing well. Ritchie gets to a cross and heads behind for a corner before absolutely laying into his teammates for something. Love his attitude.

Leicester peppering the Newcastle area with crosses, but nothing happening.

84mins - Substitution Newcastle - Joelinton ON, Saint-Maximin OFF

80mins - GOAL Leicester 1 - 4 Newcastle
Vardy from inside the area attempts to tee up Iheanacho, who leaves it, and Albrighton from behind smashes it into the top corner, past Dubravka’s flailing arm.

79mins- Iheanacho puts a dream of a ball into the box from the right, Tielemans stretches out a leg but can’t get it on target.

77mins- Substitutions: Newcastle - Willock OFF - Longstaff ON
Leicester - Maddison OFF Mendy ON

75mins- It appeared like Newcastle were about to sub Willock off for Longstaff, but as Newcastle look for number 5, he goes down while trying to play a cute ball into Wilson.

Hopefully nothing serious there, but Bruce, does us a favour and give him a rest ay?

73mins- Willock chases a lost cause and outbattles Soyuncu again. He sets Newcastle away and they spray it away well.

GOAL - Wilson again!!! ASM and Miggy play a little one two, then Almiron plays a great through ball that appeared too far ahead of Wilson, but he controls it, hits a shot onto the far post, but it rebounds back across goal and he taps it in with his left foot from a tight angle.

Scenes.

71mins- Leicester getting closer. Vardy chips it through to Iheanacho who takes a touch and Dummett manages to nick it away before getting a shot.

Yellow Card - Iheanacho goes in really late on Almiron and gets a card for his troubles.

69mins- Substitution- Leicester: Pereira OFF - Thomas ON. Protecting your assets to fight another day??

68mins- Dubravka makes another nice save. The ball falls to Perez about 10 yards out, right hand side of the box, heading up towards the top right but Dubravka pushes away for a corner.

66mins - Newcastle come again!?! Saint-Maximin has it on the right and there are 4 (FOUR) Newcastle players in the box, but he pulls it back too much and it’s swept up by the Foxes.

64mins- Almiron been quite since about the 10th minute, playing far too deep for his skills.

GOAL - Wilson gets United’s third!!! Leicester attack is intercepted, Ritchie plays a long ball forward for Wilson to chase, Castagne doesn’t have the legs for it and tries to flick it towards Schmeichel, but Wilson reads it, rounds the keeper and slots it home! UN-BE-LEIVABLE!

63mins- Substitution - It’s an attacking one. Ndidi OFF - Perez ON. Leicester throwing everything at it.

62mins- Newcastle looking much more like what was expected of this game. A little bit back in their shells, looking at Saint-Maximin and Wilson to do all of the hard work in the attacking third. Moving as a team well though, covering one another and holding their shape well.

60mins- It looks like ex-Newcastle player Ayoze Perez is warming up for the hosts. They’re looking to turn the screw, but it’s Newcastle who have a brief spell in possession. United keeping a high line here.

58mins- Mirza from the CHN team has noticed it looks like Newcastle are letting Leicester back in the game. Not a team you want to do that against. So much attacking potential across the Foxes front two and midfielders.

56mins - The corner is swung in well and Ndidi meets it at the back post and puts a header just wide of the far post. Let off for Newcastle.

Leicester look much sharper here. Vardy - whose only had 15 touches of the ball this game - runs through the middle and is swiped out. Yellow card Krafth, Maddison free kick about 40 yards out on the left.

54mins- A well struck free kick almost finds its way into the top corner. Corner Leicester.

52mins - Newcastle looking well drilled at the back. Smothering any low balls into the box and dealing well with the high ball. A high ball comes down towards Wilson who attempts to box out his space, but Tielemans comes through trying to battle for it and end up winning a free-kick somehow. About 22yards out, just left of centre. Maddisson steps up...

50mins- Murphy attempts a low swinging cross, almost from the half way line that almost finds Wilson, but Schmeichel smothers well.

49mins - Didn’t Dummett rise well?..

47mins - As expected, Leicester on the front foot. Iheanacho and Maddison attempt to reverse roles, with ‘Nacho putting a cross in and Maddison trying to head backwards. Ball flies high away and Maddison takes an elbow in the back of the head from Krafth for good measure.

He’s down for a while, but gets up seemingly ok.

45mins- Leicester get the second half under way!

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Half Time

So, Joe Willock gets Newcastle ticking again. Great work to pick Soyuncu’s pocket and a great finish to put the Toon up 1-0. Ritchie and Shelvey’s deliveries into the box have been great for the most part today, and whilst Leicester have dealt with the majority well - even in the absence of Jonny Evans - Paul Dummett rose highest to put Newcastle 2 to the good.

STAT: Joe Willock has scored more goals than any Arsenal player since he joined Newcastle, and has scored as many goals in his first 11 games for Newcastle as a certain Georgie legend...

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First Half

45+1mins - Newcastle see out the end of the half really well. Two nil up at the half. Huge performance from the Magpies!

45mins - Newcastle’s turn to make a mistake. Vardy sniffs half a chance and is in the box alone with a bouncing ball. He attempts to flick it over Dubravka but Dubz reads it well, stays big and hits it away.

1 minute added time.

44mins -Ritchie gets it in but dealt with. Only as far as Ritchie though, who gets another teasing ball in and Castagne puts a silly header back in that’s dealt with by Fofana. Leicester try to counter, but Newcastle back quickly and in numbers. GREAT TO SEE.

42mins- Wilson battling really well here. Putting Leicester defenders under too much pressure. Willock tries to go it alone, but no-one kept up with him and he settles for a corner.

40mins- I can’t believe i’m about to write this, but Krafth has looked great this game. He flicks a dangerous ball out for a corner which comes to nothing. Willock the man looking to bring the ball out again before he’s wiped out. United try to feed ASM quickly, but the ref calls it back.

Would have been 3-0 otherwise.

38mins - Quite end to end now. Newcastle rob the ball from the Foxes again, Saint-Maximin finds himself with time to put a great through ball to Wilson who does well to get to the box, but messes up his footwork as he’s about to shoot and it fizzles out to nothing.

36mins - Has Paul Dummett ever scored a header? It doesn’t matter, he has now.

Leicester try to bully their way back into the game. The ball falls to Maddison who gets another shot on target, but again Dubz is more that equal to it.

34mins - Willock battling really well down the right. Wins a corner down the right. Shelvey to take.

GOAL - Shelvey puts a great ball in, and that man I had just said was awesome in the air - Fofana - get’s beaten in the air by none other than Paul Dummett, who gets a bullet header into the top corner!

Here’s a look at that Soyuncu nightmare leading to Willock’s goal:

32mins - Shelvey’s free kick is dealt with by Fofana again. He’s an awesome presence in the air. Only 20 years old too.

BIG MOMENT - Almiron taken out in the box by Castagne, but the ref gives a corner. VAR confirm, great challenge in there when Almiron was almost through.

30mins- That Willock goal was his fourth in four games. Unbelievable. If i’ve said it once, i’ve said it a thousand times. SIGN. HIM. UP. He’s involved again, winning a free kick on the right touchline which Shelvey will get in.

28mins- Man, i’d love to see Newcastle play like this every week. Such a better team to watch, challenging everything, working well in attack and making (most of the time) good choices.

26mins - STAT - Leicester have taken the second highest number of points from losing positions this season. Ominous.

Saint-Maximin gets away on the right and looks for players in the box, but only Wilson to aim at who tries to drop rather than attack the goal and Castagne makes the interception.

24 mins - Big save from Dubravka! Maddison whips a ball in and Fofana meets it really well, but heads it far too central and Dubravka able to easily enough push it away. Dangerous there, Newcastle just need to settle into this.

22mins - Soyuncu looks like he’s got a long night ahead of him here.

Newcastle play well from the back. Dummett, Ritchie and Almiron play it up but that man Soyuncu makes an error.

GOAL - Willock pounces on Soyuncu, forces the error and takes a great touch and slots it past Schmeichel. 1-0 UNITED!

20mins - Leicester struggling to put together the right pass in the final third, but Newcastle still leaving Tielemans and Maddison with a little too much room for me personally.

18mins - Corner is whipped towards Schmeichel, but he’s fouled and that’s the end of that attack. Wilson looks much more up for it today, much more match fit and making great runs.

16mins - Good to see it’s not just me, Mirza (CHN legend) has also noticed Newcastle looking sharp out there today. Pressing really well now, preventing the Foxes from getting going.

HUGE CHANCE - Murphy plays a great ball to free Wilson, he runs well, finds an unmarked ASM in the box who hits a great first time shot, but Schmeichel makes a - quite frankly - unbelievable save to put it out for a corner.

14mins - Fofana makes a clumsy challenge this time, on the left hand side of the box he takes Almiron out. Shelvey whips the ball in, a great delivery this time and Fernandez rises highest and gets a glance on it, but it goes wide right of the goal.

12mins - It was a really disappointing delivery from Ritchie there. But the Toon are growing into the game. Wilson attempts a through ball to Saint-Maximin who made a great run, but it was too close to Fofana and well dealt with.

Much better from Newcastle here though.

10mins - Wilson taken out by a clumsy challenge from Soyuncu on the right side of the box. Wilson felt he was in the box, but England calls it just outside. Ritchie lining it up, needs a whipped highgood delivery here.

Instead, he goes low and it’s easily dealt with.

8mins - Ritchie picks the ball up in his own half and Newcastle build a nice bit of time on the ball. Almiron and Shelvey getting into their stride, as Willock attempts to get around Soyuncu but overhits it and it’s shepharded out for a goal kick.

6mins - Maddison does get the ball early, turns inside and puts a good ball in which is met by Tielemans but out for a goal kick. Early warning of Maddison there for Newcastle.

Maddison being given far too much space. Plays a one-two with Vardy and gets the first shot on target, but it’s straight at Dubravka and an easy save.

4mins - Almiron appears to be holding a high-line, much more up with Saint-Maximin and Wilson than he was against Arsenal. Much of the play so far over on the right, with Leicester trying to get Maddison on the ball.

2mins - It appears that Albrighton has gone in at left back. Leicester already looking to play straight through United’s back line, with Maddison playing a through ball into the arms of Dubravka.

0mins - Newcastle, shooting from right to left, get us under way!

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Pre-game amble

20:01 - The players take a knee in a statement against racism and discriminatory behaviour.

19:59 - Almost kickoff time as the players make their way out onto the King Power Stadium pitch.

19:57 - Johnny Evans hobbled off the pitch after the warm-up and it appears that Marc Albrighton is taking his spot in the starting lineup.

19:53 - Darren England is the man in charge of today’s game, just his second involving the Magpies; the first being the Toon’s 2-1 win over West Brom back in December. For more, check out our Ref Watch at the bottom of the page!

19:49 - A reminder of the stakes. A win today takes Newcastle 12 points clear of Fulham, who have four games remaining. That’s Newcastle pretty much guaranteed safety. Although, if they were to lose against Man City & Sheffield United, and Fulham were to win their next three, it would set up a final day decider at the Craven Cottage!

19:45 - Welcome to another Coming Home Newcastle live gamethread where we’ll be bringing all of the updates from today’s game against Leicester as they happen! Be sure to interact with our Twitter feed (@ComingHomeNUFC) during the game to be featured on here and interact with our pre-game and half-time Twitter Spaces chat!

Here’s a little reminder of the teams!

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This week’s set of Premier League fixtures kick off at the King Power Stadium, where Newcastle United take on Leicester City in the Friday evening game. Newcastle have won only 2 of their previous 10 PL fixtures against Leicester, with the most recent clash being a 2-1 loss at St. James’ Park in January, where Andy Carroll scored a consolation goal for United.

Whilst Newcastle have won twice in their last three trips to the King Power Stadium, this exact fixture last year ended in a 5-0 rout to the Foxes. Hopefully none of that today!

Both teams will be hoping they’ll come away with the win this evening, where three points for the Magpies will leave them sitting on the precipice of Premier League safety, whilst a win for the Foxes will strengthen their grip on the top four and a Champions League spot (probably…!).

After Newcastle’s disappointing performance against an underwhelming Arsenal side last week, fans will be hoping for a return to the intensity and positivity seen during the four-week unbeaten streak. Having gained valuable points against both Liverpool and Tottenham during that period, Bruce’s men should come in to this full of heart and produce a display that will help take the edge off of what could be a tense final few weeks.

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Team News

Confirmed Team News

So, Bruce has indeed shaken things up a little after the lackluster performance against Arsenal. In comes Joe Willock & Emil Krafth for Sean Longstaff & Ciaran Clark respectively.

Newcastle Lineup
Dubravka;
Murphy, Krafth, Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie;
Shelvey, Willock, Almiron, Saint-Maximin;
Wilson;

Leicester Lineup
Schmeichel;
Soyuncu, Evans, Fofana, Perreira, Castagne;
Tielemans, Ndidi, Maddison;
Iheanacho, Vardy;

Early team news

Steve Bruce spoke to the press on Thursday in sight of the fixture and provided a few key updates about the squad including some fitness and availability updates:

• Fabian Schar’s red card appeal was unsuccessful, meaning he’ll be out of league action until the Fulham game on the last day of the season
• Joe Willock - who had to sit out against his parent club Arsenal last week - is back in the squad and Bruce said he’s “pushing for a starting spot”
• Elliot Anderson, who the Chronicle reported may enjoy some playing time towards the end of the season, may miss out after struggling with a hip issue
• Darlow, Lascelles, Fraser and Hayden all remain sidelined for the foreseeable

The Leicester boss, Brendan Rogers, also gave an update on his squad:

• Jamie Vardy expected to start after having an ankle issue after their game at Southampton
• Jonny Evans also expected to be fine after a foot niggle last week
• Barnes, Justin and Morgan all remain out injured.

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How to Watch/Listen

TV & Online: SiriusXM FC, NBCSN - United States; Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event - United Kingdom; DAZN - Canada; beIN Sports Connect, SuperSport Premier, Star Sports Select, RMC Sport 1

Radio: TalkSport Radio UK, BBC Radio 5 Live

Information from LiveSoccer.com

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Ref Watch

Each week we’ll take a quick look at the man in the middle...

Darren England
The fairly fresh faced, Doncaster-born referee will be taking charge of the Magpies game this evening. After being inducted into the Premier League’s list of referee’s late in the 2019/20 season, this will be only England’s twelfth game in charge of an English top flight fixture.

England will be taking charge of his second United game of the season, after refereeing the Magpies’ 2-1 win over West Brom back in December. That fixture saw him produce 5 yellow cards, whilst he is averaging over 3 yellows a game. He’s yet to dish out a red in his brief Premier League career, and Toon fans will be hoping after Schar’s late red last week, that England keeps that run continuing.

Darren England will be joined by Lee Betts and Darren Cann as his third officials, with Craig Pawson as fourth and Paul Tierney in Stockton Park acting as the VAR official.