Toon Miserable Start Gets No Better!

Last updated : 02 October 2018 By Footy Mad - Editor

Newcastle's miserable start to the season continued as goals from Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire gave Leicester a comfortable away victory on Saturday.

Image result for Newcastle 0 Leicester 2

In a game of few chances, striker Vardy broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark after DeAndre Yedlin handled a Maguire shot.

With England manager Gareth Southgate watching at St James' Park, defender Maguire doubled the Foxes' lead with a second-half header.

Newcastle remain without a win this season, and fans made their anger known in chants aimed at owner Mike Ashley throughout the game.

Ashley - attending his first home match since May 2017 - appeared to respond with wry smiles.

If Jonjo Shelvey hoped to impress Southgate, he made hard work of it.

Ricardo Pereira had the first chance to open the scoring for Leicester, cleverly cutting infield before his shot - destined for the bottom corner - was pushed wide by Martin Dubravka.

Vardy found a way through, though - coolly slotting home his third goal of the season.

Jonjo Shelvey went closest for Newcastle in the first half with a speculative lob from his own half which a back-tracking Kasper Schmeichel only just kept out.

The hosts looked more positive in the second half, but Maguire's second goal of the season consigned them to their fifth defeat of 2018-19.

Ashley's first appearance of the season at a Newcastle match was for their goalless draw at Crystal Palace last weekend, with manager Rafa Benitez saying his presence was "positive" for the club. But few were fooled by it.

On an otherwise quiet day at St James' Park, chants of 'stand up if you hate Ashley' were sung by the Newcastle faithful. Ashley appeared to smile in response.

The negative attitude was reflected on the pitch, too, with Newcastle limited to few chances and the visitors dominating.

With Shelvey's flamboyant effort arguably their best chance of the first half, Schmeichel was scarcely troubled after the break - substitute Jacob Murphy going closest late on when his shot from outside the area drifted wide.

Ayoze Perez did have two penalty appeals following challenges from Maguire, but both were waved away by referee Simon Hooper.

Leicester controlled play from the off, with James Maddison a constant threat through the middle.

After Pereira's early effort, England international Maguire went close with a downward header, which Dubravka had to push over the crossbar.

Maguire was involved in the penalty, too. After five consecutive Leicester corners, he went for a half-volley in the box which cannoned off Yedlin's arm.

A composed Vardy finished neatly from the spot, the ball creeping under Dubravka, for his second goal in as many weekends.

The former England striker was left in a heap midway through the second half, however, after a painful collision with Shelvey, and was soon substituted.

Maddison - rumoured to be in contention for a Three Lions call-up - was also replaced late on, leaving to a great reception from the travelling fans.