Newcastle 1-2 Leicester: Maddison and Tielemans goals put Foxes upto third in the Premier League

Brendan Rodgers did not specify when he said Leicester City’s aim for 2021 was European football. His side would have failed, though, if all they secure is another spin in the Europa League.

This victory moves them to third position and to within a point of leaders Liverpool. They could yet have far loftier ambitions then mere continental qualification.

And why not? They were far from their best for the majority of this scrappy contest but moments win matches and, in that regard, Leicester produced two pieces of inspiration that would prove the difference.

James Maddison (pictured) and Youri Tielemens scored as Leicester beat Newcastle

Maddison fired the ball past Karl Darlow from close range after good work from Jamie Vardy

Midfielder Youri Tielemans then gave the visitors a two-goal advantage with a curling effort

James Maddison had been noticeable in the first half more by way of his bright pink boots than anything he actually did with them. But that all changed 10 minutes into the second half when he leathered his side in front from 14 yards to climax an incisive break involving Harvey Barnes and provider Jamie Vardy.

But Youri Tielemans was to better that goal by starting and finishing the move that brought Leicester’s second on 72 minutes. His effort had power and precision after striding onto Marc Albrighton’s cross to whip home from the fringe of the penalty area.

Steve Bruce sent on Andy Carroll in response and he smashed his first Newcastle goal in 10 years to set up a finish that could have brought a barely deserved point for the hosts.

As it was, the better team won, even if they had made hard work of it at times.

Referee Robert Jones was fortunate to have a Premier League fixture after his performance at Leeds last weekend, where his premature whistle denied Burnley a legitimate goal.

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll’s strike on the volley halved the Leicester deficit late on

Carroll’s late consolation was the Englishman’s first Newcastle goal in over ten years

He was heavily involved here, too. Not because of any controversial decisions. But Jones kept making inadvertent interceptions. At one stage in the first half he’d had more touches than Newcastle’s forwards.

Leicester started well. Very well, in fact. But, like many such New Year endeavours, their intent soon faded.

The visitors should have led on 10 minutes when Tielemans simply had to roll the ball into the path of Barnes for a tap-in. But Tielemans’ pass was as heavy as the storm clouds above St James’ Park and the ball ran away for a goal-kick. It was a shocking miscalculation for a midfielder of such subtlety. 

Vardy then had a goal ruled out for offside – he was, by half a yard – but it felt like warning was being served of an inevitable Leicester goal.

Jamie Vardy remained a constant threat for Leicester and hit the crossbar in the final minutes

It says much that the first half would expire without them having a shot on target. They saw a lot of the ball, yes, but did nothing with it. Passive passing, you could say.

Newcastle had the half’s only effort on target. But even then Joelinton’s header was nothing more than catching practice for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The Foxes keeper could have been in trouble had he then not connected with one throughball when bursting from his area to intercept 35 yards from goal. 

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson was giving chase but he heard Schmeichel’s thunderous advance and, perhaps wisely, ceded the advantage to the Dane. To leave his body on the line would have probably meant spending the first few months of 2021 feeding through a straw. You could forgive Wilson the caution.

The victory at St James’ Park saw Leicester climb to third in the Premier League 

But Newcastle offered little else in the final third. Former Magpies boss Graeme Souness observed on Sky at the break, ‘It’s got to be a hard watch for a Newcastle fan’.

It was not particularly enjoyable for Leicester fans, either. Vardy did escape early in the second half but, again, Karl Darlow remained untroubled as the striker’s shot spiralled wide.

And so it was that Leicester scored with their first effort on target courtesy of Maddison’s fine finish before Tielemans added an even classier second.

Carroll gave Newcastle hope with a thumping volley but it was a belated attacking effort from Bruce’s side.

They could have few complaints with the outcome.

Relive Sportsmail’s Ieuan Ivett’s live EPL coverage of Newcastle vs Leicester including score, lineups and build-up.