Ayoze Perez own-goal deepens Newcastle misery as Leicester win

A miserable Newcastle celebrated their 125th birthday in fitting style, losing a lead, going behind and then equalising, only to present their opponents with an own-goal winner. As such they are now 16th, while Leicester move up to eighth.

In the early stages of the game Newcastle were actually the better side, taking the lead on four minutes when Javier Manquillo and Dwight Gayle combined to provide Joselu with an easy finish.

But after 15 or so minutes Leicester got going, equalising when Riyad Mahrez hit powerfully from distance and Karl Darlow could only palm into the net.

The second half was as poor as the first was entertaining, but things livened on the hour when fine play from Mahrez and Marc Albrighton set Demarai Gray for a shot; it might’ve gone in of its own accord, but a deflection off Florian Lejeune made sure.

Newcastle, though, came back into things with the introduction of Ayoze Perez, and on 73 minutes, Dwight Gayle’s drive was deflected past Kasper Schmeichel by Harry Maguire.

In the closing stages, neither side looked classy enough to force a winner, but then Leicester broke, Albrighton set Jamie Vardy away for the first time, and when he crossed, Shinji Okazaki hesitated, allowing Perez to bang an own-goal past the marooned Darlow. So Leicester continue their fine run, while Newcastle, with 15 goals conceded in five games and seven defeats in their last eight, are in big trouble.

Should Newcastle be doing better? Brighton do not have more money than Newcastle, nor are they as big a draw. And yet they look far more likely to stay up. Rafael Benitez will say that he needs more money, but he should also be doing more with what he has.

Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) No one especially stood out, so the winner has to come from Leicester, seeing as they won, and Ndidi was the best midfielder on view.

Dwight Gayle has scored 26 percent of Newcastle's 101 league goals since the start of 2016-17.

Demarai Gray has scored three goals in seven league games under Claude Puel; he scored just once in his 50 previous appearances.

4’ - GOAL! Newcastle United 1-0 Leicester City (Joselu) Excellent from Gaylye, who makes a fine run inside Simpson, and is found by a finer pass, with the outside of the left boot, from Manquillo. As Gayle hits the line, the defenders in the box are all drawn to protect the keeper, so Gayle cleverly cuts the ball back to Joselu, and even he can't miss, steering home from close range.

7’ - Leicester haven't got going here, and Hayden robs Ndidi then feeds Gayle, who pulls left to swivel into a low cross-shot from 20n yards; it fizzes just wide.

20’ - GOAL! Newcastle United 1-1 Leicester City (Mahrez) Merino gives it away to Ndidi, who finds Mahrez, but he;s plenty far from goal and everyone knows what he wants to do. But he does it anyway, moving across Hayden as everyone else backs off and lashing a left-footer across Darlow from 25 yards; it's a nifty effort, but the keepr should do better than palm it in.

52’ - Newcastle win a corner down the left which Ritchie swings over nicely to meet the run of Joselu at the near post; Chilwell, running across him, does just enough, and a thumping header is just wide.

60’ - GOAL! Newcastle United 1-2 Leicester City (Gray) Happy birthday Newcastle! Mahrez saunters infield and spreads a fine crossfield pass out to Albrighton on the left. He cushions into the path of Gray who takes one touch to get it out of his feet, then lashes a shot which would've troubled Darlow at his far post, had it not flicked off Lejeune and rushed past him at his near!

73’ - GOAL! Newcastle United 2-2 Leicester City (Gayle) A cross hits Simpson on the hand, but it's by his side so Newcastle only get a corner. Vardy blocks Merino's header, Ndidi panics and can't get it clear. The ball then winds up with Gayle on the edge of the box, and he does beautifully to jink inside, opening up the angle for a shot. He looks to go far corner, but the ball whacks Maguire and rockets past a marooned Schmeichel at the near instead.

79’ - Nice hold-up play from Joselu, taking a throw on the left corner of the box and sliding an oblique pass in behind for Gayle, who's into it quick, skimming a low cross-shot just past the far post.

86’ - GOAL! Newcastle United 2-3 Leicester City 3 (Perez own-goal) Leicester break and Albrighton sends Vardy away in the inside-left channel. Lejeune tries a tackle, misses, Vardy retrieves the loose ball and picks out Okazaki in the middle. He should shoot immediately but dithers, only for Perez, running back, to stick in a challenge which bangs the ball past Darlow. That was kind of funny, I'm afraid.

Newcastle United: Darlow 5, Yedlin 6, Clark 6, Lejeun3 6, Manquillo 6, Ritchie 5, Merino 5, Hayden 5, Murphy 5, Gayle 7, Joselu 5. Subs: Atsu 6, Perez 6, Mitrovic 6.

Leicester City: Schmeichel 6, Simpson 6, Maguire, Morgan 6, Chilwell 6, Mahrez 6, Iborra 6, Ndidi 7, Albrighton 6, Gray 6, Vardy 5. Subs: Okazaki 6, Fuchs 6, Ulloa.