By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At the King Power Stadium
Leicester City 1 (Okazaki 25)
Newcastle United 0
Rafa Benitez's first game in charge of Newcastle United ended in defeat, as the Magpies went down 1-0 at Barclays Premier League leaders Leicester City.
Shinji Okazaki's brilliant overhead kick was enough to separate the sides at the King Power Stadium but the result was harsh on United, who stood toe-to-toe with the Foxes for long periods of the contest, without being able to find a way through a stubborn home rearguard.
Ayoze Perez, Jack Colback and Moussa Sissoko all threatened for Newcastle in the first period before Okazaki broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, connecting with Jamie Vardy's header to plant an acrobatic effort past Rob Elliot.
That could have caused a capitulation but the Magpies continued to put pressure on the table-toppers and Sissoko had two further openings in the second half, but was unable to take either as they travelled back to Tyneside empty-handed.
However, Benitez will be encouraged by the performance of his side, with plenty of positives to take ahead of Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby.
Newcastle made a bright start to proceedings, with Sissoko roaring forward from his wide left berth inside the opening seconds to close down Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel's clearance.
And that set the tone for an encouraging opening from the visitors, with Perez and Colback both firing narrowly wide with less than five minutes on the clock.
But gradually the Barclays Premier League leaders grew into proceedings and saw a penalty shout fall on deaf ears in the 14th minute when Daryl Janmaat tangled with Vardy, who went to ground. However, referee Craig Pawson was having none of it.
United responded though and Sissoko was inches away from breaking the deadlock, throwing himself at Perez's deep cross from the right and heading agonisingly off target, just moments before Robert Huth suffered the same fate at the other end having connected with a Marc Albrighton corner.
And it was Leicester who opened the scoring in the 25th minute through Okazaki's moment of brilliance.
As the Magpies failed to properly clear a deep free-kick from the right flank, the ball was headed back into the danger zone by Jamie Vardy, and Okazaki was on hand to perform an outstanding overhead kick which gave Elliot no chance.
That sparked the hosts into life and they could - and should - have doubled their advantage almost immediately when Albrighton raced through but curled his low strike inches the wrong side of the upright.
But Newcastle weathered another substantial Foxes storm and threatened an equaliser just before half-time when Perez was given time and space 20 yards out but sent his shot straight at Schmeichel.
The second half was just 11 minutes old when Benitez made his first change of the evening, introducing fit-again winger Andros Townsend for midfielder Vurnon Anita.
And the attacking switch almost had an immediate impact as Perez fed Sissoko down the left. The Frenchman was in space in the area but opted for a pass towards Townsend rather than a shot, and Leicester eventually deflected Daryl Janmaat's effort behind.
Siem de Jong was next to enter the fray, in place of Perez, and the Dutch schemer immediately set about linking up play in the final third. It was his intelligence that started the move which led to a great chance for Sissoko in the 80th minute.
The ball was worked out to Townsend on the right and he beat Christian Fuchs before delivering to the far post. Leicester could only head clear as far as Sissoko, who met it on the volley, but found Foxes captain Wes Morgan in the way with an heroic block.
With time ticking away and United still chasing an equaliser, Seydou Doumbia was introduced from the bench. But the Ivorian was unable to make an impact in the final third and the visitors slipped to defeat.
Leicester City (4-4-2): Kasper Schmeichel; Danny Simpson, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan (c), Christian Fuchs; Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton (Leonardo Ulloa 75); Shinji Okazaki (Jeffrey Schlupp 64), Jamie Vardy
Subs not used: Mark Schwarzer, Daniel Amartey, Marcin Wasilewski, Gokhan Inler, Demarai Gray
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Steven Taylor, Jamaal Lascelles, Jack Colback; Vurnon Anita (Andros Townsend 56), Jonjo Shelvey (c) (Seydou Doumbia 87); Ayoze Perez (Siem de Jong 70), Georginio Wijnaldum, Moussa Sissoko; Aleksandar Mitrovic
Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Jamie Sterry, Henri Saivet, Emmanuel Riviere,
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
Bookings: Leicester City - none; Newcastle United - none
Attendance: 31,824 (1,334 Newcastle)
