Newcastle vs Leicester match report: Jamie Vardy equals Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring record

Newcastle United 0 Leicester City 3

Jamie Vardy celebrates his goal (Getty Images)

Jamie Vardy was asked after he had equalled the Premier League scoring record of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, if he was still pinching himself.

“Yeah, everyday,” he replied.

The remarkable rise of the former Stocksbridge Park Steels centre forward moved to a different sphere at St James’ Park, when, in first-half time added on, he took a pass from the outstanding Riyad Mahrez, and smashed his way into the history books.

At 28, no one saw Vardy competing with Van Nistelrooy, but his charge has been undeniable, a mix of pace, desire and humility. He did not charge into the acclaim that was his when Leicester had smashed Newcastle into submission and he had quietly written a chapter that should really be cherished.

Jamie Vardy scores his record-equalling goal (Getty Images)

A non-league player just over five years ago, Vardy’s actions, his ten-game scoring record, will always speak louder and more eloquently, than his words. Even in that there is something refreshing, the matter of fact reaction to the direct tweet sent to him from Manchester United’s former Dutch forward, who told him to go on and break the record, which he has the chance to do at Old Trafford next week, of all places.

“Obviously I’ve equalled Van Nistelrooy’s record but at the end of the day we got the three points and a clean sheet,” he said.

“I kept getting the tweet sent to me, people screenshotting it, and I took it on. Fair play to him, he didn’t have to do it. I managed to get there and we’ll see what happens next.

“The physios have done brilliantly and they’ve got me through it. I’ve been taken off towards the end just as a precaution.”

He paid tribute to the form of those around him. Vardy was top of the world, Leicester were top of the league because of his and the two goals that correctly signified the dominance of his team.

“We just take every single game as it comes,” he added. “We know that we can cause teams problems. Today we stuck three away and we’ve been solid at the back as well.

“We’ve just got a never-say-die attitude and that’s just exactly how it is. We’ll fight for each other right to the very end and it shows on the pitch.”

The charm of the day would come from his manager’s tribute.

Leonardo Ulloa heads in the second (Getty Images)

“He spoke in the dressing room afterwards and said thank you to everybody,” said Claudio Ranieri. “Every player signed the match ball. He is nice boy. He is good for the team.

“I’m very very happy for his performance. It’s not easy equalising a big champion. I want to say well done and thank you. When a manager has a player who is scoring goals he is very happy.

Shinji Okazaki scores the third late on (Getty Images)

“I want to say it’s a great achievement. I hope he can beat it in the next match. Of course I want to say also the team made a fantastic performance today.

“It was a nice touch from the Newcastle fans [to applaud Vardy after his goal]. It was fantastic. I love the English spirit. It was the same when I managed Zola. I want to say thank you to all the fans who clapped Jamie.”

There was no such spirit for the home team or for Steve McClaren. His team was jeered at half-time, jeered in the second half and those that remained until the end jeered some more.

By then Leonardo Ulloa and Shinji Okazaki had added the goals Leicester deserved. Vardy, who was substituted, had smashed a shot off the crossbar as well.

Newcastle: (4-2-3-1) Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Anita, Tiote (Thauvin, 20); Sissoko, Perez (De Jong, 81), Wijnaldum; Mitrovic (Cisse, 62).

Leicester: (4-4-2) Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (Dyer, 89), Drinkwater, Kante, Albrighton; Ulloa (Okazaki, 72), Vardy (King, 77).

Referee: Mike Jones

Man of the match: Mahrez (Leicester)

Match rating: 3/10