Leicester City vs Newcastle United match report: Foxes secure hard-fought three points to re-open five point advantage

Leicester City 1 Newcastle United 0

Shinji Okazaki is congratulated after giving Leicester the lead (Getty)

It was hard-fought, scratchy and ugly, but Leicester City still managed to add a touch of fantasy as they restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League following Shinji Okazaki’s stunning overhead kick winner against Newcastle United.

Rarely can such a tense game have been won by such a spectacular goal, but if Leicester are to win the league this season, Okazaki’s first-half winner may prove to be the moment that carried Claudio Ranieri’s team over the line

The Leicester manager knew the importance of victory, frantically waving his arms to urge the supporters to roar his players to victory in the dying seconds, and it worked.

Newcastle, with Rafael Benitez adding steel and rigidity in his first in charge, ad their chances to claim at least a point from the King Power Stadium, but Leicester navigated another hazardous obstacle and they are now really beginning to believe that the title can be theirs.

Having sat deep in an attempt to nullify the threat of Vardy’s pace, Newcastle were now forced to push further up the pitch and it left them exposed to a breakaway when Albrighton almost curled in a second for Leicester.

But despite their position in the bottom three, Newcastle do not lack good players and the likes of Perez, Sissoko and Jonjo Shelvey all possessed the ability to hurt the home side.

Newcastle possessed the ability to hurt themselves, though, and Daryl Janmaat did his team few favours by conceding a 52nd minute free-kick with a rash challenge on Vardy on the edge of the penalty area.

Shinji Okazaki scores an over-head kick for Leicester (Getty)

Fortunately for Benitez’s team, Christian Fuchs’ free-kick was charged down, but the incident epitomised Newcastle’s propensity for self-destruction – something Benitez will need time to eradicate.

But while the score remained 1-0, Newcastle were a danger and Janmaat should have done better on 57 minutes when he was picked out at the far post by Sissoko.

The Dutch full-back had a clear strike at goal, but he delayed his shot, leaving Albrighton time to smother his poor attempt.

Newcastle, facing a Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland on Sunday, desperately attempted to snatch a point in the final stages.

And they had a shout for a penalty turned down on 81 minutes when Sissoko’s goalbound volley struck the elbow of Leicester captain Wes Morgan.

More followed when Aleksandar Mitrovic teed up Siem de Jong four minutes later, but the Dutchman wastefully missed his chance.

Leicester took theirs, though, and they edge ever closer to a football miracle with another three points.