clear at the top of the Championship with a hard-earned win over a dogged
Leicester.
It's now four successive wins and four successive clean sheets for United
as they came out on top in the battle of the two unbeaten sides.
With their next two games after international week at Cardiff and Blackpool,
this was the perfect tonic for a depleted Newcastle side.
Leicester never threw in the towel but have now lost 13 of their last 15
visits to Tyneside.
Newcastle gave 18-year-old Nile Ranger his starting debut up front while
after missing the last two games, former St. James' Park season ticket
holder Steve Howard led the Leicester front line.
Injury ravaged Newcastle were furious when they were not awarded a penalty
after two incidents and this after assistant referee Tony Barrington had a
clear view each time.
First of all Paul Gallagher raised his hands to a Ryan Taylor cross and
when it broke free the ball then clearly struck the left hand of Wayne
Brown.
Matty Fryatt won Leicester a corner after 20 minutes and the Foxes almost
took the lead, Howard's bullet header superbly clawed out by Steve Harper
after he lost the marking of Steven Taylor.
Leicester gradually worked their way into the game and Paul Gallagher – a
match winner on this ground in his Blackburn days – hit a delightful 25
yard free kick after 38 minutes that produced an excellent Harper save.
Ranger showed a glimpse of his strength in the first minute of the second
half to control the ball on his chest under pressure and curl his shot just
wide in what was an impressive overall no-nonsense display from the
youngster.
The home crowd erupted after 52 minutes when Newcastle stormed in front
with a spectacular finish from Guthrie.
Harper's long clearance was controlled by Ranger and laid into the path of
the former Liverpool man who controlled the ball, steadied himself and
smashed the ball into the top left hand corner to net for the second
successive game at St James' Park.
Geremi also looking to achieve that feat, came close seconds later with a
right footed 20 yarder that flew agonisingly wide.