Newcastle United welcomed the visit of in-form Leicester City to St James' Park in the Premier League on Saturday, as Steve McClaren sought to improve his side's fortunes after a tough start to the season.
Things did not fall the way of the hosts in the first period, though, as Leicester's Jamie Vardy stole in before the break to equal Ruud van Nistelrooy's record of scoring in 10 consecutive league matches.
The Foxes continued to prove to be the better side in the second half and they soon found another goal through Leonardo Ulloa, before substitute Shinji Okazaki added a third to round off a miserable afternoon for Newcastle fans.
Relive all of the action with our minute-by-minute coverage below.
2.00pmGood afternoon all and thank you for joining us as we bring you live coverage of Newcastle United's Premier League clash with Leicester City at St James' Park.
2.02pmNewcastle come into this game after a torrid start to the season, but Steve McClaren and his men have just started to put a few positive results together as we head into a vital winter period. After beating Norwich City 6-2 a few games ago, the Magpies seem to have put their early-season disappointments behind them. McClaren's men are currently unbeaten in their past two fixtures after drawing with Stoke City and beating Bournemouth.
2.02pmOne thing McClaren will be hoping to see today is an improvement in his side's goal return. After notching an impressive six goals against Norwich, Newcastle have only managed just one league goal in three fixtures.
2.03pmSince losing out in the Tyne-Wear derby by three goals, United have managed to tighten up at the back over their past two fixtures, where they have been able to keep two impressive cleansheets.
2.04pmAs for Leicester, Claudio Ranieri's fairytale start has continued to grow at some pace. Along with Tottenham Hotspur, the Foxes are the only side to have lost just once all season. Since being beaten by Arsenal in September, Leicester have responded by going on a five-game unbeaten run that has seen them collect four wins and a draw.
2.06pmOne integral part to the club's early season success has been the form of key frontman Jamie Vardy, who has now scored in nine consecutive Premier League fixtures. Should he get on the scoresheet today, the 28-year-old would match a 10-game scoring streak previously set by Ruud van Nistelrooy.
2.08pmVardy has been suffering from a niggling injury of late, causing him to sit out of England's two previous friendly matches and we will soon find out whether he has made the cut for the away side this afternoon.
2.09pmAll the team news coming now...
2.10pmNEWCASTLE UNITED STARTING XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Tiote, Anita, Wijnaldum; Perez, Mitrovic
2.12pmNEWCASTLE UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Woodman, Sterry, Lascelles, De Jong, Gouffran, Thauvin, Cisse
2.12pmLEICESTER CITY STARTING XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Ulloa, Vardy
2.13pmLEICESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: De Laet, King, Schlupp, Okazaki, Dyer, Schwarzer, Inler
2.13pmSo for the third game running McClaren has named an unchanged side. United will continue with the front pairing of Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic, while a midfield four partly made up from of Moussa Sissoko and Vurnon Anita will provide support from behind.
2.15pmAs for the City, the major news is that Vardy has been named up top alongside Leonardo Ulloa, meaning he will have the chance to possibly match Van Nistelrooy's record. Ranieri has gone with another 4-4-2 formation that sees the two strikers give backing by Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater and Mark Albrighton from the middle.
2.19pmNewcastle have already conceded their fair share of goals this term, while Leicester have been in standout form going forward. United will have to be wary of the fact that City are most certainly a second-half side. As things stand, Ranieri's men have scored 72% of their goals in the second halves of matches - a statistic that stands up as the highest in the league.
2.22pmNewcastle will be desperate to kick on after a rather tough start. During his early life at St James' Park, McClaren saw his side on a winless run throughout the first eight games of the new Premier League season. Mid October seems to be the period in which things just started to change for the Magpies, who have now managed to climb out of the relegation zone.
2.23pmIt seems like Leicester head into any game with the chance of taking three points at the moment. The Foxes looked thoroughly undone when losing to Arsenal, but since then they have collected 13 points from a possible 15.
2.25pmOne important thing today for the visitors is that Wes Morgan has been declared fit to play despite being in action during the international period recently. The centre-back slots straight back into the heart of the Foxes' defence alongside Robert Huth.
2.27pmThis game presents some significance for both sides given the run of games that they both have in the coming weeks. For Leicester, this fixture presents probably the easiest chance to take three points, given that they have to face Manchester United, Swansea City and Chelsea in the coming weeks. As for Newcastle, they are also heading into tough fixtures against Liverpool and Spurs.
2.31pmCity will need to be wary of the threat posed by United midfielder Giorginio Wijnaldum. The Netherlands central man has scored a league-high four headed goals from four headers on target this season. Overall, he has scored six times in the Premier League.
2.32pmIf you were to discard events this season, Newcastle hold the upper-hand when facing Leicester over their past six meetings, where the Magpies have won three, drawn one and lost two. When looking at their last two games, however, Leicester are on a two-game winning run, having beaten Newcastle at the King Power Stadium in the league last season in order to build on from a victory in the FA Cup.
2.34pmVardy has to be considered as Leicester's main threat today, but Newcastle will also have to watch the attacking abilities of Mahrez and Ulloa. The second half could prove key too when you look at how efficient the Foxes have been in the final 45 this season.
2.39pmRanieri has been speaking prior to the game about his side's chances and the inclusion of Vardy. Here is what he has had to say: "Today is a tough match because Newcastle have improved after a difficult start. They have some very good players. Vardy trained well the last two days but I wanted to check this morning. We hope he can play the whole match."
2.41pmDepending on how results pan out today, Leicester even have the chance to move into top spot at the summit of the league standings, should Manchester City and Arsenal earn anything less than a win. The Foxes would have to beat Newcastle first, of course, and McClaren will be hoping that his side can instead grab themselves three points to push them further away from the drop zone.
2.44pmPerez has been impressive up top for Newcastle in the early part of the season. Some transfer talk has suggested that the frontman could be looking for a move away from St James' Park, but McClaren has urged him to consider a long-term future at the club. Here is what he told The Chronicle: "His career is definitely best served here – absolutely. He is getting development, a good education, the right training and most important of all, he is playing. It is important he keeps playing and it is also important that he is supported and loved. Here, the fans love him, his team-mates love him and we love him too so it is a great environment for Ayoze to develop."
2.47pmThe Premier League has decided along with its clubs that the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, will be played and sung across the league's fixtures this afternoon in tribute to the lives lost during the recent terror attacks in Paris. Many of Newcastle squad have ties to France and today will undoubtedly prove to be an emotional occasion for them.
2.51pmWe have just under 10 minutes until kickoff at St James' Park and it is time for a prediction. The writing is on the wall for Vardy to reach a 10-game winning streak this afternoon, especially given the amount of goals that Newcastle have already conceded this season. Leicester do not seem to have a problem travelling away from home and they might just steal this one, but they will have to work hard in doing so. Newcastle have not managed too many goals recently and that could cause some real problems against a free-scoring Foxes side. I'm backing Leicester for a 2-1 away win.
2.53pmNewcastle assistant Paul Simpson has also had this to say about his side's showing today:
AUDIO: Assistant coach Paul Simpson previews #NUFC v @LCFC this afternoon https://t.co/bsiVAoVB1b pic.twitter.com/KFOZpCU1dF
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 21, 20152.54pmIt is pretty remarkable to think that Leicester are also the only side this season to have scored at least one goal in every Premier League game. Newcastle will have their work cut out once the whistle gets us moving in around five minutes.
2.55pmMcClaren will be aiming for three points today no matter how they achieve them. Given the club's current predicament it seems like victories are more important than performances at the moment.
2.57pmToday will prove an interesting day for Leicester full-back Danny Simpson too, who is retuning to a club where he spent a full four years before moving on to pastures new.
2.58pmThe players have now taken to the centre of the pitch donning black armbands and we are about to get underway with a moving rendition of La Marseillaise. We are having a mixture of applause and singing as part of a particularly moving rendition at St James' Park.
1 minKICKOFF! Leicester get us underway in a full blue strip, while Newcastle are playing in their traditional black and white kit.
2 minLeicester move the ball to the back, where Simpson lumps a ball forward into the path of Ulloa. Newcastle shuffle across well and are able to clear the danger.
3 minThe Magpies have already seemingly deployed a very high press in order to put the visitors under pressure. Leicester are unmoved though as they make progress down the left, where the ball is moved into Ulloa in the centre. Mbemba is quick off his mark, however, and the Magpies hoof away.
4 minThe Foxes have made positive inroads already into this fixture as this time Kante wins the ball brilliantly in the centre of the park, before trying to feed the run of Vardy. The pass is overhit, though, leaving Newcastle able to see the ball through to keeper Elliot.
5 minNice work from Vardy now who charges down a ball in the Newcastle corner in order to win his side a corner. The ball into the box eventually drops to the Leicester frontman, but Perez is able to make a vital block to prevent his shot from hitting the target.
6 minCHANCES! Newcastle make their first major foray forward as a ball is slipped into the path of Sissoko down the left flank, who eventually cuts inside before seeing his shot blocked inside the Leicester area. Leicester then move quickly on the counter through Mahrez, who shows some skill to beat the full-back and find a ball into the middle. Thankfully for Newcastle, Kante is unable to connect properly and the chance goes begging.
9 minThis has been closely fought so far with both sides aiming to press whenever possible. Newcastle have started to grow into proceedings in the past few minutes and are beginning to gain some share of the possession after a strong start from the Foxes.
11 minTight marking on Mitrovic has worked well in the opening minutes and Perez has been unable to reach any knockdowns from the industrious forward. Still no major chances to speak of as both sides continue to work each other out in the middle of the pitch.
14 minJanmaat sells Tiote far too short and he gets clattered by Kante in the middle of the pitch. The Newcastle man is in a bit of trouble at the moment as he holds his groin. We are going to have a couple of minutes stoppage while the medics take care of the midfielder.
16 minTiote reenters the fray and concedes an instant free kick in a good position for Leicester. Fruchs sends the ball into the middle, but Sissoko is able to head away at the first time of asking.
18 minNEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION: As mentioned, Tiote is in trouble and he is replaced by French midfielder Florian Thauvin. That injury could prove costly given that the midfielder is so crucial to this Newcastle side. Hopefully this will not keep him out for too long.
20 minProceedings have hardly been free-flowing in the last 10 minutes. Coloccini concedes another free kick, which is whipped into the middle without any hope of reaching some of Leicester's targets in the middle. Both Morgan and Huth look a little peeved after that.
21 minCLOSE! Newcastle break at a decent pace through Thauvin on the right, who is able to cut a ball across the box into the path of Perez. Kante does just about enough to put the striker under some pressure with a sliding challenge, leaving the frontman to blaze high and wide of the target.
23 minDespite that chance, Newcastle have been a touch guilty of some slow play in the early stages. They have put themselves about with pressing, but their forward moves have lacked pace and imagination. McClaren will be looking for much more than this... Leicester have so far shown more intent regardless of their away billing.
25 minLeicester come forward once more down the left, but Newcastle are able to keep their footing as they eventually stifle the run of Mahrez through the middle. The visitors are showing all of the fluency thus far, but still we are waiting to see some proper goalmouth action.
28 minCLOSE! Newcastle muster only their second real attack down the right channel, where the ball breaks to full-back Janmaat. The ball is swung into the middle, before being cleared for a corner. The delivery is met by Wijnaldum, who is just about thwarted by Huth's challenge as the centre-back prevents an almost-certain goal.
30 minSHOT! Wonderful placement from Vardy sees him roll Mbemba, before thrashing a shot towards the Newcastle goal. However, the Magpies centre-back manages to get back in the knick of time to block the shot and concede a corner.
32 minYELLOW CARD! Huth goes into the book for a late challenge to prevent a Newcastle break. Prior to that, the corner had dropped the way of Drinkwater, who saw his powerful effort blocked on its way to goal before reaching Elliot.
33 minHmmm... Newcastle win a free kick in a strong position just inside the Leicester half, only for the ball to be pumped straight into the grateful arms of Schmeichel in the away goal. A bit of quality in this contest would not go a miss!
35 minLeicester aim to provide it now as Kante drives his side forward through the middle. Vardy makes a good run beyond the defence, but the midfielder's pass comes a little too late as his teammate is ruled out for offside.
37 minYELLOW CARD! Leicester launch a speedy counter through Ulloa, who is brought down by Anita as the Newcastle man goes into the book. Probably a good foul to concede given the space ahead of the Leicester player, but Anita is now skating on very thin ice in the middle of a hard-fought area of the pitch.
40 minThis sort of sums things up. Thauvin has the opportunity to hare away on the counter, but instead cuts a ball back into the middle of the area to allow Drinkwater to steal back possession and launch an attack for the visitors. His ball out wide is a poor one, however, and the chance to break is closed out.
41 minCLOSE! Brilliant run from Mahrez sees him make strong progress down he centre of the pitch. Vardy makes the run beyond and is found and he appears set to score to continue his outstanding run, only for Elliot to smother his shot down low. Newcastle have started to fade fast going forward.
44 minMcClaren is going to need to deliver an important team talk at the break. His side have moved things far too slowly in the first period. Ranieri will be pleased, but his side should arguably be ahead after that Vardy chance.
45 minWe are going to have two minutes of additional time here at St James' Park.
45+1 minGOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-1 LEICESTER CITY (Jamie Vardy)
45+2 minHe has done it! Vardy matches Van Nistelrooy with 10 consecutive goals in the Premier League. The ball is fed to the striker wide on the left side of the box, where he cuts inside of his marker before drilling a standout effort down low into the corner past a struggling Elliot in the Newcastle goal. There were hints of offside for the original pass into the striker, but what a solo brilliant goal that was...
45+3 minHALF TIME: NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-1 LEICESTER CITY
3.51pmSo typical of the Premier League that a half can end in that fashion. This game has been largely bereft of quality up until that moment, which saw Vardy equal the Premier League record for consecutive goals scored. Newcastle have offered very little at home and they perhaps deserve to be behind at the break.
3.52pmRanieri will be chuffed at how much industry his side have shown in the opening half. Very rarely do you see an away side come and lay their cards out like that in the first period. What will be even more pleasing for the away fans is that Leicester tend to do even better in the second halves of matches. The Foxes boss will want more of the same in the second half.
3.54pmBut what about sorry Newcastle, hey? You would have been forgiven for thinking that the Magpies were away from home today. They have shown basically nothing going forward apart from the odd break, and they really do seem like they have entered the game without any sort of coherent plan of how to go about their business. That will be disappointing for fans who saw their side beat Bournemouth last week.
3.56pmNewcastle have not made much attempt to hold the ball. Whenever they win things back they move straight forward into their strikers, who are often left out of possession having just come back from pressing higher up the pitch. The hosts need their midfields to get their foot on the ball to start building some attacks from a more solid base. At the moment they have a hint of kick-and-rush about them.
4.02pmKante has been crucial going through the middle for the Foxes. The midfielder has been first to every challenge, while also helping to push most of the club's moves forward inside the Newcastle half. The hosts have lacked a player like him in the middle this afternoon. The injury to Tiote could be what separates these sides come the end of the game. That knock was needless too given that Janmaat sold his teammate short with a terrible pass in the build-up to the foul that saw him damage his groin.
4.04pmThe players have now emerged back out onto the pitch for the second half and we will be back underway soon!
45 minRESTART! Newcastle get things moving once again in the second period. The hosts thread things into defence, before going long forward where the ball is won back by the away side.
47 minCHANCE! Great from the Magpies... Sissoko breaks out to the right to pick up a loose ball and he turns his man before finding a telling pass into the ball of the box. Mitrovic meets the pass with a tame shot that eventually falls into the hands of the keeper. He should have done better there, really.
48 minYELLOW CARD! Dummett goes into the book now for Newcastle as he aims to prevent a Leicester counter inside their own half.
50 minUnited have certainly shown a bit more in the early stages of the second half. Janmaat gets the chance to put a ball into the box now, but his quality leaves him once again and a poor ball trickles through into the path of Schmeichel.
52 minLeicester find themselves with a hint of space on the right side of the box with Mahrez. The midfielder jinks the ball back inside for the movement of Drinkwater, who is tackled at the vital moment as he looks to get his shot away on goal. Good response to some early dominance from Newcastle.
55 minNewcastle have only scored 13 goals this season and six of those goals came in just one contest. That lack of firepower perhaps provides some understanding as to why these kind of games seem so difficult for the Magpies. They have a lot of work to do to get back into this fixture despite only being one goal behind.
57 minAnita throws another slack pass that is intercepted by Kante. The midfielder slips a wonderful through-ball beyond the defence to match the run of Vardy. The striker collects possession but is eventually hounded out by the Newcastle defence, who eventually are able to clear.
58 minMore sloppy play gives more possession to Leicester, who move the ball into the box towards the back-post through Mahrez. Janmaat is up quickly to head away for a corner, though. The set-piece is cleared for another corner, which sees Elliot claim the ball with ease. The keeper is looking for a quick option for the hosts, who offer him nothing going forward.
61 minCROSSBAR! When will this man stop? Vardy holds off a huge push from Mbemba, before rifling a strong shot beyond Elliot and onto the crossbar. So unlucky, he deserved that purely on his strength and attacking positioning.
62 minGOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-2 LEICESTER CITY (Leonardo Ulloa)
63 minWhat on earth are Newcastle doing at the moment? Mahrez has the ball out on the right side of the pitch, and all he has to do is pick out a fairly good ball to the back-post, where Ulloa is left totally unmarked to head past a helpless Elliot in the home goal. Terrible defending from Newcastle given that the play was settled and they seemingly had most of their men back inside their own half to prevent the danger.
66 minNewcastle gain a slight edge on the possession after a good period following the goal, but Thauvin is so wasteful as he tries something spectacular from distance, only to see his shot almost go out for a throw. That has been typical of the Magpies today.
70 minVardy runs the line so well, this time as he comes the full-length of Newcastle's back-line who are slow in responding. The striker pushes forward towards goal, before being forced out of danger by a gang of United defenders. The hosts move quickly back down the other end, where the ball falls to the feet of Thauvin, whose smart shot is deflected for a corner.
71 minCLOSE! The ball is whipped into the middle where a header is flashed down towards the bottom corner, leaving Drinkwater to make a superb block on the line.
72 minLeicester break at ferocious pace on the counter and Vardy is slipped through on goal. A heavy touch gives Elliot the chance to come out and gather at his feet. Mahrez is furious given that he is stood over in acres of space on the right. A simple shift of the ball would have given the Foxes a three-goal advantage.
73 minLEICESTER SUBSTITUTION: Shinji Okazaki is brought into proceedings in place of Ulloa, who has now recorded his first goal of the season after adding Leicester's second today.
75 minCLOSE! Wonderful work from Vardy sees the ball spill out into the path of Albrighton on the left. The winger comes inside before flashing a remarkable effort across the face of goal and wide, with Elliot beaten all ends up.
77 minYELLOW CARD! Perez has cut an isolated figure today and he goes into the book for a poor, late challenge on Morgan at the back.
77 minLEICESTER SUBSTITUTION: Vardy is given a standing ovation for matching the league record, and he is now replaced by Andy King up top for the away side.
78 minLeicester get the chance to have a go from a free kick just shy of the area, where Mahrez sees his effort blocked by Janmaat in the wall.
79 minCLOSE! Albrighton does well to collect short from the corner before turning in a wonderful cross for Morgan, who sees his flashed header fly across the face of goal and beyond the back-post.
80 minNEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION: Siem de Jong is given a chance by McClaren, as he comes on to replace Perez in attack for the home side.
83 minGOAL! NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-3 LEICESTER CITY (Shinji Okazaki)
84 minSt James' Park is emptying at pace as Leicester grab their third goal of the game. Shocking defending again really as King collects tight inside the area before forcing a good save at close range from Elliot. The ball pops up into the air, where Okazaki has the leap of two defenders to ensure that he is able to head the ball over the line after a scramble inside the box. Three points for Leicester, me thinks!
86 minGiven how things currently stand with Arsenal losing and City to play later tonight, this result sees Leicester sitting at the top of the Premier League table after 13 games played. Where can this side go this season? They would certainly enjoy coming here every week, Newcastle have been dreadful.
88 minLEICESTER SUBSTITUTION: The away side make their final change of the game as Mahrez is replaced by Nathan Dyer on the right wing. That change just goes to show the kind of strength in depth that Ranieri is able to draw from this campaign.
90 minNewcastle are making a late attempt to try and drive forward, but things game has gone too far beyond them in the closing stages. Leicester are doing the required duty by shuffling over to close out the space. They have produced the perfect all-round performance today.
90+1 minWe are going to have three minutes of additional time...
90+3 minFULL TIME: NEWCASTLE UNITED 0-3 LEICESTER CITY
4.52pmWhat a performance from Leicester, who have now made it four wins from four matches in the Premier League. Vardy was the star man once again as he matched the league record for scoring in 10 consecutive games today. Take nothing away from the rest of his side, though, who produced industry all over the pitch to record a superb win away from home. As for Newcastle, McClaren will have a bleak winter ahead of him if he keeps seeing performances like that from his side. That is going to be all from me this afternoon, thank you for joining us!
