Newcastle United continued their amazing 2022 streak of form by battering Leicester City 3-0 at the Walkers King Power Crisps Stadium.
There were some raised eyebrows before kick-off when Callum Wilson was absent from the teamsheet, later we found out that it was through illness. Also missing was Jonjo Shelvey who will now be out for another 6-8 with a calf strain after just returning from a long-term injury.
However, those missing players weren’t needed as Newcastle were in the lead with less than three minutes on the clock. Joelinton went bursting forward into the box only to be brought down inside the area and a penalty was awarded without hesitation. Up stepped Chris Wood who blasted the ball down the middle of the goal to give the Mapgies the lead.
Five minutes later, Newcastle were 2-0 up with the Paraguayan Man On Fire, Miguel Almiron teamed up with Bruno Guimaraes for an absolutely beautiful goal. Bruno sprayed the ball out wide to Miggy, who took it down, cut inside, played a one-two with Bruno, and slotted the ball into the far corner. Every single touch and run in that whole movement was a work of art that reflected how Newcastle started the game.
Leicester never got out of the blocks in the first half. The only player who looked like causing any trouble was Patson Daka but Sven Botman had him completely under control. However, there was a mild scare after Daka found himself one-on-one with Pope, but he overhit the ball and Pope got a touch which then cannoned back of Daka’s chest and headed goalbound, but Botman was there to sweep it off the line as Daka pleaded with the ref for a penalty that he was never going to get.
Newcastle had their third of the afternoon just after the half-hour mark as Joelinton powered in a Trippier corner with his head from 7 yards out, celebrating by putting the ball up his shirt – another Brazilian Geordie on the way?
The Magpies should have gone into the break four nil up when the ball came to Chris Wood about 16 yards out, he had time to pick his spot but instead lashed at the ball and sent it over the bar.
Patson Daka didn’t come out for the second half as he couldn’t find his way out of Botman’s pocket, so Jamie Vardy replaced him. There were moments where Vardy looked like he could cause us problems but they were few and far between.
Ultimately the second half played out pretty low-key compared to the first. Leicester never looked like getting anything from the game, but Newcastle never threatened to extend their lead.
It was a comfortable afternoon for Eddie Howe’s men, and any worries that the World Cup break would affect our momentum are truly washed away now. Newcastle now find themselves 2nd in the league with Man City not due to play until Wednesday night.
There were several contenders for man of the match with Bruno and Miggy high on the list, but I’m going with Joelinton – he was the one that won us the penalty and scored the third, he was all over the pitch and barely put a foot wrong.