PLAYER RATINGS – Newcastle 1-2 Leicester: Three 7’s, several 6’s, the odd 5 & a few 4’s

A second best display from Newcastle in this one, with Leicester picking us off in the final 45 minutes and holding on after a late strike from Andy Carroll halved the deficit.

Here’s an assessment of each player’s performance along with ours marks out of 10:

Starting 11:

Darlow – 6 – Didn’t have a save of note to make in the first half, with Leicester firing most of their early openings wide. Was beaten by Leicester’s two emphatic finishes but did make himself big to block a goal-bound Harvey Barnes effort.

Yedlin – 7– Another surprisingly tenacious display from the forgotten man who’s now put in three solid displays on the bounce. Put in one superb cross in the second half but there was no one in black and white alive to get on the end of it. Some of his passing in the final third was careless and he was caught high up the pitch for their opener, but he kept Barnes relatively quiet, got tighter to his man than he has done in the past and was one of few offering an outlet in attack.

Fernandez – 6 – Did OK in the main, making some important tackles and getting tight early on. That said, he sometimes gave the ball away cheaply via some wayward forward passes and allowed Vardy to cut inside and set up Maddison for their first goal.

Schar – 7* – Sensed the danger brilliantly at times, got his head to several balls into the box or his body in the way to block goal-bound shots, but an erratic final 30 minutes from the Swiss star let him down a little, with him allowing Vardy to get in behind and losing the ball in a bad area a few times. Some quality bits of defending and a few brilliant cross field passes, but he let his standards slip a little as he tried late on. Arguably our best player (and one of few who picked out forward passes!) until we went 0-1 down, however he did seem to have a sore hamstring.

Clark – 6.5 – Started the game with a good bit of covering early on to block a Vardy flick at the front post and was pretty steady throughout – something we’ve come to expect from the reliable Irish international. A few too many long balls hit in hope not expectation, but coped defensively against a Leicester attack always trying to get in behind.

Ritchie – 4 – He never lacks determination, but he looked a yard off the pace and lacking in quality here. Too many poor deliveries (even if a few of his corners were decent), limited in possession and caught sleeping as Albrighton got in behind him way too easily to set up their second.

Almiron – 4 – For a player with frightening pace, he went backwards just when you’d hope to see him drive at his man. If it wasn’t that, it was poor decision making or a lack of quality in the final third that let him down, with him wasting a few decent opportunities to slip Wilson in behind.

S Longstaff – 5 – A few decent cross field passes and hopeful balls into the box, however he didn’t protect the defence well enough in that Hayden role and looked like he was running through treacle when they sprung second-half counter attacks. He and Matty have plenty enthusiasm, but are too often bypassed when they play together.

M Longstaff – 5.5 – Protected the ball well at times, rarely gave it away and tried to keep it moving, but you could tell it was his third game in eight days after so long out of the side as he chased shadows when Leicester broke away in the second half. Played one lovely ball across the box that we failed to make the most of late on.

Joelinton – 4 – Put in a shift defensively, didn’t hide and got stuck into them as we pressed early on, yet far too many heavy touches and slack passes often let him down. Had a decent header on goal after rising above Fofana and played a nice ball in behind for Wilson before Schmeichel came flying out to deny us a one-on-one, but nothing came off for him in the second 45.

Wilson – 5 – He was left isolated all too often and fed off craps at times, however he wasn’t quite as sharp and all-action in this one. Gave us a real focal point vs Liverpool, but struggled to win his battles here and fluffed a big chance late on before the flag went up. Made some good runs that Almiron failed to make the most of, but wasn’t nearly as effective.

SUBS:

Murphy – 6 – Came on for the final 30 minutes in place of the frustrating Almiron and made one impressive burst past two Leicester players moments later. One poor cross from a good position but was direct and lively as we pushed for a late equaliser.

Shelvey – 4 – Replaced Joelinton with just under half an hour to play and immediately showed his lack of mobility as Tielemans broke free of him to make it 0-2. Played a good ball across the box which no one gambled on but was largely slow and ineffective.

Carroll – 7 – Smashed an impressive volley into the bottom corner to half the deficit with five minutes to play. Had one other shot blocked and put himself about, although Leicester just about dealt with him in the air after his goal.

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