Newcastle step closer to survival with 2-1 win over Leicester

Perez doubled Newcastle's lead in the second half but Leicester striker Jamie Vardy pulled one back to set up nervous finale

 

A goal in each half from Jonjo Shelvey and Ayoze Perez gave Newcastle United a precious 2-1 victory over Leicester City on Saturday, a third win in a row that moves the Magpies another step closer to survival in the Premier League.

Shelvey opened the scoring when he received the ball just outside the area at the end of a sweeping move up the left flank, taking a touch to elude Leicester defender Harry Maguire before rifling home the ball in the 18th minute.

Winger Riyad Mahrez thought he had won a penalty when he went down in the box shortly before halftime but referee Stuart Attwell waved away the appeals of the Leicester players.

A defensive mix-up between Maguire and Wes Morgan allowed Spanish playmaker Perez to nip in and lob the ball over Kasper Schmeichel to make it 2-0, and though Jamie Vardy pulled back a late goal for Leicester, Newcastle held on to win.

The victory puts Newcastle in 10th place on 38 points, 10 points off the drop zone, while Leicester are eighth on 43.