• LEICESTER RATINGS: Kasper Schmeichel 6 - A great save from the goalkeeper denied a golden opportunity for Newcastle but there wasn’t much he could do about the efforts that found the back of the net. Reuters
    LEICESTER RATINGS: Kasper Schmeichel 6 - A great save from the goalkeeper denied a golden opportunity for Newcastle but there wasn’t much he could do about the efforts that found the back of the net. Reuters
  • Timothy Castagne 4 - The Foxes at least had some chance of getting into the game with Ayoze Perez just introduced but Castagne’s under-hit back pass summed up the game for Brendan Rodger’s defence. AFP
    Timothy Castagne 4 - The Foxes at least had some chance of getting into the game with Ayoze Perez just introduced but Castagne’s under-hit back pass summed up the game for Brendan Rodger’s defence. AFP
  • Wesley Fofana 4 - A lack of experience showed at times with Fofana struggling without the leadership of Jonny Evans alongside him. Didn’t do enough against Paul Dummett who rose above the defender to score Newcastle’s second. AFP
    Wesley Fofana 4 - A lack of experience showed at times with Fofana struggling without the leadership of Jonny Evans alongside him. Didn’t do enough against Paul Dummett who rose above the defender to score Newcastle’s second. AFP
  • Caglar Soyuncu 4 - The Turkish defender was caught out by Callum Wilson’s pace early on before a thoughtless first touch saw him easily dispossessed for by Joe Willock for the opener. A disgrace of a performance from all of Leicester’s back three. AFP
    Caglar Soyuncu 4 - The Turkish defender was caught out by Callum Wilson’s pace early on before a thoughtless first touch saw him easily dispossessed for by Joe Willock for the opener. A disgrace of a performance from all of Leicester’s back three. AFP
  • Ricardo Pereira 6 - The Portuguese defender was hardly involved on Friday night before being replaced in the 69th minute. EPA
    Ricardo Pereira 6 - The Portuguese defender was hardly involved on Friday night before being replaced in the 69th minute. EPA
  • Youri Tielemans 6 - Could have had a number of assists on the night with every set-piece taken by the Belgian curling fiercely into dangerous areas. EPA
    Youri Tielemans 6 - Could have had a number of assists on the night with every set-piece taken by the Belgian curling fiercely into dangerous areas. EPA
  • Wilfred Ndidi 6 - Unlucky not to score after glancing wide of the post from a corner but the Nigerian defensive midfielder isn’t really the player you want on the pitch when 2-0 down. Withdrawn for Perez just after the hour-mark. Reuters
    Wilfred Ndidi 6 - Unlucky not to score after glancing wide of the post from a corner but the Nigerian defensive midfielder isn’t really the player you want on the pitch when 2-0 down. Withdrawn for Perez just after the hour-mark. Reuters
  • Marc Albrighton 7 - The midfielder struck the ball with venom past Martin Dubravka and was unlucky not to pick up an assist with four key passes played at the King Power Stadium. AFP
    Marc Albrighton 7 - The midfielder struck the ball with venom past Martin Dubravka and was unlucky not to pick up an assist with four key passes played at the King Power Stadium. AFP
  • James Maddison 6 - Asked questions of the defence with passes in behind and looked to be the player most likely to turn the game around while it was achievable. Replaced in the second half with the game out of sight. Reuters
    James Maddison 6 - Asked questions of the defence with passes in behind and looked to be the player most likely to turn the game around while it was achievable. Replaced in the second half with the game out of sight. Reuters
  • Kelechi Iheanacho 7 - Worked hard with very limited service. The in-form striker linked play well and took his goal expertly when cutting inside and striking inside the near post. Reuters
    Kelechi Iheanacho 7 - Worked hard with very limited service. The in-form striker linked play well and took his goal expertly when cutting inside and striking inside the near post. Reuters
  • Jamie Vardy 6 - Got into some good positions through hard work and picked out Marc Albrighton well at the back post for Leicester’s reply. A tough night at the office overall against a stubborn back five. Reuters
    Jamie Vardy 6 - Got into some good positions through hard work and picked out Marc Albrighton well at the back post for Leicester’s reply. A tough night at the office overall against a stubborn back five. Reuters
  • SUB: Ayoze Perez (Replaced Ndidi, 64’) 6 - A positive substitute by Brendan Rodgers saw the Spanish midfielder introduced but Newcastle scored immediately. Close to making it 4-3 with a chance in the 91st minute but couldn’t find a way past Dubravka. AFP
    SUB: Ayoze Perez (Replaced Ndidi, 64’) 6 - A positive substitute by Brendan Rodgers saw the Spanish midfielder introduced but Newcastle scored immediately. Close to making it 4-3 with a chance in the 91st minute but couldn’t find a way past Dubravka. AFP
  • SUB: Luke Thomas (Replaced Pereira, 69’) 6 - Worked hard when introduced and stretched play to help the Foxes try to claw back the game. AFP
    SUB: Luke Thomas (Replaced Pereira, 69’) 6 - Worked hard when introduced and stretched play to help the Foxes try to claw back the game. AFP
  • SUB: Nampalys Mendy (Replaced Maddison, 77’) N/R - The Frenchman was brought on to rest James Maddison but very nearly was part of a comeback with Leicester finding two goals in the last period of the game. Reuters
    SUB: Nampalys Mendy (Replaced Maddison, 77’) N/R - The Frenchman was brought on to rest James Maddison but very nearly was part of a comeback with Leicester finding two goals in the last period of the game. Reuters
  • NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka 8 - Strong positioning saw Dubravka thwart what looked to be an instant equaliser from Leicester City, palming away Wesley Fofana’s header from a corner. Commanded his area well throughout the game and that was no different in the final stages when getting out quick to stop Ayoze Perez from close-range. Reuters
    NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka 8 - Strong positioning saw Dubravka thwart what looked to be an instant equaliser from Leicester City, palming away Wesley Fofana’s header from a corner. Commanded his area well throughout the game and that was no different in the final stages when getting out quick to stop Ayoze Perez from close-range. Reuters
  • Jacob Murphy 6 - Stretching play up the right flank helped link some good attacking moves with Murphy and Callum Wilson proving a difficult task on the night for the Leicester defence. Reuters
    Jacob Murphy 6 - Stretching play up the right flank helped link some good attacking moves with Murphy and Callum Wilson proving a difficult task on the night for the Leicester defence. Reuters
  • Emil Krafth 6 - The Swedish defender didn’t make any errors and slotted well into a Newcastle back three which got the better of two proven Premier League forwards for the most part on Friday night. Reuters
    Emil Krafth 6 - The Swedish defender didn’t make any errors and slotted well into a Newcastle back three which got the better of two proven Premier League forwards for the most part on Friday night. Reuters
  • Federico Fernandez 6 - Dealt well with the majority of balls into the box and didn’t look phased by Leicester’s strategy of looking to scoop the ball over the backline. Reuters
    Federico Fernandez 6 - Dealt well with the majority of balls into the box and didn’t look phased by Leicester’s strategy of looking to scoop the ball over the backline. Reuters
  • Paul Dummett 7 - The defender’s first goal of the season saw the Welshman rise above Fofana to head past Kasper Schmeichel. A solid display. Reuters
    Paul Dummett 7 - The defender’s first goal of the season saw the Welshman rise above Fofana to head past Kasper Schmeichel. A solid display. Reuters
  • Matt Ritchie 6 - An excellent delivery from the corner helped Dummett head home for Newcastle’s second and the Scottish defender dealt well with the Foxes moves down the left flank. Reuters
    Matt Ritchie 6 - An excellent delivery from the corner helped Dummett head home for Newcastle’s second and the Scottish defender dealt well with the Foxes moves down the left flank. Reuters
  • Joe Willock 7 - The on-loan Arsenal midfielder can’t stop scoring at the moment and the 21-year-old made a difficult finish look easy when slotting past Kasper Schmeichel for the opener. Substituted with what looked to be a hamstring injury in the 77th minute. EPA
    Joe Willock 7 - The on-loan Arsenal midfielder can’t stop scoring at the moment and the 21-year-old made a difficult finish look easy when slotting past Kasper Schmeichel for the opener. Substituted with what looked to be a hamstring injury in the 77th minute. EPA
  • Jonjo Shelvey 6 - Transitioned the ball quickly and organised the midfield’s shape well while acting as the anchor. The 29-year-old didn’t have much to do defensively with Leicester often playing direct into the box. Reuters
    Jonjo Shelvey 6 - Transitioned the ball quickly and organised the midfield’s shape well while acting as the anchor. The 29-year-old didn’t have much to do defensively with Leicester often playing direct into the box. Reuters
  • Miguel Almiron 6 - The Paraguayan showed different sides to his game on Friday night as he battled well in midfield, winning a number of tackles. Reuters
    Miguel Almiron 6 - The Paraguayan showed different sides to his game on Friday night as he battled well in midfield, winning a number of tackles. Reuters
  • Allan Saint-Maximin 6 - Saint-Maximin’s presence seemed to make Leicester oblivious to the threat of Callum Wilson in behind. The Newcastle star looked best when picking up the ball from deeper positions but he really should have scored after his partner put the ball on a plate for him in the first half. Reuters
    Allan Saint-Maximin 6 - Saint-Maximin’s presence seemed to make Leicester oblivious to the threat of Callum Wilson in behind. The Newcastle star looked best when picking up the ball from deeper positions but he really should have scored after his partner put the ball on a plate for him in the first half. Reuters
  • Callum Wilson 9 - Wilson’s precise run found space early in behind Leicester’s defence and that proved to be the precursor to a game where the striker rarely put a foot wrong. The Foxes couldn’t handle the 29-year-old who scored a well-taken brace and should have had an assist. AFP
    Callum Wilson 9 - Wilson’s precise run found space early in behind Leicester’s defence and that proved to be the precursor to a game where the striker rarely put a foot wrong. The Foxes couldn’t handle the 29-year-old who scored a well-taken brace and should have had an assist. AFP
  • SUB: Sean Longstaff (Replaced Willock, 77’) N/R - Introduced to help see the game out for the visitors. AFP
    SUB: Sean Longstaff (Replaced Willock, 77’) N/R - Introduced to help see the game out for the visitors. AFP
  • SUB: Joelinton (Replaced Saint-Maximin, 84’) N/R - A good option from the bench to help defend out the lead from the front. Reuters
    SUB: Joelinton (Replaced Saint-Maximin, 84’) N/R - A good option from the bench to help defend out the lead from the front. Reuters
  • SUB: Jeff Hendrick (Replaced Almiron, 88’) N/R - The experienced Irish midfielder helped calm down a Newcastle defence who looked frantic after conceding two goals in the last ten minutes. Reuters
    SUB: Jeff Hendrick (Replaced Almiron, 88’) N/R - The experienced Irish midfielder helped calm down a Newcastle defence who looked frantic after conceding two goals in the last ten minutes. Reuters

Football

Leicester City v Newcastle United player ratings: Kelechi Iheanacho 7, Wesley Fofana 4; Callum Wilson 9, Jonjo Shelvey 6

Wilson's double takes Newcastle closer to Premier League safety and puts dent in Leicester's top-four hopes

Adam Brown

May 08, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Callum Wilson's double helped Newcastle United to a thumping 4-2 win away to Leicester City on Friday which all but secured their Premier League survival and left the hosts looking over their shoulders in the race for a top-four finish.

Third-placed Leicester's night began badly when defender Jonny Evans was injured in the warm-up. It rapidly deteriorated when a mistake by Caglar Soyuncu allowed Joe Willock to put Newcastle in front after 22 minutes with his fourth goal in his last four games.

Martin Dubravka made some crucial saves for Steve Bruce's side before Paul Dummett doubled their lead with a powerful header after 34 minutes.

Leicester, who will play in next weekend's FA Cup final against Chelsea, never really got going and there seemed no way back when Wilson made it 3-0 on the counter-attack in the 64th minute and stabbed home his side's fourth 10 minutes later.

Marc Albrighton and Kelechi Iheanacho scored late goals and Dubravka made a sensational save from Ayoze Perez as Leicester threatened an unlikely comeback.

However, it was too late to prevent an eighth home league defeat to open the door for the teams below them.

Newcastle UnitedLeicester City