Toon Takeaways from Newcastle United’s win over Leicester City

Newcastle United climbed into the top ten of the Premier League table with their 2-1 victory over Leicester City.

Newcastle United needed a victory against Leicester City to seal their fate in the Premier League next season, and they did just that. The thrilling match between the Magpies and the Foxes ended 2-1 in favor of Newcastle with goals from Jonjo Shelvey and Ayoze Perez. Newcastle have broken into the top half of the table with 38 points from 32 matches.

Top Toons

Jonjo Shelvey: The defensive midfielder broke the norm against Leicester City by faking out two defenders to curl a well-placed ball in the goal. With his performance today, Shelvey showed that Gareth Southgate made a mistake by leaving him out of the England squad.

Paul Dummett: The Welshman from Tyneside was the best defender on the pitch for Newcastle United against Leicester City. From his timely tackles to his ability to move the ball forward with precise crosses, Dummett was a major contributor.

Ayoze Perez: With an assist and a goal, Perez picked up where he left off against Huddersfield Town. His overall play was mediocre, but he played well in key moments of the match.

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Mediocre Magpies

Dwight Gayle: It was another disappointing performance from Newcastle’s lone striker, who was only on the pitch because Islam Slimani could not play against Leicester City.

Quick Kicks

The Magpies dominated the first half of play with good ball movement and constant attacks. Leicester City did turn the tables in the second half, but Shelvey’s early goal gave the Magpies sufficient confidence to remain composed.

Newcastle’s defenders put in a good showing against Leicester City and they maintained their reputation as an aggressive back-line. The goal scored by Leicester is the first time that the Magpies conceded a goal since March 3rd against Liverpool.

While it was frustrating to see Gayle struggle up top, it was reassuring to see Newcastle’s midfielders make up for his poor form with two goals. The fact that Newcastle were able to score multiple goals on the road is a positive sign for the remaining six matches.

Defensive stability and offensive efficiency were the key to this match, and everyone except for Gayle gave it their all to secure three crucial points.

What’s Next?

Newcastle’s next match will be at St. James’ Park next weekend against a prestigious, yet inconsistent Arsenal side. As was the case today, the Magpies will be labeled as the underdogs, but Rafa Benitez’s men are one of the hottest teams in the Premier League.

Next: Newcastle's rescheduled trip to Wembley

In order to keep the winning streak alive, Newcastle United must be prepared for an aggressive battle and they must emphasize precise passing and shooting in training.