Leicester City 1 Newcastle United 0: Benitez's first game ends in defeat

A overhead kick from Shinji Okazaki gave Premier League leaders Leicester City a 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium tonight.

But there were signs of life from relegation-threatened Newcastle during what was a seventh successive league defeat away from home.

United started well and pressured Leicester, but they couldn't take the chances that came their way and were often sloppy in possession.

And Newcastle only had themselves to blame for Okazaki's 15th-minute goal, which came from a poorly-defended ball into the box.

Claudio Ranieri's side, however, had to work for their victory, and Benitez's team kept on pushing for an equaliser.

Second-bottom United must now prepare for Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby against relegation rivals Sunderland at St James's Park.

LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton (Ulloa, 75); Okazaki (Schlupp, 65), Vardy. Subs not used: Schwarzer, Wasilewski, Amartey, Inler, Gray.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Elliot; Janmaat, Taylor, Lascelles, Colback; Sissoko, Anita (Townsend, 56), Shelvey (Doumbia, 87), Perez (de Jong, 71); Wijnaldum; Mitrovic. Subs not used: Darlow, Sterry, Saivet, Riviere.

Goal: Okazaki 25

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

Attendance: 31,824 (1,334 Newcastle)