Leicester 0-3 Newcastle: Toon starts title challenge again by mauling Foxes
Newcastle showed they could be part of the Premier League title race, finishing second in the table with a 3-0 victory at Leicester.
The six-week break didn't derail what is proving to be a memorable season under Eddie Howe and the Magpies hit all three points at the King Power after a sensational 32-minute opener.
Chris Wood's penalty and a sublime strike from Miguel Almiron made them 2-0 up after just seven minutes, with Joelinton adding a third just after the half-hour mark.
There was no turning back for Leicester and the Magpies fell four points behind leaders Arsenal, who played later on Boxing Day.
It may have been 45 days since their last win, but it was their sixth successive Premier League victory - their best run since 2012. Howe's side prove that an outstanding first half of the season was not a flash in the pan.
There is a long way to go and it remains to be seen if the Magpies
have the quality to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City. However, with the January transfer window approaching, Newcastle fans will be dreaming of at least making it into the top four for the first time in 20 years.
Leicester, without James Maddison, were sunk by Newcastle's quick start and could not recover as they put in a performance typical of their early season struggles.
Brendan Rodgers would not have imagined his side would drop two points after just seven minutes, with Newcastle electric from the start.
The visitors took the lead in the third minute from the penalty spot as Chris Wood, in place of an ailing Callum Wilson, fired hard after Daniel Amartey hacked Joelinton.
It was 2-0 four minutes later as Almiron continued the blistering form he had shown before the World Cup by scoring a picture-book goal.
After being cleared down the right by Kieran Tripper, he cut inside, played a delicious one-two with Bruno Guimaraes and coldly beat Danny Ward for his eighth goal in nine Premier League games.< /p>
Leicester started to settle down but they knew they had to score the next goal and they almost did as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played against Patson Daka.
The striker got a shot which the rushing Nick Pope saved, but it was deflected by Daka and towards the goal, with Sven Botman having to clear the ball with a few yards to spare.
Newcastle were the only ones to get another as they benefited from poor set-piece defense in the 32nd minute, with Joelinton cleared to go unchallenged to head home in Trippier's corner.
The second half was more of a containment game for Newcastle, but they could still have added more goals as Botman fired from a good position and Almiron had a blocked effort.
The job had been done, however, meaning Newcastle suffered just one defeat in their first 16 games.
Read more: Man Utd crisis, Liverpool's title advantage: 16 conclusions from Boxing Day 1963's 66 goals
Newcastle showed they could be part of the Premier League title race, finishing second in the table with a 3-0 victory at Leicester.
The six-week break didn't derail what is proving to be a memorable season under Eddie Howe and the Magpies hit all three points at the King Power after a sensational 32-minute opener.
Chris Wood's penalty and a sublime strike from Miguel Almiron made them 2-0 up after just seven minutes, with Joelinton adding a third just after the half-hour mark.
There was no turning back for Leicester and the Magpies fell four points behind leaders Arsenal, who played later on Boxing Day.
It may have been 45 days since their last win, but it was their sixth successive Premier League victory - their best run since 2012. Howe's side prove that an outstanding first half of the season was not a flash in the pan.
There is a long way to go and it remains to be seen if the Magpies
have the quality to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City. However, with the January transfer window approaching, Newcastle fans will be dreaming of at least making it into the top four for the first time in 20 years.
Leicester, without James Maddison, were sunk by Newcastle's quick start and could not recover as they put in a performance typical of their early season struggles.
Brendan Rodgers would not have imagined his side would drop two points after just seven minutes, with Newcastle electric from the start.
The visitors took the lead in the third minute from the penalty spot as Chris Wood, in place of an ailing Callum Wilson, fired hard after Daniel Amartey hacked Joelinton.
It was 2-0 four minutes later as Almiron continued the blistering form he had shown before the World Cup by scoring a picture-book goal.
After being cleared down the right by Kieran Tripper, he cut inside, played a delicious one-two with Bruno Guimaraes and coldly beat Danny Ward for his eighth goal in nine Premier League games.< /p>
Leicester started to settle down but they knew they had to score the next goal and they almost did as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played against Patson Daka.
The striker got a shot which the rushing Nick Pope saved, but it was deflected by Daka and towards the goal, with Sven Botman having to clear the ball with a few yards to spare.
Newcastle were the only ones to get another as they benefited from poor set-piece defense in the 32nd minute, with Joelinton cleared to go unchallenged to head home in Trippier's corner.
The second half was more of a containment game for Newcastle, but they could still have added more goals as Botman fired from a good position and Almiron had a blocked effort.
The job had been done, however, meaning Newcastle suffered just one defeat in their first 16 games.
Read more: Man Utd crisis, Liverpool's title advantage: 16 conclusions from Boxing Day 1963's 66 goals
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