Leicester City 1:0 Newcastle United

Shinji Okazaki's spectacular overhead kick earned the Foxes a win which, with just eight games left, moved them closer to their first league title.

An improved Newcastle went close through Ayoze Perez and Moussa Sissoko.

But ultimately Leicester's pressing foiled them and the defeat leaves the Magpies second from bottom.

Leicester show no signs of wavering

Before the match, Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri refused to accept his team were favourites to win the title, insisting that qualifying for the Europa League was the target.

But as Ranieri gesticulated on the sidelines in the closing minutes, urging the home fans to increase the volume, his actions suggested that he and his team are chasing more than a chance to compete in Europe's second-tier competition.

With every passing week, the prospect of the Foxes achieving what their former striker Gary Lineker describes as possibly the most "unlikely triumph in the history of team sport" becomes more likely.

A team which at the start of the season were among the bookies' favourites to be relegated are on the home straight, unbeaten in four matches and closing in on history.

Ranieri's men are 12 points clear of Manchester City and 11 ahead of Arsenal, leaving many to believe the title is a two-way fight between the leaders and second-placed Tottenham.

A hint of a Rafa revival?

This match perhaps came too soon for Benitez to whip Newcastle into shape, having only taken over from the sacked Steve McClaren on Friday.

The Magpies started like a team buoyed by the Spaniard's appointment, engineering two chances early on - an iffy Wes Morgan nearly put Sissoko through, while Perez went close moments later.

Newcastle's deep defensive line initially caused the hosts problems, but once Okazaki struck, the Foxes took control, attacking with pace and defending in packs.

There were hints that Benitez can revive a team which has struggled all season, but the former Liverpool boss - who nine weeks ago was in charge of Real Madrid, coaching Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale - has just nine games to save Newcastle from relegation.

Had Sissoko possessed the poise to find a team-mate when the visitors had a three-on-two advantage they could have equalised, while the Frenchman also sweetly struck a volley only to be denied late on by Morgan's block.

Benitez had said he had "done the maths" and that he was positive of survival, but for that optimism to remain, the Magpies - who have now lost 17 of their 29 league matches - must beat fellow strugglers Sunderland on Sunday.

What next?

For Newcastle, the next two games are central to their survival hopes. They will host Sunderland in what should be a tasty derby as the Magpies are a point adrift of the Black Cats, who are clear of the relegation zone on goal difference only.

On 2 April, Benitez's men will then travel to Norwich, another team who are a point ahead of them in the league, albeit having played a game more.

Leicester travel to Crystal Palace to face a side who have not won in the league in 2016 but have progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

"I feel now that I am just concentrating on the next game against Crystal Palace. We are so strong, we think only one game at a time. Step by step, that is our philosophy.

"Their players showed Rafa their attitude and the Newcastle players are very good. I am sure that they will be safe."

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez: "I wasn't happy with the goal because there were too many balls bouncing in the box. I would like to think about the positives. We reacted well and were pushing well.

"I thought that we could get a result and I was convinced we could do it. But they worked really hard and are pushing and their tempo is not easy for any team.

(BBC)