Rafa Benitez commented:
 

New order: Fabio Pecchia, Rafa Benitez, Francisco de Miguel Moreno

Claudio Ranieri said:

"When you change a manager, players want to show their attitude, and plus, the Newcastle players are very good. I am sure at the end they will be safe (from relegation).

"For this reason, I was waiting for a difficult match and it wasn't one of our best performances but we showed our fantastic spirit.

"In the first half, we conceded too many dangerous actions and in the second half, we were a little more concentrated and won the first and second balls. In the first half, we lost so many balls.

"It was important somebody scored the goal and then we defended very well. In this moment, it is important for us to play and to fight.

"No I don't look at the table, I look at the next match, Crystal Palace. Alan Pardew was upstairs to watch us, it's another tough match.

"We want to enjoy and want to continue, our fans are dreaming and are so proud of us. The fans must dream and we must work. I'm pleased with our spirit.

"We played our match and we won three points. At this point of the season, the points are important, not how you play. Now it's important to stay calm - all the city is behind us pushing, we must stay calm and enjoy.

"It was a difficult match but we won. I know we played better against Aston Villa or West Brom but we drew both the matches."

 

Rafa Benitez's first game in charge of Newcastle ended in defeat at the King Power Stadium on Monday but there were signs that the new manager may just be able to inspire his side to safety.

United matched the title favourites for most of the evening and only some poor finishing from the visitors prevented a deserved point, as Leicester almost suffered from an attack of the jitters.

Shinji Okazaki's first half bicycle kick ultimately decided the contest, but replays showed that top scorer Jamie Vardy was offside at the beginning of that move, while there were strong claims for a later handball against Wes Morgan - decisions failed to favour the Magpies once again.

But they had themselves to blame for spurning some excellent chances; Moussa Sissoko failing to pick out a colleague, Siem de Jong spurning a layoff from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sissoko and Mitrovic getting in each other's way when pursuing Gini Wijnaldum's chipped pass in the area.

Our display was certainly a vast improvement on the single goal loss at Stoke that loosened Steve McClaren's grip on his position and there were times in the second half when the "stay in the game" mantra that led to the late turnaround at Spurs came to mind, as we took the fight to the Foxes. 

Still unable to call on the central defensive duo of Fabricio Coloccini and Chancel Mbemba that featured in six of our seven wins to date, Rafa retained the side that finished the 1-3 loss to Bournemouth that saw off McClaren (save for the final Aarons/Sissoko change that day).   

The difference was discernible as the players started brightly, upped their game for the new boss, enjoyed more possession and retained some semblance of shape in purpose for 90 minutes.  

Unfortunately Newcastle came up against a side brimming with a confidence and energy that has built steadily since last August, and in the end that momentum made the difference.

United attacked from the off as Sissoko (in an unfamiliar left wing role) chased down a backpass that Kasper Schmeichel just managed to clear. Ayoze Perez fired just wide, Jack Colback sliced an effort off target and Perez then forced a corner inside the first ten minutes as City were on the back foot.

Vardy tumbled in the box after tangling with Daryl Janmaat but referee Craig Pawson rightly waved away penalty claims before Mark Albrighton fired over Rob Elliot's crossbar. Mitrovic dragged his shot wide and then Janmaat charged forward before being dispossessed as Rafa's first game in England since May 2013 looked to be going to plan.

However our decent start unraveled after 25 minutes and when City quickly broke through again, the familiar panic looked to have returned. Thankfully though Marc Albrighton clipped his shot narrowly wide of the post with Elliot beaten and United finished the half strongly - without putting Schmeichel under any real pressure.

City had a couple of free-kicks at the start of the second period that they should have made more of and Benitez decided to introduce Andros Townsend in place of Vurnon Anita.

Despite the former Spurs man looking some way off fitness, that positive switch led to United's best spell and Sissoko broke free down the left but tried to find a colleague rather than shoot.

Townsend then dug out a cross that was only cleared as far as Sissoko, whose powerful shot hit Morgan on the elbow but referee Pawson wasn't interested in penalty claims. 

Newcastle remained in the game until the final seconds and every attack was urged on, as they attacked the end where their fans were clustered in one corner, 

What was to be their last real chance though saw substitute Siem De Jong teed up by Mitrovic five minutes from time, only for the Dutchman to scuff his shot. And with Seydou Doumbia granted only the briefest of runouts, he barely touched the ball as  Leicester took the ball to the corners, ran the clock down and held on for their precious win.  

The defeat left United one place off the bottom and dented their goal difference further but if they can reproduce a performance like this on Sunday in the Tyne-wear grudge match then they could rise out of the bottom three following a famous - and long overdue derby victory.

It's impossible to look beyond that game at this point though; let alone surmise what the future holds after "nine cup finals", what league we'll be in next season and who will be in the dugout.

Without a ball being kicked, there was a mood shift among the support though and the feeling that if only we can extricate ourselves from this current mess that brighter times lie ahead, under a manager who boasts credibility and gravitas completely at odds with our recent appointments. 

So, less of the 2009 Shearer rescue mission and more of the 1992 Keegan one. Here's hoping.

Niall MacKenzie/Biffa