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£22 Million Strike
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The Goods
Leicester City
1 .. 
Zagorakis '83
Newcastle United
2.......
Ferguson '21
Shearer '53
(Sorry, no pics again ((get your act together Daily Soccer...))
Newcastle's deadly double act of Alan Shearer and
Duncan Ferguson again delivered the goods to pile on
the misery for injury-hit Leicester at Filbert Street.
Ferguson broke the deadlock with his third goal in three
matches and he is finally starting to justify his £7million
price-tag after an injury-hit first 12 months.
Shearer also looked razor sharp and clinically tucked
away his 18th goal of the campaign early in the second
half to effectively kill off the game as a meaningful
contest. Bobby Robson's side will quickly banish any
lingering worries about relegation if they can keep their
deadly strike duo fit.
But this was an impressive all-round performance by
Newcastle to record only their second away success of the
campaign. They had the game's outstanding midfield
player in Peruvian international Nolberto Solano while
their defence gave Leicester precious few opportunities
until Theo Zagorakis scored with a late effort.
The Foxes, in contrast, found the burden of being without
several first-team regulars too much to overcome,
although in typical fashion they refused to bow down
without a fight with Rob Savage typifying their spirit. But
boss Martin O'Neill needs to be given cash to strengthen
his squad - particularly as key midfielder Muzzy Izzet has
now joined the casualty list after limping out of the
action. City have now suffered four successive league
reversals and their UEFA Cup bid will disappear unless
O'Neill can bring in new blood.
Leicester made a promising start and record signing
Darren Eadie quickly tested Newcastle keeper Steve
Harper. He seized onto a misdirected crossfield pass
from Rob Lee and cut into the penalty area before
forcing Harper to fingertip away his swerving left-foot
effort.
Leicester then appealed in vain for a penalty after
midfielder Muzzy Izzet was challenged in the area by
Nikos Dabizas. But the visitors looked full of confidence,
as befits a side revitalised by Robson, and they broke
the deadlock in the 21st minute when the Leicester
defence was pulled apart.
Midfielder Gary Speed slipped the ball through to Shearer
on the right side of the area and he instantly whipped
over a low cross. Ferguson was the first to react and the
home defence was nowhere to be seen as he turned the
ball home from close range. It was the third match in a
row that Ferguson had hit the target after he had
previously netted only four times in 13 months since his
move from Everton.
Leicester tried to retaliate but they were restricted chiefly
to long-range efforts - from Zagorakis and Eadie - which
were comfortably dealt with by Harper. It was Newcastle
who looked the more menacing and Leicester defender
Gerry Taggart was yellow carded for holding back Shearer
as he threatened to burst clear. Leicester's already
lengthy injury list was added to in the 33rd minute when
Izzet limped off to be replaced by Stuart Campbell.
A mishit back pass from Savage presented Kevin
Gallacher with a free run at goal but his former Blackburn
team-mate Tim Flowers came out to block his shot.
Leicester's best chance of the half came in the 42nd
minute when a mistake by Marcelino allowed Zagorakis
to slip the ball into the path of the onrushing Emile
Heskey. But Harper was quickly out of his action to block
the low effort from the England striker.
The home side were fortunate just before the interval
when Shearer's powerful shot struck Phil Gilchrist and
cannoned to safety. Leicester started the second half in
purposeful mood and Zagorakis was unfortunate to see
his goalbound volley hit Marcelino, but then a splendid
counter-attack saw Newcastle double their lead in the
54th minute.
The impressive Solano slid in to win the ball off Campbell
on the touchline and then found Shearer with a sliderule
pass. The England skipper did not have to break his
stride as he took the ball around Flowers and slid home
his 18th goal of the campaign for Newcastle.
O'Neill decided changes had to be made and he brought
off veteran striker Tony Cottee with Eadie pushed up
front and debutant Danny Thomas slotting into the wide
left midfield role. But chances were now few and far
between for the home side against a solid looking
Newcastle side.
At the other end Flowers did well to deflect a shot wide
from Solano after Lee had found him with a superb
defence splitting ball. Ferguson then shot over from close
range after his initial header had hit a post while a
30-yard rocket from Lee was tipped onto the bar by
Flowers.
Leicester set up a grandstand finish when Zagorakis
scored with a low 30-yard shot after a short free-kick
although Harper appeared to dive over the ball. Then a
cross from Savage picked out the unmarked Heskey but
he directed his header straight at Harper.
