All White Chris Wood as Newcastle go second in Premier League

All Whites striker Chris Wood scored as Newcastle crushed Leicester 3-nil to climb to second in the Premier League as the competition returned following the World Cup break.

Chris Wood scored a goal for Newcastle as the Premier League kicked off again.
Photo: AFP

Leicester defender Daniel Amartey got the match off to a terrible start for the hosts, gifting Newcastle a penalty when he chopped down Joelinton after 86 seconds, and Wood blasted the spot-kick into the middle of the net.

It was a welcome goal for the 31-year-old New Zealander, who was an injury replacement in the Newcastle lineup.

Newcastle’s great start continued when Miguel Almiron added a brilliant second in the seventh minute, cutting in from the right before playing a one-two with Bruno Guimaraes and slotting the return pass in at the far post.

Despite the return of league football following the World Cup break, there was little Christmas cheer for the home fans as Joelinton made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute when Boubakary Soumare was caught ball-watching at a corner and the Brazilian headed home.

In one of the first half’s few bright attacking moments for the home side, Leicester striker Patson Daka had a shout for a penalty turned down after a clash with keeper Nick Pope, but all too often the Zambian’s decision-making let him down.

The introduction of Jamie Vardy at the break gave Leicester’s attack a focal point that was sorely lacking in the first half, but Newcastle’s well-organised defence restricted them to shots from distance that were easily dealt with.

Newcastle climbed above Manchester City, who play Leeds United on Wednesday, into second place on 33 points, four behind leaders Arsenal, who take on West Ham United later on Monday. Leicester are 13th on 17 points.

“Coming here, knowing how difficult it was going to be, the start was really important to us. The first half an hour we were excellent. It’s a trademark goal for Miggy (Miguel Almiron) and a really good team move,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe told the BBC.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers was far from impressed with his side.

“The start of the game was clearly disappointing, we were so slow, our attitude was really poor, before we know it we’re 2-0 down,” he told Amazon Prime.

“We lacked many things today, they were way better than us from the start of the game.”

–Reuters