Record-equalling Jamie Vardy fires Leicester to victory at Newcastle

Jamie Vardy scored for the 10th game in a row to equal Ruud van Nistelrooy's Premier League record and maintain Leicester's remarkable challenge at the top of the table.

The Foxes forward shook off prematch concerns over a hip injury and blasted home in first-half stoppage time to move level with ex-Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy's streak of scoring in consecutive fixtures.

Leonardo Ulloa laid on the record-equalling effort before heading home himself, and substitute Shinji Okazaki added another as Leicester's incredible season continued in a 3-0 success over Newcastle at St James' Park.

It meant Claudio Ranieri's men moved top of the table and set up a showdown between the two next week when Vardy can eclipse Van Nistelrooy's record against the Dutchman's old employers.

Any concerns over the hip problem that forced Vardy to miss England's friendlies were allayed in the opening five minutes when Chancel Mbemba clattered into his side and the Leicester forward bounced straight back up.

From the resulting corner he was given his first sight of goal, but Aleksandar Mitrovic hurled himself in front of the effort to stop it going any further.

Riyad Mahrez's trickery was causing the hosts issues and he then broke to the Newcastle byline before pulling back for Ulloa, whose try was blocked by Vurnon Anita before the ball span away from Vardy.

After Danny Simpson made a last-ditch intervention to thwart Mitrovic, Mahrez skipped beyond Vurnon Anita and released Vardy six yards out. Goalkeeper Rob Elliot's left foot denied the striker then, but the moment everyone was expecting soon arrived.

AFP PHOTO / LINDSEY PARNABY

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France international Moussa Sissoko, playing just eight days after being in the Stade de France when the terror attacks hit Paris, lost the ball inside Leicester's half and it found its way to Vardy. He rolled a pass into Ulloa and drifted off the flank as he stayed onside and collected the return ball, knocked it past Sissoko and rifled inside Elliot's near post for an historic goal.

It was his 13th of the campaign and a strike which earned him a warm round of applause from the home faithful as he walked off at the break, a reception which came in contrast to the one afforded those in black and white.

A frustrating first half for Mitrovic extended after the interval when he failed to connect with Sissoko's pull across the six-yard box despite getting between both Foxes centre-backs.

However, the Magpies midfield continued to leave huge swathes of space for Mahrez and Vardy to operate in, the two combining again for the latter to lash against the crossbar after brushing off Mbemba.

The warning was not heeded and a second Leicester goal soon followed when Mahrez was given time to stand up a cross to the back post, where an unmarked Ulloa planted a header beyond Elliot.

It triggered more boos from the home faithful, who might have been appeased had Georginio Wijnaldum's header found its way past Danny Drinkwater and Kasper Schmeichel on the line.

They were saved more Vardy-inflicted woe when the England international was replaced with 13 minutes to go, but there was still time for Leicester to record a third goal.

Simpson's effort from Marc Albrighton's pass was saved by Elliot and although Okazaki could not force a header home at first, he eventually rammed it over the line to round off a fine afternoon for the high-flying Foxes.