Shinji Okazaki scored with a spectacular overhead kick to earn Leicester City a 1-0 win over Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United as they restored a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League last night.

Leicester went in front after 25 minutes when the flying Japanese beat goalkeeper Rob Elliot from close range after striker Jamie Vardy had nodded the ball back into the danger area.

City have 63 points, five ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, 11 in front of third-placed Arsenal and 12 ahead of Manchester City who both have a game in hand.

Tottenham’s 2-0 win at Aston Villa on Sunday had put Claudio Ranieri’s men under pressure but they won with minimum fuss, despite not being at their best at the King Power Stadium.

They go to Crystal Palace on Saturday at the end of the five-game run which Ranieri had labelled as key to their chances, having won 10 points from 12.

Benitez, who succeeded Steve McClaren on Friday, suffered defeat in his first game as Newcastle manager and has a huge task to keep them up with a crunch match against fellow north-east relegation candidates Sunderland on Sunday.

There was plenty of effort from the Newcastle players but the visitors were powderpuff when it mattered as their confidence waned as the game wore on.

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