Ayoze Perez scored the only goal just after the half-hour mark to lift Newcastle up to 13th, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

"It's massive for the team," Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez said.

"You have to give credit to the players who worked hard. We were playing against a good team. We needed to do almost everything perfect and we were close."

Salomon Rondon hit the bar with a free kick from more than 30 yards before Perez headed his side in front, flicking the ball into the far corner.

Leicester threw everything at Newcastle in the dying minutes but the Magpies held on to inflict the Foxes' first defeat under Brendan Rodgers.

"It's difficult to break down a team like that, it's an area we will get better at," Rodgers said, with his side remaining seventh.

"There wasn't a lot in the game, our final pass just wasn't there but we gave everything. We couldn't break down their defence.

"We will learn from it, this is why I am here. Games like that you have to stay patient and have tactical discipline. The players have been first class since I came here but if you're not quite on it a result like this can happen."

Australian Associated Press