Leicester
1-1 Newcastle
Gunnlaugsson 63 B Speed 75
FA Carling Premiership
League table | Post-match
reaction
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b>Leicester photos | <
b>Newcastle photos
Gary Speed prised a rare goal from LeicesterBs tight-fisted defence to cancel out Arnar GunnlaugssonBs wonder strike and plunder an away point.
Speed pounced with 15 minutes to go to complete a frustrating afternoon for Foxes boss Peter Taylor B EnglandBs stand-in manager B as his side again lacked bite up front.
Iceland's Gunnlaugsson seemed to have put the skids under Bobby Robson's combative Newcastle side with a cool 25-yard free-kick just past the hour mark.
But the Magpies, also in the top six, refused to leave without something and Speed saved the day with a shot in off the post after Didier DomiBs incisive pass.
Ade Akinbiyi, though, should have sent them home point-less four minutes from time.
The first half-hour may have been fast and ferocious, but the competitive spirit produced few clear-cut chances.
The most menacing player on the pitch was Kieron Dyer, whose electric pace was shown at its most threatening when he failed by just inches to play Clarence Acuna in.
Leicester fans were adamant the Foxes B boosted by the return of Matt Elliott - deserved a penalty as early as the eighth minute as Callum Davidson seemed to be tripped by Andrew Griffin. But referee Rob Styles disagreed.
Trevor Benjamin fired wide when well placed, and Rob Lee returned the compliment from 30 yards as goal attempts were in short supply.
There were few raised eyebrows when Benjamin was hauled off by an impatient Taylor at the start of the second half, and within seven minutes his decision was proved correct as Gunnlaugsson rocketed in a dead-ball chance.
But after boldly striding into the England spotlight, it was to be a Welshman who had the final say at the end of TaylorBs week.
Leicester: Flowers, Rowett, Davidson, Sinclair, Elliott,
Taggart, Lennon, Savage, Izzet, Akinbiyi,
Benjamin (Gunnlaugsson 56)
Subs Not Used: Royce, Gilchrist, Guppy, Eadie
Booked: Savage
Goals: Gunnlaugsson 63
Newcastle: Given, Domi, Goma, Griffin, Hughes, Dyer,
Lee (Cordone 68), Bassedas, Speed, Acuna, Shearer
Subs Not Used: Harper, Ameobi, Kerr, S. Caldwell
Booked: Acuna
Goals: Speed 75
Att: 21,406
Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville)
ROBSON HAPPY WITH DYER DISPLAY
Magpies boss Bobby Robson gushed with pride after Kieron Dyer
turned in a sparkling display.
"He was very lively today in what was a strange position for him," Robson said. "He is quick on the ground and can skin people. You saw that today.
"To be honest I didn't think Leicester would have the ingenuity to open us up, although to be fair their midfielders worked their socks off."
Leicester manager Peter Taylor insists he will stick with strikers Ade Akinbiyi and Trevor Benjamin despite their poor form.
"I have seen enough signs that they could make a decent partnership," Taylor said.
"Ade's touch is getting better and I thought Trevor did well on his home debut. They are both learning about the Premiership."
But Taylor did hit out at a section of Foxes fans for their lack of support during last week's Worthington Cup defeat by Crystal Palace.
Taylor, who was due to meet Sven Goran Eriksson's future England number two Tord Grip today, said: "It's a small group of fans who sit behind the home dug-out.
"They've a right to criticise but a lot of their comments made our situation worse."
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
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