We analyse Rafael Benitezs first game in charge of Newcastle after his reign began with a 1-0 defeat by Premier League leaders Leicester… There was no winning start for Rafael Benitez as Shinji Okazakis first-half bicycle kick kept Newcastle one point adrift of safety. Cincinnati Reds Shirts . But amid the gloom of a 10th defeat in 13 games, there were signs that the new manager is already putting his stamp on the team ahead of their Super Sunday showdown with Sunderland.Benitez described commitment as the main attribute he wanted to see from his Newcastle players in the build-up to their trip to the Midlands, and the former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager will certainly have taken encouragement from how they started at the King Power Stadium. Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez focused on the positives following his first game in charge against Leicester Moussa Sissoko set the tone by sprinting 50 yards to close down Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the opening 20 seconds, and Newcastles aggressive approach immediately put Claudio Ranieris side on the back foot.In the Monday Night Football studio, Southampton manger Ronald Koeman was impressed. They showed really good mentality from the start in the game, he said. Ayoze Perez, Jack Colback and Sissoko had presentable scoring chances in the early stages, and after 20 minutes Newcastle had already had as many shots (five) as in the whole of their last away game against Stoke. Carragher on Newcastle Carra says Toon squad lacks quality The attacking intent was a welcome sight for the travelling fans, and there was also evidence of improved defensive organisation. If I had to think of Newcastle in the Premier League era, it would be madness, people running all over the place and getting caught out of position, said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher before kick-off. But while Benitez had only had three days to work with his new players, he had clearly managed to get some of his ideas across. Newcastle lined up in two tight banks of four when Leicester had possession, with Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic also helping out from more advanced positions.You never associate Newcastle with being a compact team, but thats everything Rafas about, added Carragher, who played under the Spaniard for six years at Anfield. Thats really tight, and very difficult to beat. Thats what they were doing - they were really frustrating Leicester. Newcastle were compact when Leicester had possession, with striker Aleksandar Mitrovic positioned not too far away from the back four With Benitez a typically animated figure in the dugout, Newcastle succeeded in limiting Leicesters scoring opportunities. You could see what Rafa had worked on in his first two or three days, added Carragher. It took me back to what we were doing at Liverpool. Very difficult to play through, very compact and very organised. Hard-working Newcastle Newcastle covered 110.96km at the King Power Stadium compared to Leicesters 109.73km. Leicester did occasionally find space to attack Newcastles makeshift defence, but it took Okazakis moment of magic to find a way through. The stats highlighted how effectively the visitors contained the hosts, with the winner coming from the Foxes only shot on target.It was the first time all season that Leicester have only mustered a single shot on target over the course of a Premier League fixture, and their overall total of four efforts on goal was way down on their average of 10.17 per game. Newcastles Vurnon Anita and Leicesters Jamie Vardy in action Newcastle were ultimately undone by a failure to defend a set piece, but Koeman and Carragher felt they were unlucky to fall behind - especially with questions of offside over Jamie Vardys positioning in the build-up to the goal. The goal came out of nothing, said Koeman. Newcastle were making it very difficult and Leicester didnt create anything.Benitezs men continued to stifle the hosts for most of the second half, but they couldnt find the cutting edge in attack to match their new-found defensive solidity. Their struggles in front of goal were summed up by a mis-hit effort from substitute Siem de Jong in the 84th minute, and Carragher felt a lack of quality up front should be Benitezs biggest concern.A perception of Newcastle is that they have too much quality to be in this position, and that maybe its an attitude problem, he said. But I think there is a lack of quality there. Only bottom side Aston Villa have scored fewer goals than Newcastle this season, and only seven of their 28 have come away from St James Park. I think the goal record shows that there arent enough good players and thats why theyre in this situation, added Carragher. We didnt see that quality in front of goal. Its difficult against Leicester but the goal record tells you everything.Benitez will need to find a remedy to Newcastles goalscoring travails ahead of Sundays vital Tyne-Wear derby, but he can take heart from other aspects of their performance against Leicester. With games against fellow strugglers Sunderland, Norwich and Aston Villa still to come, the Magpies might yet be able to fight their way out of trouble. Get Sky Sports Alerts Breaking news, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - direct to your mobile Also See: Okazaki sends Foxes five clear Benitez focused on positives Arsenal, City out of title race Ranieri hails fantastic spirit Cincinnati Reds Gear . FLIP SAUNDERS (Timberwolves): Im not the least bit surprised that he appointed himself as head coach after his search concluded. Fake Reds Jerseys . The incident occurred at 6:28 of the first period in Anaheims 6-3 home win over Dallas on Sunday. Garbutt left the penalty box and skated at Penner before leaving his skates to deliver a check. https://www.cheapredsjerseys.us/ . "That was a great lift for the staff," Padres manager Bud Black said. Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal homered, and Chase Headley drove in three runs, as the Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 11-1 on Friday night.OKLAHOMA CITY - Marreese Speights scored 28 points to help the Golden State Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 91-86 on Sunday night.It matched the second-highest scoring game of Speights career and was his best total since 2009.Klay Thompson scored 20 points and Stephen Curry added 15 for the Warriors (10-2), who won despite shooting a season-low 35.5 per cent from the field. Thoompson and Curry, two of the top 10 scorers in the league, combined to make just 11 of 35 shots. Reds Jerseys 2020. Reggie Jackson had 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Anthony Morrow added 16 points and matched a career high with 12 rebounds for Oklahoma City. Serge Ibaka scored 16 points, but shot just 5 of 17 for the Thunder (3-13), who lost their sixth in a row. ' ' '