Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire scored either side of half-time as Leicester City cruised to a comfortable victory over Newcastle United.

Newcastle United were comprehensively outplayed as their winless start stretched to seven Premier League matches in a worrying 2-0 defeat at home to Leicester City.

Forgiving in both boxes and lacking quality in between, Rafael Benitez's side failed to ask regular questions of the visitors on Mike Ashley's first appearance at St James' Park in 16 months.

Benitez commented ahead of the match that he would welcome Ashley's return and his reasons were perhaps evident in a performance that could well have led the club's owner to conclude reinforcements are required.

Jamie Vardy struck the opener from the spot in the 30th minute following DeAndre Yedlin's panicked handball and Leicester's victory, their sixth in seven competitive meetings with the Magpies, was fittingly sealed with a second-half header from the influential Harry Maguire.

Passive for much of the first half, Newcastle were made to regret the two early chances they squandered.

Joselu first dallied over an opening that Maguire's sliding challenge snuffed out, before an unmarked Mohamed Diame headed Christian Atsu's inviting cross past the post.

Maguire was dominant in both boxes and it was his shot that struck Yedlin's raised arms for the penalty that Vardy converted for his third of the campaign.