DWIGHT GAYLE and Joselu looked to have done enough to prevent Newcastle United from slipping to another defeat - only for the club’s 125th birthday party to turn sour in the dying moments at St James’ Park.

Despite taking the lead in the fifth minute through Joselu, the Magpies had to battle back from behind after Riyad Mahrez and Demarai Gray had put Leicester City in front with goals in the 20th and 60th minutes.

The Foxes, whose only defeat in their previous ten was against Manchester City, looked in command and it was something of a surprise when Gayle pulled things level again with 17 minutes remaining.

At that stage Newcastle looked hungry to seal three points but with four minutes remaining Leicester sealed the victory when Ayoze Perez found his own net as he attempted to prevent Shinji Okazaki from scoring.

The defeat leaves Newcastle winless in seven and they have dropped down to 16th, with just two points separating them from the Premier League’s relegation zone.

It was an indication of how tight the bottom half of the Premier League is that results had seen Newcastle drop to within two places of the bottom three before kick-off, but a victory would have seen them climb up to tenth ahead of Everton’s visit on Wednesday.

The 125th anniversary celebrations certainly had an effect beforehand, with special flags waved around St James’ and Newcastle started like a team intent on enjoying the party.

There had already been a couple of deliveries from Matt Ritchie to put the Foxes’ under pressure before an effective attack down the left ended with Joselu finding the net for the first time since October 1.

The Spaniard, who has been criticised a lot since arriving from Stoke, was asked to pair up with Gayle in attack and it was that combination that created the opener.

After Jacob Murphy had flicked a ball into Gayle’s path, the striker rolled a pass from the left for the on-rushing Joselu to hammer low into the centre of the net.

Rather than maintain that tempo, though, Leicester found their feet and Newcastle had to deal with the increased influence of Gray and Mahrez.

Gray had already seen an effort cause Karl Darlow problems before the Newcastle goalkeeper ought to have done better with Mahrez’s drive from outside the area which he only helped in with his finger-tips. Mikel Merino was also sloppy in possession in the build-up.

Darlow had to react quickly to prevent Jamie Vardy from turning in a loose rebound after the Newcastle man had not turned away Marc Albrighton’s initial effort properly.

After that there was a period where Leicester looked like they might go on and win comfortably, with Gray and Mahrez finding space across the pitch. They were unable to test Darlow enough though.

It could easily have been Newcastle who hit the break in front. Eight minutes before half-time, Murphy was picked out in the area and he forced Kasper Schmeichel into a low save to his left but the resulting corner came to nothing.

There was a dip in the tempo after the restart and, after Leicester had done more of the attacking initially, Joselu went close to adding a second when he headed Ritchie’s corner wide at the near post. It was still the visitors who took the lead. Mahrez found himself in space on half way and he picked out Albrighton with a beautiful long ball. His cushioned volley was perfect for Gray to control and his shot on goal deflected into the top corner off Florian Lejeune.

The introductions of Perez and Christian Atsu – back from injury – sparked Newcastle back to life when it looked like they could be dead and buried, despite the slender deficit.

And seconds after Perez’s introduction, Gayle levelled. Last season’s top scorer controlled Merino’s header on the edge of the area after Leicester had only half cleared, and he cut inside and saw his low strike deflect off Harry Maguire and find the bottom corner.

Gayle almost put Newcastle ahead too when he pulled an effort inches wide of the far post after Joselu’s clever pass in behind – and that proved costly.

With four minutes remaining and the home side in the ascendancy, Leicester counter-attacked with a ball in behind for Vardy to chase. He turned and found Okazaki in the area, and as he shaped to shoot Perez poked a finish into his own net.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Darlow; Yedlin, Clark, Lejeune, Manquillo; Ritchie (Atsu 65), Hayden, Merino, Murphy (Perez 71); Joselu (Mitrovic 87); Gayle. Subs (not used): Elliot (gk), Lascelles, Shelvey, Diame.

LEICESTER CITY (4-4-1-1): Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Mahrez (Fuchs 87), Iborra, Ndidi, Albrighton; Gray (Okazaki 73); Vardy (Ulloa 89). Subs (not used): Iheanacho, King, Hamer (gk), Dragovic.