Leicester - 1 Newcastle Utd - 1 Substitute Darren Ambrose chose the perfect moment to score his first Premiership goal to snatch a point for Newcastle at Leicester in injury-time. Ambrose, who claimed the winner for former club Ipswich at Leicester last St Stephen's Day, pounced at the death to head past Ian Walker just when it looked as though the home side had clinched a famous victory in their 4,000th league match.
Paul Dickov had fired the Foxes ahead on 67 minutes and time was running out when Bobby Robson sent on Ambrose and Michael Chopra for Aaron Hughes and Lomana LuaLua, but his gamble did the trick to just about keep the Magpies' European challenge on track.
Leicester will feel hard done by after giving their all in a contest which was low on quality but high on commitment but the result was just about right after the visitors failed to make the most of their greater share of the possession.
The Leicester faithful arrived ready to party as a stadium record crowd of 32,148 hoped for a little Christmas cheer, and as their side left the pitch at the break, they would have been happy enough with what they had seen.
Newcastle looked the more dangerous when they were in possession, but a tricky wind, which might have made life difficult for defenders and goalkeepers alike, seemed to cause more problems for the men attempting to deliver the ball into the box.
However, as the game opened up, Leicester, too, found their feet, and Shay Given had to be sure on the hour to collect Muzzy Izzet's diving header after Jordan Stewart had crossed from the right.
The Turkish international also chanced his arm with a long-range shot, but it was Dickov who eventually broke the deadlock with 67 minutes gone.
Les Ferdinand flicked on Walker's long clearance and as Aaron Hughes and Titus Bramble dallied, the Scot made a nuisance of himself before prodding a shot past the stranded Given.
United continued to enjoy the lion's share of the possession but were never able to create a meaningful opportunity in the face of a determined defensive effort, Jermaine Jenas and Laurent Robert both slicing wide from distance as the frustration grew.
Ferdinand might have increased his side's lead with an 85th-minute header which flew just wide, but there was to be a late, heartbreaking twist in the tail for his side.
Olivier Bernard got in a cross from the left which reached Jenas and, when Walker blocked his shot, Ambrose stooped to head into the empty net.
LEICESTER CITY: Walker, Curtis, Thatcher, Howey (Elliott 16), Stewart (Davidson 71), McKinlay, Izzet, Scimeca, Scowcroft, Dickov, Ferdinand. Subs Not Used: Coyne, Bent, Hignett. Goals: Dickov 67.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Hughes (Ambrose 85), O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Solano, Jenas, Speed, Robert, LuaLua (Chopra 86), Shearer. Subs Not Used: Harper, Woodgate, Viana. Goals: Ambrose 90.
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).
