Bobby Robson’s men were not at their best and had to survive an uncomfortable opening half-hour as the visitors made a good fist of things.

However, once they got their noses in front, courtesy of Shola Ameobi’s first goal since November, they never looked back.

Ameobi’s 25th-minute strike was followed by a Gerry Taggart own goal before the break, and the points were secure when Jermaine Jenas headed home his first of the season 14 minutes after the restart with substitute Les Ferdinand’s late header coming as little consolation to the Foxes.

Newcastle have now lost just two of their last 18 in the Barclaycard Premiership, while City are without a win in 12 in all competitions and face a tough run-in to the end of the season.

A moment’s silence was immaculately observed before kick-off in memory of Bob Stokoe, the former Newcastle defender who managed Sunderland to FA Cup glory in 1973.

The irony of the fact that he played in the Newcastle side which won the same trophy in 1955 will not have been lost on the black and white faithful, who have waited in vain since for another piece of domestic silverware, something which will not arrive at St James’ Park this season.

They will settle instead for further success in the UEFA Cup and a place in the Champions League, and to achieve the latter, they needed to win games like today’s comfortably.

However, although they were firmly in the driving seat by half-time, it was anything but comfortable as the Foxes, still smarting from their 5-0 home drubbing by Aston Villa last weekend, arrived determined to restore some of their battered pride.

Indeed, for the best part of half an hour, they caused the greater problems as a Newcastle side shorn of the injured Laurent Robert and the departed Nolberto Solano lacked genuine width and struggled to bring Ameobi and Alan Shearer into play with any regularity.

In the end, they were helped in no small part by some less than effective defending which served to galvanise them for an improved display.

Ameobi had flashed a header wide and Kieron Dyer had seen a well-struck shot palmed away by Ian Walker when, with 29 minutes gone, the Magpies finally forced their way in front.

Shearer flicked on Shay Given’s clearance and Andy Impey instinctively headed the ball across the edge of his own penalty area, where Ameobi instantly lashed a left-foot shot past the wrong-footed keeper to make it 1-0.

It was two six minutes later when Shearer dived in at the near post in an attempt to reach Olivier Bernard’s cross and although he missed, Taggart sliced the ball on to the underside of his own crossbar and, referee Steve Dunn ruled after consulting his assistant, over the line.

For their part, Leicester, led by fiery skipper Paul Dickov, continued to scrap and fight, but an uphill challenge had become too steep.

Newcastle immediately took charge after the restart as Ameobi started to come to the fore once again, the striker heading a Hugo Viana cross wide on 53 minutes after earlier treating Taggart to a few of his tricks.

But it was Jenas who eventually extended his side’s lead, profiting from Shearer’s industry on the right to meet his skipper’s cross with a simple header past Walker after sprinting into the penalty area unopposed.

James Scowcroft might have pulled one back for the visitors on 62 minutes, but failed to connect with Ben Thatcher’s low cross, meaning that the home fans were able to greet former Toon Army hero Ferdinand’s introduction two minutes later in better mood than they might have done.

But with the game won, Robson was able to hand a rest to both Shearer – who seconds earlier had driven a right-foot shot just wide – and Ameobi on 79 minutes as Craig Bellamy and debutant Michael Bridges got their chance.

However, it was Ferdinand who provided the late cameo, heading fellow substitute Jordan Stewart’s cross past Given at the near post to the applause of the vast majority of a crowd of 52,125.