Leicester City produced a never-say-die performance reminiscent of their glory days under Martin O'Neill to earn a deserved point against high-riding Newcastle at Filbert Street.

The Foxes showed that they do not believe that relegation from the Premiership is inevitable despite their desperate position.

And Dave Bassett's side could easily have collected only their second home victory of the season had man of the match Muzzy Izzet and Ade Akinbiyi not spurned golden chances.

But they can certainly take plenty of heart from this committed effort for the remaining three months of the season.

It was a throwback to the fighting spirit which had been inbred into the side during O'Neill's reign as manager and was their best home performance of the campaign.

Two of the key players from the O'Neill era, Izzet and Robbie Savage, sparkled in the centre of the park.

Izzet may still be on the transfer list but there is no doubting his commitment to the cause and he has admitted he will be heartbroken if the Foxes are relegated.

He provided the finesse in midfield but acting skipper Savage was a non-stop bundle of energy as Newcastle were hustled out of their stride for long periods.

And, when Newcastle did threaten - most notably in the final third of the game - they found it hard to crack a Leicester defence in which Frank Sinclair was in outstanding form.

Their most potent threat came from Lauret Robert and little was seen of Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy partnership which has produced 25 goals this season.

Leicester looked bright from the first whistle and Shay Given just about clung onto a low shot from Andrew Impey after he had cut in from the right and fired in a low left-footed effort.

Acting home skipper Robbie Savage was yellow-carded for a challenge on Laurent Robert with Newcastle's Nolberto Solano and Sylvain quickly following him into the book.

A quickly taken throw from Alan Rogers almost let in Ade Akinbiyi but Given was out quickly to block and then James Scowcroft directed a header straight at the Newcastle 'keeper from a Jacob Laursen free-kick.

City 'keeper Ian Walker was clearly struggling with a back problem from the early stages of the game and he was eventually replaced after 23 minutes by Tim Flowers who was making his first start since August.

But he was hardly tested in the remainder of the first half and the Foxes still looked the more likely of the two sides to beat the deadlock as Newcastle struggled to find their rhythm.

Distin got an important block on a header from Scowcroft at the near post following an Impey centre and then Nikos Dabizas made a crucial block to prevent the impressive Muzzy Izzet from putting Leicester ahead.

Callum Davidson's centre found its way to the Turkish international who struck his volley well from 12 yards out but Dabizas somehow managed to divert his effort around the post.

Given was then also relieved when the livewire Savage charged down his attempted clearance and he was able to recover as the ball spun slowly back towards his goal.

It was a similar story in the second half although Laurent Robert dragged a low 25 yard effort just wide and Izzet missed a golden chance to put City in front after 55 minutes.

Oakes inswinging corner was met at the near post by Izzet but from inside the six yard area he put his header wide.

It was then Leicester's turn to have a let-off with Alan Shearer missing the kind of opportunities he would normally convert.

The former England skipper timed his run perfectly to get on the end of a perfectly flighted ball from Robert but he sent his diving header wide.

Newcastle were now enjoying their best spell of the game and it needed Flowers to made a splendid block to keep out a close range effort from Kieron Dyer after he had seized onto Nolberto Solano's cross.

But Akinbiyi could have won the game for City five minutes from time when Izzet knocked the ball to him at the far post but he was unable to keep his shot down.

Teams:

Leicester: Walker (Flowers 24), Impey, Sinclair, Laursen, Davidson, Savage, Izzet, Oakes (Stewart 88), Rogers, Akinbiyi, Scowcroft.

Subs Not Used: Heath, Reeves, Jones.

Booked: Savage, Impey.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Distin, Dabizas, Elliott, Solano, Dyer, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: Harper, O'Brien, Acuna, Ameobi, Bernard.

Booked: Solano, Distin.

Att: 21,354

Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood).