Leicester City could have pulled off a shock victory at Newcastle last night had they shown more of a cutting-edge in front of goal, boss Nigel Pearson believes.

City lost their unbeaten start to the Championship campaign as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat against the home side, who rose to the top of the table following their victory.

However, City more than held their own and should have been in front against a side that has conceded just one league goal so far this season before Danny Guthrie scored a spectacular winner in the second half.

Steve Howard, Paul Gallagher and Matty Fryatt all had good opportunities in the first half but failed to take them and that, believes Pearson, was their undoing.

"We could have got something out of the game if we had taken our chances," said Pearson. "Apart from the fact that we didn't take our chances, it wasn't bad in the first half.

"It wasn't a brilliant game and both sides turned the ball over too many times, but I don't think the conditions contributed to that.

"It was a game we looked forward to and we expected to get something out of it. We thought it was a game we could come and win.

"I don't think there was a lot in the game. The goal we conceded wasn't good from our perspective.

"Their biggest strength is also their weakness in that they throw a lot of players forward but you can counter attack against them, although they will probably say the same as us.

"It was a game that was relatively open and either side could have won it but you have to take your chances."

City now head into a two-week break for the weekend's internationals and Pearson believes his side have made a steady, if not spectacular, start to their campaign.

"We have had a relatively decent start," he said.

"Tonight is disappointing but we have to put it into perspective. We will debrief on the game and then get on with preparing for the next one."

One plus point for City was the return of Howard and Martyn Waghorn after injury and Pearson was particularly pleased with Howard's performance.

"It is always good to have as many players available as possible and I thought Steve did well," he added. "He was a handful for them."