A victory that was so easy for Newcastle United the match barely represented a competitive fixture. Eddie Howe’s side did not even play well and were still far too good for a woeful Leicester City.
They will not be worried about that. The victory moved them level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea, with a game in hand, and Eddie Howe’s side are showing Champions League-qualifying form. Secure a place at European football’s top table, on top of winning their first domestic trophy for 70 years in the Carabao Cup, and this will be the club’s best season in living memory.
This, though, was more about how bad their opponents were and how much longer Leicester City’s owners are going to put up with manager Ruud van Nistelrooy delivering this standard of football.
There are a lot of words you can use to describe Leicester’s evening. A few choice ones will do. It was an abject humiliation, an embarrassing capitulation and about as gutless and as clueless a performance as you are likely to see at this level.
Newcastle were professional but far from scintillating. They did not have to be anywhere near it and still cruised into a 3-0 lead before half time and then saw the game out with ease.
That should be of real concern from a Leicester perspective. But it is the statistics that damn Van Nistelrooy. He has now lost 16 of his 20 games in all competitions and has not picked up three points in the league – one of only two Premier League wins – since a shock away victory at Tottenham Hotspur in January.
He is the first Leicester City manager to lose 11 home games in the Premier League era and has gone more than 12 hours without seeing his team score in front of their own supporters, a drought spanning eight games. It secures him an unwanted and deeply depressing top-flight record. The eight successive home defeats also match the Premier League record set by former Norwich City manager Daniel Farke. There is no reason to believe this miserable run will end with the Dutchman in charge. He is surely fighting to save his job, but only the board will know whether they still have confidence in him to lead the team in the Championship next season – because that is where they are heading.
Asked how he was feeling in this situation and worried about his job, the Dutchman said: “It’s difficult, you come here to do well and work with great people at this football club and the players. Of course, when you can’t get results it’s very disappointing. The intent has always been there to bring the club forward. The club is the most important thing and what is best for the club, you always have to consider.
“This is a difficult night especially with the form we are in. It is important to analyse this, sleep on it and recover. That is it for now. There are no questions, it is about dealing with this setback, another one. For now, that is all I can say.”
Van Nistelrooy’s face said it all. Seconds after Jacob Murphy had given Newcastle the lead, tapping home at the far post after a lovely move down the left involving Joelinton, Harvey Barnes and a brilliant cross from Tino Livramento, the television camera zoomed in on him.
“For ----- sake” screamed Leicester’s hapless and increasingly incompetent looking manager. It was aimed at nobody in particular, an outburst directed at everyone and sentiments shared by the home crowd who immediately booed their team.
It was Newcastle’s first attack of the evening and his defence had been sliced through like a succulent piece of lamb.
Leicester have been little more than lambs to the slaughter for months. Van Nistelrooy’s appointment, replacing Steve Cooper in December, looked like a risk then. Four months later it resembles a terrible mistake. Whether he can survive this must surely be in doubt. This was the sort of performance that so often leads to a manager losing their job.
The hosts appeared to have a fighting chance of staying up when he arrived. But they are going down with a whimper to a soundtrack of bitterness, anger and recriminations.
Newcastle were not anywhere near their best, repeatedly giving the ball away. But Leicester just gave it straight back to them.
When Schar won the ball just inside his own half, the centre back almost scored a goal of the season contender, hitting the ball over the head of goalkeeper Mads Hermansen only for the ball to come back off the crossbar. Murphy, though, was the only player to follow up, and without a defender anywhere near him, bundled the ball home for his second of the evening despite a heavy second touch.
The Newcastle winger has now scored seven goals with seven assists since the start of December. Remarkable numbers for a player written off by so many as not good enough to start for a team with Newcastle’s aspirations.
The home fans responded with chants of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” and even louder boos.
Leicester’s players looked terrified of making a mistake whenever they got the ball but made them anyway. Barnes made it three before half time, another tap in, after Joelinton had been given the time and space to get a shot away that Hermansen could only palm into his path.
Barnes did not celebrate against his former club as hundreds of Leicester fans got out of their seats and walked out of the stadium in disgust.
Those that stayed at least saw a little bit of fight after half time and they got to cheer the 15-year-old Jeremy Monga on for his debut. It was the only thing they had to cheer all night. Leicester are heading back to the Championship, the only question left to answer is will Van Nistelrooy still be the manager when they get back there.
10:26 PM BST
Eddie Howe speaks to the BBC - ‘We have three tough games ahead of us now’
On avoiding a post-Carabao Cup hangover...
“That was the biggest challenge for us. I can’t complement them enough. They are a very down to earth, humble group who want to do well and represent the club in the right way. They have shown that in the last few weeks.”
On the battle for Champions League football...
“It’s going to hot up. The next week for us is a big week. We have three really tough games and that will go a long way in seeing where we are at the end of the season. We are in a better position than we were but there is still a lot of work to do.”
10:18 PM BST
Here’s a stat...
No, not the eight games without a goal for Leicester, rather Newcastle have now won 11 out of their last 15 Premier League matches. That is the sort of form you want when trying to grab one of those Champions League places.
10:16 PM BST
Harvey Barnes - ‘We are fully focused’
On the mood in the Newcastle dressing room...
“We are going into games at the minute feeling confident we are going to win. That is the mindset we need for the rest of the season. We have a lot to play for and need to keep this run going.”
On trying to qualify for the Champions League...
“[It would be] huge. That was one of our main aims this season to win silverware which we have done. We made it clear after that we need to reset. There is a lot to play for and we have started that period really well with two wins. We don’t want the season now to finish on a downer. We are fully focused.”
On the first-half performance...
“The early game gave the team a boost but the team will look back and we weren’t at our fluid best tonight.”
On making a statement in the their bid for a European spot...
“We know we are in a good position in the table. All we can do is our job and win our games and we will finish in the top four or five. If we win the games the teams will be chasing us and not us chasing them.”
09:53 PM BST
FULL TIME: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Sad night for Leicester who were well beaten after 10 minutes. Newcastle will not have an easier win all season.
09:51 PM BST
92 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
So nearly a fourth for Newcastle. Barnes and Wilson combine on the right before the latter drills in a low ball that the former sidefoots over.
09:49 PM BST
90 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Five minutes for Leicester to find that (dictionary definition) of elusive goal.
09:48 PM BST
89 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
There will be five minutes added time. Five minutes too many for the neutral...
09:45 PM BST
86 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
One last change for Newcastle: Krafth on for Trippier. Leicester have a matter of three minutes plus added time to break their scoring duck...
Prediction: they won’t do it...
09:44 PM BST
83 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Lots of empty seats at the King Power now, not hard to understand why.
09:40 PM BST
80 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
These last few minutes are all about whether the hosts can avoid an eighth match without scoring. And too be fair to them they are the better side at the moment/giving it a good go and the fans have gone up a few decibels as a result.
09:37 PM BST
75 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Having done my homework (‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ yawn...) Here’s a list of the Premier League younguns... a few famous names in there...
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Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) – 15 years, 181 days old
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JEREMY MONGA (LEICESTER) – 15 years, 271 days old
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Harvey Elliott (Fulham) – 16 years, 30 days old
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Matthew Briggs (Fulham) – 16 years, 68 days old
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Izzy Brown (West Bromwich Albion) – 16 years, 117 days old
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Aaron Lennon (Leeds Utd) – 16 years, 129 days old
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Jose Baxter (Everton) – 16 years, 191 days old
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Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (Aston Villa) – 16 years, 198 days old
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Gary McSheffrey (Coventry City) – 16 years, 198 days old
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Reece Oxford (West Ham United) – 16 years, 236 days old
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Jack Robinson (Liverpool) – 16 years, 250 days old
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Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) – 16 years, 256 days old
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Angel Gomes (Manchester United) – 16 years, 263 days old
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Mark Platts (Sheffield Wednesday) – 16 years, 263 days old
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James Vaughan (Everton) – 16 years, 270 days old
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Mikey Moore (Tottenham Hotspur) – 16 years, 277 days old
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Antwoine Hackford (Sheffield United) – 16 years, 288 days old
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Wayne Rooney (Everton) – 16 years, 297 days old
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James Milner (Leeds United) – 16 years, 310 days old
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Samuel Amo-Ameyaw (Southampton) – 16 years, 314 days old
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Dane Scarlett (Tottenham Hotspur) – 16 years, 320 days old
09:35 PM BST
75 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
The home fans have had nothing to cheer all night so it’s no shock to hear them cheer Monga’s first touches.
09:34 PM BST
74 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Changes for Leicester and one of them sees Jeremy Monga become the second youngest player to play in the Premier League. He’s only 15 years 271 days young...now I feel old. A lot is hoped of him, though, obviously not tonight.
09:32 PM BST
73 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Another misplaced pass, this time from Conor Coady, lets in Osula whose shot is high, wide and not so handsome.
09:31 PM BST
71 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
More changes for Newcastle: Murphy and Isak make way for Wilson and Osula. I get the feeling that the visitors think this game is won and who can blame them: this game was over as a contest after 10 minutes.
09:29 PM BST
This pic sort of sums up a drab second half
If this pic was up in a gallery it would be titled, Gritty, With No Chances Created
09:26 PM BST
66 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Once again Leicester are their own worst enemies. Hermansen, for some reason only known to himself, tries to play from the back, but the keeper’s pass finds Miley before Schar’s shot is saved by the Leicester stopper (who created the chance for Newcastle in the first place).
09:23 PM BST
63 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Changes: Longstaff and Miley on for Joelinton and Guimaraes. The Newcastle midfield has once again been dominant (not been too tough tonight to be fair) and can claim to be, on its day the best in the league.
09:20 PM BST
60 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Leicester, for once, defend well. Newcastle, through Isak and Livramento attack down the left before the ball comes into the box and there are a horde of hosts players to pick up the loose ball - something that didn’t happen once in the first half.
09:17 PM BST
57 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
This lack of flow is suiting Leicester more than Newcastle. They’ve not created anything, but are looking the more likely to force the opposition goalkeeper into action.
As I type that they earn a corner. Can they create anything from this? ‘No’ is the long and short of it.
09:13 PM BST
54 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Not been the most entertaining start to the second half. There have been a few offsides and a few niggly fouls. No real flow.
09:11 PM BST
51 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Corner, this time for Newcastle. It finds the head of Big Dan Burn ™ but unlike at Wembley he cannot find the back of the net.
09:09 PM BST
49 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Corner for Leicester, a chance to put Newcastle under a tiny bit of pressure. It goes long, however, and the second ball limps out of play for a goal-kick.
As that happens the 12-hour mark is reached since Leicester found the back of the net. Ouch...and once again I’ll type, ‘oh dear’...
09:06 PM BST
47 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
Free-kick for Newcastle on the left side of the box in the final third. Can they create anything from this?
The answer is ‘NO!’ Trippier decided to have a go and his shot goes well over the bar.
09:04 PM BST
45 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
They’re back under way at the King Power. Let’s play ‘How Many More Will Newcastle Score?’ Answers on a postcard (or below the line) please...
08:50 PM BST
HALF-TIME: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
No shock to hear the boos sound as both teams head into the tunnel for the break.
Leicester have been dire, Newcastle clinical. It could easily be worse for the hosts, that is about the only slightly positive they can take from the first 45 minutes...
Quite a few fans headed for what I assume was an early half-time drink after that third strike. Will they bother to return?
08:47 PM BST
44 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
There will be two minutes added time - two minutes the hosts could do without.
08:43 PM BST
40 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
When things are not going your way then things such as this happen: Daka shoots from just inside the penalty area and his effort hits not one, but both posts...
08:41 PM BST
38 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
It could so easily be 4-0 as Isak is AGAIN (caps lock for extra effect in an effort to get across just how easy it is for Newcastle) allowed way too much time, affording him the chance to let loose from distance. His effort just going past the left upright.
08:35 PM BST
GOAL!
Leicester 0 Newcastle 3
‘Copy and paste ‘It’s all too easy for Newcastle’, use a lot...’
Yep, it is indeed it is all too easy for the visitors as Barnes makes it three...
Isak is the initial threat in this attack and he is allowed to dance into the box before his shot is blocked. The ball comes back out to the advancing Newcastle players and Joelinton’s shot is saved before it pops in front of Barnes who taps in from two yards. The former Leicester player’s celebration is muted but that could be as much to do with the fact that that goal was embarassingly easy to score as much as being respectful to his old club.
08:34 PM BST
Come for the Schar shot, stay for the Murphy second
08:33 PM BST
31 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 2
BREAKING NEWS: Leicester have looked dangerous! It’s a bit of a shock but it’s also great play as El Khannouss drives into the Newcastle box on the left before unleashing a violent shot that Pope does well to save. A brief sliver of light for the hosts to grab onto...
08:31 PM BST
29 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 2
Newcastle could do their arch-rivals Sunderland a favour tonight. We’ve just been told on Sky commentary that only the red and white team of the North-East have lost eight straight top-flight matches in a row without scoring...How many Newcastle fans will be hoping Leicester score now?!
08:28 PM BST
27 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 2
A hint of a chance for Leicester, as in they have a corner. All hope of creating a chance, however, goes in the blink of an eye as Big Dan Burn ™ heads the delivery away.
08:27 PM BST
25 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 2
Newcastle are dominating possession. Try as they might, Leicester just cannot keep the ball at the moment.
08:26 PM BST
23 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 2
Better from Leicester as Daka drives from inside his own half. He’s positive, taking the game to Newcastle (something they’ve not done, not just tonight but for the previous two months) but the run comes to an end when it appears Tonali brings him down with the visitors’ box within view. The ref doesn’t see it that way, however, and it’s yet more woe for the Leicester fans.
08:24 PM BST
19 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 2
Very nearly three for the visitors and again Leicester are their own worst enemies. They/Soumare lose the ball in their own final third, Newcastle quickly ship the ball to Barnes, the former Fox, on the left side of the box and his shot, which seemed destined for the far corner of the net, is well blocked.
Don’t want to sound repeitive, but this could get messy for the hosts.
08:20 PM BST
16 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 2
The hosts cannot string two passes together at the moment. Newcastle must realise that this is a great chance to add to the goal tally (and goal difference which could be key come the end of the season in the race for the top four) before the break.
Hope I don’t jinx if for Newcastle, but I will be shocked if they don’t add more before the night is up. Tempted to say I’ll give you all a million pounds if they don’t but will not be so silly...
08:18 PM BST
All too easy peasy
How Newcastle took the lead after fewer than two minutes.
08:16 PM BST
12 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 2
Another ‘oh dear’ from me as Isak is unmarked in the box and his shot finds the side netting. A let off for Leicester...this could get messy for the hosts.
08:11 PM BST
GOAL!
Leicester 0 Newcastle 2
Oh dear...Leicester fans look away/go home/go for a walk now. Murphy makes it two...
There was very nearly a Beckham-esque goal from Schar. The Swiss gets the ball in the centre circle, inside his own half, and decides to have a go. It’s a strike as sweet as a can of Carabao (full of sugar, no?!) and Hermansen is well off his line, back-pedalling when he sees the attempt hit the crossbar. Alas, for him and the hosts it comes straight back to Murphy who is all by himself and has and age to smash the ball home.
08:11 PM BST
8 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 1
If Leicester needed to show character before kick-off then not sure what they need to show now...they are up against it and the gloom has already descended on the King Power...
08:09 PM BST
6 mins: Leicester 0 Newcastle 1
The boos have already started ringing around the King Power. You have to feel for the fans - that was abject defending and sums up the run their team is on.
08:03 PM BST
GOAL!
Leicester 0 Newcastle 1
And now the back of the net has been found and, more predictably, for Newcastle. Murphy slots home from two yards at the back post.
That was all too easy. The visitors work the ball to the left where, for some unknown reason, the hosts decide to give Livramento the freedom of the Midlands. He has a time (a lot of it) to get into the box, look up and play a low ball across the box where Murphy is unmarked and scores the easiest goal he will likely ever not bother telling his grandchildren about.
08:02 PM BST
1 min: Leicester 0 Newcastle 0
Straight from the start and there’s nearly a goal. Not even that, it’s nearly the lesser-seen Leicester goal. From the kick-off the host launch it long Ndidi gets a flick on and Vardy gets in a decent shot that Pope saves well (regulation save, if I’m being harsh...) at the near post.
08:00 PM BST
1 min: Leicester 0 Newcastle 0
The match is under way in the East Midlands. The hosts are in their traditional all-blue kit, the visitors in their away white and with a hint of green/Saudi Arabia number.
07:56 PM BST
The teams are in the tunnel
And we’re moments away from kick-off.
07:49 PM BST
Van Nistelrooy speaks to Sky Sports - ‘You have to believe’
On the mood in the camp...
“The run of form is a mark of [a lack of] confidence...after defeat what you want is to get up and do the best you can. [As coaches] you prepare well and emphasise it’s a new chance - that’s all you can do. Players are always up for it and I have to give them credit as it’s not easy.”
On trying to break their scoring duck...
“Every single game is a new opportunity - you have to believe. I have to support the players in this difficult moment.”
On whether 15-year-old Jeremy Monga (starting on the bench) is ready...
“Of course, if not he wouldn’t be there. He has shown his game-changing qualities and if necessary we can use that.”
07:31 PM BST
On Sky
They’re showing the results from Leicester’s Great Escape ™ in 2015 (the season before they won the title). They picked up 19 points from their final eight matches. I am not being Nostradamus when I say that isn’t going to happen this time around, and even if it did it is likely it wouldn’t be enough for safety.
07:27 PM BST
Newcastle are ‘in the house’
I wonder how many variations of ‘Let’s go to work!’ Newcastle’s social media manager has for these ‘the lads have arrived’ missives?
07:25 PM BST
So, when will the inevitable Leicester relegation become reality?
Leicester have 17 points, a mammoth 15 behind Wolves in 17th place. If there is a sliver of light and hope (and that’s pushing it somewhat...) it’s that Van Nistelrooy’s team has a game in hand. But that matters little if you cannot win. If their losing streak continues then they could be relegated on Sunday April 20 when they face Liverpool.
07:13 PM BST
Here are the teams in old-fashioned black and white
LEICESTER XI TO FACE NEWCASTLE: Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Coady, Kristiansen, Thomas, Ndidi, Soumare, Daka, El Khannouss, Vardy. Subs: Stolarczyk, Okoli, Mavididi, De Cordova-Reid, Ayew, Pereira, Skipp, Buonanotte, Monga.
No changes from Van Nistelrooy to the XI easily beaten (Leicester offered no ambition or intent) 2-0 by Manchester City on Wednesday.
NEWCASTLE XI TO FACE LEICESTER: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Joelinton, Tonali, Guimaraes, Barnes, Murphy, Isak. Subs: Dubravka, Ruddy, Wilson, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Miley, Longstaff, Neave.
SNAP! Howe also keeps faith with his midweek XI - more understandable considering they actually won (against Brentford). The big news is that Isak, who was an injury doubt, starts (I reckon that will please a few Fantasy Football managers who, unlike me, will have him as their captain...).
06:51 PM BST
Here be Newcastle’s XI
06:50 PM BST
Here’s how the hosts line up
05:07 PM BST
Newcastle in search of top-four boost
Anyone get the feeling this season is all but over?
Virtually guaranteed the title, Liverpool already look as though they’re in end-of-term mode, as their defending and defeat at Fulham possibly indicates. Southampton are definitely down and, barring miracles of the sort that don’t even happen in barely believable Hollywood films, so are Leicester and Ipswich. Which leaves us the battle for the Champions League spots – and considering Man City’s seemingly half-hearted approach to yesterday’s Manchester derby, even they’re not overly bothered by that little race.
All in all, the sense of anti-climax to the season is as all-pervading as the blue skies that currently bathe the country.
Which, brings us to tonight’s match: Leicester vs Newcastle. I am not going to lie, it’s a hard sell. But finding my inner-estate agent here’s why it matters.
(i) Newcastle, still basking in the warm glow of the Carabao Cup win (I think the open-top bus parade has now concluded...) need to focus their attention on finishing in the top four. Leicester are on a seven-match losing streak and three points for Eddie Howe’s side will take them level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand. Also, anything but a win and a boost to the goal difference will, likely, be deemed a failure.
(ii) Ruud van Nistelrooy did enough at PSV to suggest he might have a future as a manager. These past few months in the East Midlands have destroyed all that embryonic hope. Seven defeats on the trot, without scoring in any of them, is enough to hurt the standing of any coach. For one at the start of his career, it could prove fatal. These end-of-season matches still matter to the Van Nistelrooys, Leicester are down, but he is, not yet at least, out.
(iii) This one might be stretching it a bit, I’ll admit, but this is the stage of the season when, with the temperatures rising and shackles off (yes, I am looking at you Mr Van Nistelrooy...) you get the odd bizarrely entertaining match and quirky result...
Anyway, kick-off is set for 8pm, so please stay here for all the team news, build-up and action.
