Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy (centre) celebrates his second aim towards Leicester (Darren Staples)
Newcastle coasted to a 3-0 win over sorry Leicester on Monday to step up their Champions League cost and condemn the Foxes to an eighth straight Premier League defeat with out scoring.
Eddie Howe’s males, nonetheless on a excessive after profitable the League Cup final month, are as much as fifth within the desk, degree on factors with fourth-placed Chelsea, however with a sport in hand.
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Fifth place will nearly definitely be sufficient to safe a spot within the Champions League subsequent season after robust performances by English golf equipment in continental competitors.
However Ruud van Nistelrooy’s hapless crew are heading again all the way down to the Championship after a solitary season within the Premier League.
The guests have been 2-0 up within the eleventh minute after two objectives from Jacob Murphy, the second a tap-in from shut vary after an audacious effort from Fabian Schar hit the crossbar, and Harvey Barnes added a 3rd earlier than half-time.
Leicester have been brighter within the second half however couldn’t finish their aim drought within the league, which stretches again to January.
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The opening moments of the competition gave false hope to the long-suffering residence followers as Jamie Vardy examined Nick Pope within the guests’ aim.
Newcastle have been forward within the simply second minute after Tino Livramento squared for Murphy to faucet residence after an assault down the left.
Minutes later time stood nonetheless as Schar, recognizing goalkeeper Mads Hermansen off his line, almost scored from his personal half.
His effort cannoned off the crossbar however landed on the toes of Murphy, who was the one participant to react.
The sport was successfully over earlier than half-time when former Leicester participant Barnes completed from shut vary after Hermansen saved from Joelinton, declining to rejoice.
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Van Nistelrooy launched Stephy Mavididi and Facundo Buonanotte for Victor Kristiansen and Patson Daka on the interval and the sport was extra even within the second interval, however Leicester struggled to make an impression.
The house followers cheered the doorway of 15-year-old Jeremy Monga late within the sport as he grew to become the second-youngest Premier League participant.
Newcastle, whose fortunes have been remodeled since a Saudi-funded takeover in 2021, are eyeing one other season within the Champions League after exiting on the group stage within the 2023/24 marketing campaign — after twenty years away.
Howe, who led Newcastle to their first main trophy in 56 years towards Liverpool at Wembley final month, has the possibility so as to add gloss to a historic season.
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However it’s a tight battle — solely six factors separate third-placed Nottingham Forest from Aston Villa in seventh spot.
Van Nistelroy arrived on the King Energy Stadium in November after a spell as interim supervisor at Manchester United however outcomes have nosedived after an encouraging begin.
The shock 2016 Premier League champions are nearly sure to be joined within the second tier by Ipswich, who additionally got here up final season.
Basement membership Southampton are the one membership whose relegation has been confirmed.
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