Newcastle’s bid for Premier League survival is as good as done as they claimed a shock 4-2 win at Leicester.
Goals Joe Willock, Paul Dummett and a brace by Callum Wilson saw the Magpies race to a 4-0 lead while Marc Albrighton and Kelechi Iheanacho gave the scoreline some respect.
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Getty
The result leaves Newcastle 12 points clear of the relegation zone. Mathematically they can still go down, however, they would need to lose all their three matches while 18th-placed Fulham would need to win their remaining four to see that happen.
It also puts a dent in Leicester’s bid to qualify for the Champions League as they gave the likes of Chelsea, West Ham, Tottenham and Liverpool a chance to make ground on them.
The remainder of their run-in doesn’t look great either, with the Foxes facing Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs in their final three Premier League outings this term.
Take nothing away from Steve Bruce’s men, who produced the perfect away performance, for the 80 minutes anyway.
They should have taken the lead when Wilson laid the ball on a plate for Allan Saint-Maximin but the Frenchman was denied by an excellent Kasper Schmeichel save.
The way Leicester were so open was a sign of things to come and they wouldn’t get away with it on 22 minutes when Willock slotted home with his left foot after dispossessing Caglar Soyuncu in a dangerous area.
Soyuncu’s defensive partner Wesley Fofana was left embarrassed when the visitors doubled their lead, Dummett towering above the Frenchman as he headed home Matt Ritchie’s corner from the right.
As poor as Leicester were in the first half, they created some good chances but the superb Martin Dubravka kept out efforts from Fofana, Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy.
AFP
Getty
AFP
Naturally, the Foxes were even more open in the second half and Newcastle made them pay as two quickfire strikes by Wilson saw them take a shock 4-0 lead.
The first came on the counter as a stunning ball by Ritchie bypassed the out-stretched Timothy Castangne, leaving Wilson clean through. The striker stuck away the chance as he rounded Schmeichel.
And Wilson’s second was an impressive finish from an acute angle with his left peg, which he got on the rebound after his initial effort struck the post.
Albrighton’s firm strike and Iheanacho’s neat finish made the contest semi-interesting towards the end but Leicester gave themselves far too much work to do at the end, and maybe they have at the end of the season.
AFP
AFP
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AFP
As for Newcastle, work towards next season in the Premier League can truly begin.
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