Foxes rip Magpies apart at the King Power

With the Champions League awaiting for the Premier League elite, Sunday’s only top flight games saw Leicester host Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium.

Three wins in six for Leicester City before this one another sign that under Brendan Rogers the Foxes were one of the few teams capable of challenging the top 6 this season. Whilst for Newcastle United there was the familiar battle against relegation to focus on, starting the game second bottom of the league.

And the gulf in class was there for all to see. Not helped by a first half red card to Hayden ming you, although even with 11 men Newcastle would have struggled to get anything form this one.

Outplayed form the start a 5-0 reverse was about right on the day, with Vardy bagging a brace and even a Paul Dummett managing to get on the scoresheet at the wrong end.

The result leaves Newcastle United second bottom and in dire straights at the foot of the table.

United were forced into one change with Longstaff replacing the injured Shelvey in the centre of the park. Krafth would come in for Manquillo on the right of a four man defence with Bruce changing to a 4-4-2 for this one. The change in formation confirmed before kick off with Bruce stating both Willems, who drops out, and Ritchie are both currently injured.

STARTING XI: Dubravka, Krafth, Schar, Lascelles, Dummett, Longstaff, Hayden, Atsu, Almiron (Yedlin, 73), Muto (Ki, 45), Joelinton (Carroll, 63)

As early as the second minute it took a great save from Dubravka to deny ex Mag Perez, who rushed on to a cross only to hit it straight at the feet of the Newcastle keeper who got down well.

The change in formation did at least make the black and whites look more purposeful going forward with both Atsu and Almiron getting some space to run into the the early stages.

And that space almost served United well when a break from Almiron moved the away side to the edge of the box allowing Hayden to drive for goal. His shot as mishit and instead turned into a tremendous cross to Muto who only needed to side foot home form 4 yards out with his left foot but instead tried to hit it with this right and totally missed the ball. He simply had to score!

The miss was almost instantly punished. Ricardo swapping a one-two on the half way line before running unchallenged to the edge of the United box and finishing with aplomb. Far too easy.

Paper clappers rejoice!

It could and should have been worse for Newcastle moments later, and but for another save from Dubravka and then a block on the line from Lascelles it would have been.

Newcastle hadn’t played particularly badly to that point, but there was an inevitability about the game, with Leicester looking one good pass away from doubling the lead whilst Newcastle looking impotent going the other way when they did break forward in the pouring rain. Free kicks passed straight to Schmeichel and crosses sent straight into the crowd typifying United approach play.

Just before half time it was game over for Newcastle. A stupidly strong challenge from Hayden on Praet saw him clean out the ball and the player. Dangerous, after connecting with the ball his studs cutting right into the Leicester City mans shin.

Newcastle luck to be just the 1-0 down at half time then.

With less then ten played in the second half it was inevitably 2-0. One long ball over the top, one pass to Vardy, one touch finish. Done.

You felt that might open the flood gates, but you’d have hoped Newcastle would last a little longer than 100 seconds. 3-0 it would be though with Preat’s cross deflecting off Dummett and into the bottom corner. A real chance of this getting embarrassing.

Albrighton would be next to create for Vardy, his sumptuous cross found Vardy steaming in at the back post to nod home his second and Leicester’s fourth.

On the stroke of full time there was chance for Ndidi to grab another with a decent turn in the box and a tidy finish.

Embarrassing indeed. The club, not the fans, are getting everything they deserve!

Just Manchester United then Chelsea away next for United then.