Newcastle United ended their recent winless streak with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Leicester City at St James' Park, handily dispatching the Foxes and marking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first defeat as Leicester manager.
Jacob Murphy starred for the hosts, netting twice, as the Magpies demonstrated their attacking prowess, dominating the game from the onset. This win also served as Newcastle's biggest victory of the current campaign, restoring confidence following their previous loss to Brentford.
From the outset, Newcastle asserted their dominance. New signing Anthony Gordon, who was pivotal throughout the match, forced Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen to make notable saves early on. The breakthrough came shortly after the half-hour mark when Murphy opened the scoring, slotting home after excellent play following a cleverly executed corner routine.
Entering the second half with urgency, Newcastle quickly extended their advantage. Just minutes after the restart, Bruno Guimarães found the net with his first Premier League goal of the season, heading home Lewis Hall's cross to make it 2-0.
Leicester, having replaced Hermansen with Danny Ward at halftime due to injury, struggled to cope with Newcastle's attacking waves. Shortly after Guimarães' goal, Alexander Isak added another, expertly converting Hall's cross to solidify Newcastle’s lead at 3-0.
Leicester attempted to regroup, but they were overwhelmed, conceding again on the hour mark. Murphy sealed the scoreline at 4-0, finishing off another flowing Newcastle move, confirming the Foxes’ dismal performance.
Despite the scoreline, Leicester did show moments of effort, with players like Stephy Mavididi and Kasey McAteer trying to forge forward. Yet, the stark reality was the defensive frailties and inability to respond effectively to Newcastle’s relentless attacking strategies.
“It was especially important to score early and establish ourselves,” Murphy said post-game, emphasizing the team’s collective energy and determination. Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe praised his squad’s display: “Today was up there with one of our best performances. The first goal was significant and allowed us to express ourselves.”
On the other side, Van Nistelrooy acknowledged the faults within his squad, particularly the defensive mishaps. “We were lucky to be only 1-0 down at half-time. Conceding poor set-piece goals cost us dearly,” he lamented.
This match marked Newcastle’s return to form as they climbed to 11th place following their victory. They are scheduled to face Brentford next in the EFL Cup quarter-finals, where they will aim to continue their resurgence.
For Leicester, the defeat leaves them languishing at 16th place—just six points above the relegation zone. Their next encounter, against Wolves, will be pivotal as they seek to turn their fortunes around.
Notably, the win was Newcastle’s largest against Leicester in over 100 years, replicable to their previous 4-0 victory recorded back in 1909. The Magpies also have kept clean sheets against Leicester across their last three league matches, illustrating their recent dominance over the Foxes.
Among individual milestones, Isak’s performance was particularly commendable, as he scored his seventh Premier League goal this season, underscoring his importance to the Newcastle side. The Swedish striker’s contributions have been instrumental, with this game marking his fifth goal contribution across the current league campaign.
With such momentum on their side, Newcastle looks poised to tackle their upcoming fixtures with confidence, as they are beginning to find their rhythm under Howe’s guidance.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, meanwhile, will need to regroup his squad quickly as they prepare for their next challenge against Wolves, hoping to resurrect their season and stave off relegation threats.
With the narrative woven through both sides, the win serves as not just another game, but as pivotal storytelling moment for Newcastle’s hopeful resurgence this season.
