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It’s interesting that the stock of both Russell Martin (formerly of Southampton) and Steve Cooper (formerly of Leicester) seems to grow with each passing week. Both Saints and the Foxes were considerably better at the start of the season under those managers, both in terms of performance and results.
It will be interesting to see if Leicester persevere with Van Nistelrooy. Another unchanged starting XI, another miserable performance. Yes, the players are lacking in confidence and quality, but it is Van Nistelrooy’s job to make them hard to beat tactically, and I have rarely seen a poorer first-half home performance than Leicester’s ‘effort’ this evening.
Southampton waited for their relegation to be confirmed before sacking Ivan Juric. Leicester’s recent form is one of the worst runs in the history of the division. They can’t get any worse. But maybe Leicester’s board think that Van Nistelrooy will come good in the Championship after a summer refresh, because their survival bid is now surely over.
Newcastle are up to fifth with that victory!
Newcastle United’s head coach Eddie Howe celebrates with Valentino Livramento. Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP/Getty Images
90+5 min: Newcastle really knocking on the door for a fourth! Krafth flashes a lovely cross across Leicester’s six-yard box, before Newcastle recycle the ball for Tonali, who shoots wide.
90+3 min: So nearly a second for Barnes and a fourth for Newcastle! Wilson and Barnes exchange passes, the latter getting on the end of a deflected cross, but the winger can’t quite steer his finish past Hermansen.
90+1 min: Leicester nearly score! Faes meets a corner at the near post, glancing his header just wide of Pope’s far post! That’s easily the closest that the Foxes have come!
90 min: Five minutes added on.
89 min: Barnes, now playing on the right for Newcastle with Osula on the left, skips around Thomas easily and dribbles to the byline. But the Newcastle winger’s cross is blocked and Leicester clear.
87 min: Newcastle make another change: Krafth for Trippier.
85 min: Jamie Vardy, who I’ve just seen was born Jamie Richard Gill, is out of contract this summer. Will the 38-year-old sign an extension for one final season in the Championship?
83 min: Tonali is fine, Newcastle fans will be pleased to know.
81 min: Mavididi catches Tonali on the ankle with a tackle, which is not deemed a foul. But the Italian is in some obvious discomfort and there are some nervy glances in the Newcastle dugout. They could do without losing their Italian midfield powerhouse to injury.
79 min: Leicester, in fairness, are giving this a go. They might be bereft of confidence but there’s plenty of endeavour and a few glimpses of quality. Pereira goes on an adventure from right back, skipping past two or three tackles before releasing Mavididi, but Newcastle get back in their shape. The visitors have not played particularly well this second half, but they have retained their defensive discipline. It’s boring, but that’s the kind of thing that Howe will be delighted with.
76 min: Monga is so young that he can’t have Leicester’s shirt sponsor (a gambling company) on his own shirt, because at 15, he is not old enough to place a bet.
74 min: More changes from both sides.
Newcastle go first. Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy come off for Callum Wilson and William Osula.
Now Leicester, and there is the biggest cheer of the night from the home fans as 15-year-old (and 271 days) Jeremy Monga comes on to become the second youngest ever player in the Premier League (after Ethan Nwaneri). Ricardo Pereira is also on, James Justin and Bilal El Khannouss off.
Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga with manager Ruud van Nistelrooy before coming on as a substitute. Photograph: Chris Radburn/Reuters
71 min: “Re Darren’s email, we actually have two songs for Murphy,” replies Michael Owens in Newcastle. ‘There’s only two Jacob Murphys’
“And to the tune of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi: ‘I’m your biggest fan, your mam is from the streets of Birtley, Jacob Jacob Murphy’.
69 min: “It’s usually said that a team didn’t get out of second gear,” emails Newcastle fan Matthew Guite. “I think we’re stuck in first but still 3-0 up”.
This has been a very pedestrian second half from both sides. Which suits Newcastle just fine.
67 min: A dreadful error from Hermansen as he tries to play out from the back. Instead Leicester keeper passes directly to Miley. Newcastle’s move breaks down, but Schar tries his luck from range, stinging Hermansen’s palms from 30 yards out.
64 min: A double Newcastle change in midfield: Joelinton and Guimaraes off for Miley and Longstaff. Two straight swaps. Very sensible, I’m just surprised that Isak also hasn’t been withdrawn for Wilson or Osula.
62 min: Trippier whips an excellent cross to the far post for Newcastle before Justin wins an excellent header, beating the onrushing Barnes to the ball. Good defending.
60 min: Livramento has such a funny running style. He is both on his toes and hunched over, like a Despicable Me character. But he’s very quick, and very good at football. So there’s that.
58 min: In the meantime, Leicester win a corner. Mavididi hasn’t had a lot of service on the left wing, but he has at least ran around, off the ball, with an urgency and energy that has been sorely lacking for Leicester.
56 min: Movement on the Newcastle bench. It does look like Howe is going to make some early-ish subs, as Newcastle look to keep things fresh for Sunday’s game against Manchester United.
54 min: Some concern for Guimaraes (and Eddie Howe) after the Brazilian is caught in the face with a stray arm/elbow. But Newcastle’s No 39 is going to be OK to continue.
52 min: “Murphy must be the most underrated player in the Premier League,” writes Darren. “He even admitted he was gutted the fans didn’t have a song for him.”
I think he’s now famously underrated, which means that he’s not really underrated at all. In the ilk of Darren Fletcher, Danny Murphy, James Milner, Didi Hamann.
We did this piece on him in January.
Jacob Murphy is Newcastle’s unsung hero – just ask Alexander Isak
Since that piece was published, only Mo Salah and Isak have contributed more goals/assists in the Premier League than Murphy.
50 min: It is now 12 hours exactly since Leicester last scored. In that time they have had 52 shots and had an xG of 2.81, for those that like that sort of thing.
47 min: Livramento, a current England international and right back playing on the left, is tripped by James Justin, a one-time England international and right back playing on the left. The Leicester player receives a booking on the edge of Leicester’s box, with Trippier whipping a poor free kick high over the bar from the resulting set-piece.
We’re off again! Leicester have now conceded 21 goals since the last time they scored, nearly 12 hours ago.
Van Nistelrooy has made a double change: Mavididi and Buonanotte on for Daka and Kristiansen. Leicester have reverted to a back four.
Half-time reading:
The race for Europe gifts the Premier League run-in a quiet chaos
Jacob Murphy is on for a hat-trick! What a season he is having!
45 min: Two minutes added on here.
43 min: “At this point in Leicester’s mind-bogglingly barren goalless streak, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ruud Van Nistelrooy subbed himself in,” writes Peter Oh.
I tell you who he shouldn’t sub in: 15-year-old Jeremy Monga. I reckon this is just about the worst way to blood in a youngster.
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