Leicester City 3-0 Newcastle United: Match Report

If talk of Newcastle United being relegated was merely a pessimistic possibility before the weekend then following this implosion at the King Power Stadium then it has become an all-too real prospect. The Magpies look so inept right now that not only do they appear incapable of getting another win before the season is out, they appear incapable of picking up a single point. A double from Leonardo Ulloa, including one from the penalty spot, and a Wes Morgan goal condemned Newcastle to their eighth consecutive defeat - their worst ever Premier League run - as the Magpies finished the game with nine men once more with Mike Williamson dismissed after picking up two yellow cards, as Daryl Janmaat was in injury time. They have now conceded 60 goals in the Premier League - that is the most in the entire division - following this 3-0 reversal. During four months in charge, John Carver has turned a side who were comfortably in mid-table and in zero danger of relegation into a team on the brink of demotion to the Championship for the second time in six years. The Magpies were awful when they were relegated in 2008-09, but they are absolutely abysmal right now.

Less than 40 seconds it took for Leicester City to breach the flimsy and pathetic excuse for a Newcastle defence and - surprise, surprise - it was from a set piece. Mark Albrighton whipped in a corner and Ulloa brushed off the "challenge" of Moussa Sissoko to bullet a header past Tim Krul. Krul was picking the ball out of his net again just 16 minutes later - again from a set piece. Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce will be licking their lips ahead of West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United's respective visits to St James' Park over the next few weeks - because every time the ball is lofted into the Magpies box, a goal appears inevitable. Daryl Janmaat was booked for a stupid foul, and from the resultant free-kick Morgan got in behind the Newcastle defence and prodded past Krul.

Although the Magpies had much of the ball for the remainder of the first-half, they were unable to capitalise as Ayoze Perez and Emmanuel Riviere squandered good opportunities - while Ryan Taylor's decent shot was comfortably saved by Kasper Schmeichel. Whatever Carver then said to his men at half-time had, if anything, an even worse effect on the team. To be fair, they went 3-0 down as a result of an extremely-harsh decision by referee Mike Dean. Riviere slightly nudged Marcin Wasilewski in the box and Dean pointed to the spot, before Ulloa stepped up and slotted it home. However, the Magpies did not deserve any luck, so dreadful were they. To be fair on Krul, if the Dutchman had not put on a masterclass in the second-half, following weeks of poor displays, then the Magpies would have been beaten by five, six, seven - take your pick really. Newcastle's miserable afternoon was almost complete when Williamson picked up his second yellow card within seven minutes just after the hour mark - making a ridiculous challenge on Jamie Vardy when the ball was already out of play.

It was not until the 58th minute that Siem de Jong was brought on to the field, and by then the Magpies were already 3-0 down and there was no way back for them. Janmaat then made a silly challenge on Vardy in injury-time and managed to follow Williamson down the tunnel - with the Magpies now looking like having to throw a serious number of youngsters into a game against West Brom that could determine whether or not they remain in this division. This is a Magpies side devoid of ideas, devoid of confidence, devoid of direction - and heading for the Championship. If Newcastle are relegated now, then after this performance they would thoroughly deserve to be. There is not a single positive to take out of this limp and embarrassing display - and that is no way, shape or form an exaggeration. If Newcastle United are to remain a Premier League side next season it will be because other teams have done them a favour and lost too many games - because they simply look incapable of getting another point. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.

MATCH FACTSLeicester City (3-5-2): Schmeichel; Wasilewski (De Laet 68), Huth, Morgan; Albrighton, James, Cambiasso (Hammond 74), Schlupp, Mahrez, Vardy; Ulloa (Kramaric 78) Subs Not Used: Konchesky, Drinkwater, Schwarzer, Wood Yellow Cards: James Goals: Ulloa (1, 48 pen), Morgan (17) Newcastle United (4-3-3): Krul; Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett; Colback, Taylor (De Jong 58), Gutierrez; Sissoko, Perez (Armstrong 74), Riviere (Anita 64) Subs Not Used: Cabella, Ameobi, Abeid, Woodman Bookings: Janmaat, Williamson, Dummett, Gutierrez Red Cards: Williamson, Janmaat For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.