Magpies peck Foxes, step up UCL chase

LEICESTER: Newcastle coasted to a 3-0 win over sorry Leicester on Monday to step up their Champions League charge and condemn the Foxes to an eighth straight Premier League defeat without scoring.

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Eddie Howe's men, still on a after winning the League Cup last month, are up to fifth in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea but with a game in hand.

Fifth place will almost certainly be enough to secure a place in the Champions League next season after strong performances by English clubs in continental competition.

But relegation for Ruud van Nistelrooy's hapless team is all but certain after a solitary season in the Premier League.

The visitors were 2-0 up in the 11th minute after two goals from Jacob Murphy, the second a tap-in from close range after an audacious effort from Fabian Schar hit the crossbar, and Harvey Barnes added a third before half-time.