Newcastle defeat slumping Leicester to step up chase for Champions League place

Newcastle United coasted to a 3-0 win at slumping Leicester City on Monday to step up their UEFA Champions League charge, while condemning the Foxes to an eighth straight Premier League defeat without scoring.

Eddie Howe's men, still on a high 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 for the Magpies in next season's Champions League, after strong performances by English clubs in the current edition of the continental competition.

But relegation for Ruud van Nistelrooy's hapless team is all but certain, following a solitary season back in the top flight.

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

Newcastle have leapfrogged Manchester City, but it's a tight battle for the top five, with only six points separating third-placed Nottingham Forest from Aston Villa in the seventh spot.