Newcastle 4-0 Leicester: That’s much more like it!

A big win for Newcastle United in more ways than one as the Toon responded to conceding four at Brentford by putting four past Leicester City -  and it could’ve been more!

The first half was a strange one, starting with an edgy opening 10 minutes where we lost the ball cheaply a few too many times and lacked that bit of quality in the final third, with guilty on both fronts…for now at least.

The lively Gordon forced Hermansen into his first save with a powerful effort destined for the top corner before Burn headed over from our next attack. After Joelinton had a big chance blocked, Murphy messed up L another clear opening by firing an unconvincing effort wide - but he’d soon make up for it.

Half an hour in, it was a cleverly worked set piece that saw us finally unlock the door. Tonali slipped Gordon in down the byline from Hall’s short corner and our player of the first half cut the ball back to Murphy, who responded to his sloppy showing with a brilliant controlled finish into the bottom corner.

1-0! Although it could and should have been two five minutes later. Joelinton found space and slipped Isak in behind. The Swede took it well and the Gallowgate was braced for the net the bulge, only for Isak’s shot to be unusually tame and straight at Hermansen. Hopefully this was a moment we wouldn’t live to regret, much like punished missed opportunities against West Ham and Brighton in previous home games.

So, into the break 1-0 up and, while the stats made for good reading - 64% possession and 14 shots to Leicester’s one - we had to finish them off…and we did just that!

If anyone was late in coming out from their half time pints or toilet break, they’d have missed a superb start to the second half as a simple free kick was dinked in, headed back across goal by Hall and tapped in by Bruno! 2-0 then became 3-0 and game over  as Gordon burst down the left before Hall’s deflected cross was bundled home by Isak!

It could’ve been four soon after as Isak bamboozled the back-peddling Leicester centre-backs before feeding Murphy, who blazed a big chance over. But, like he did in the first half, our No.23 made up for that miss and scored his second of the game to make it 4-0, smashing into the bottom corner after another dazzling run from the unplayable Isak to set him up.

Three subs followed as Howe brought on Barnes, Longstaff and Trippier for Murphy, Bruno and Livramento, and so did more chances. Tonali volleyed wide after juggling the ball cleverly in the box, Longstaff almost helped Hall to his third assist of the day but took too long to get his shot off and Osula - who came on for Isak - did well to feed Barnes, only for the ex-Leicester man to be denied a goal against his former club.

It was good to see another glimpse of Osula, who may be needed in Wilson’s absence. He’s clearly raw and has plenty to work on, but he also gives Howe plenty to work with, offering an undeniable mix of power, pace and quick feet.

It wasn’t just a big, confidence-boosting win that sends us back to just a few points off the top-six (for now), it was an afternoon full of positives after a patchy start.

Gordon was electric and set the tone from the off before setting up our opener. Isak had the Foxes defence chasing their tails and created a hatful of chances, the midfield balance of Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton worked well again for the second home game running and Burn barely put a foot wrong at centre-back to help Dubravka to a clean sheet, but it was Hall who was my man of the match.

The 20-year-old did everything quickly, created two goals, drove us forward constantly down the left and also defended superbly, winning so many of his duels - in the air and on the ground - and making one important block in the first half when it was 1-0. He struggled at Brentford but he looked every bit an England international in all departments today and Howe deserves so much credit for helping his development over the past 18 months.

Murphy also deserves plenty of praise. He started the first half with some really sloppy moments, either losing the ball cheaply more spurning chances, but he responded in the perfect way with two well-taken goals. We need a new right-winger in 2025 - that hasn't changed - but today we saw a team that carried a threat down both flanks and a much better balance to the side, albeit against a woeful Leicester team who never laid a glove on us.

The only real negative was a fifth yellow card of the season for Joelinton, who will now miss our trip to Ipswich next weekend.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka – Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.

SUBS: Vlachodimos, Barnes, Willock, Osula, Kelly, Targett, Almiron, Longstaff, Trippier.

Leicester XI: Hermansen - Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen - Choudhury, Skipp - McAteer, El Khannouss, Mavididi - Vardy