Football: Leicester underline top six credentials

Leicester's Jamie Vardy, left, and his teammates react after the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Newcastle United. Photo / AP

Leicester City climbed to third in the Premier League by routing 10-man Newcastle 5-0 yesterday, with Jamie Vardy bagging a second-half brace.

Leicester were on top from the moment Ricardo Pereira opened the scoring after 16 minutes and Isaac Hayden's red card on the stroke of halftime led to a miserable second half for Steve Bruce's struggling Magpies at King Power Stadium.

Vardy found the net either side of Paul Dummett's own goal, before Wilfred Ndidi struck late as Leicester claimed their fourth win from their last five league matches, losing only against Manchester United.

The Foxes are contenders to break into at least the top six this season — with 14 points from seven games so far — and were ruthless against the only team to defeat them at home since Brendan Rodgers took charge in February.

Leicester went ahead when Pereira played a one-two with Ayoze Perez — playing his former club — and burst forward before side-footing the ball into the bottom corner.

Newcastle were reduced to 10 men with two minutes of the first half remaining. Midfielder Hayden was dismissed for a dangerous tackle on Dennis Praet, with the decision standing following a VAR check.

Leicester made it 2-0 after 54 minutes. Praet sprayed the ball out wide to Harvey Barnes, who cushioned a first-time pass over the top into the path of Vardy and he beat Martin Dubravka at his near post.

There was more misery for the visitors shortly afterwards when an attempted low cross from Praet was turned past his own goalkeeper by Dummett.

Vardy grabbed his second and Leicester's fourth after 64 minutes when he nodded home Marc Albrighton's cross from the left.

Ndidi wrapped up an impressive victory for Leicester with a smart shot on the turn in the last minute.

Bruce called it a "bad, bad performance", with Newcastle in 19th place on five points.

- AP