Leicester City 3 Newcastle 0 reaction: Toon may be inclined to give Steve McClaren a call after another horror show

Leicester City 3 Newcastle United 0

(Getty)

Leicester City and Newcastle United; two proud Premier League clubs who are going in completely different directions.

Nigel Pearson’s men, who were bottom for 140 days and only emerged from the relegation zone last weekend, were imperious as they brushed the nine-man Magpies aside in front of a rocking King Power Stadium.

For Newcastle, however, the nightmare just won’t end. Following their 3-0 submission in the East Midlands, their eighth defeat on the bounce poses an intriguing question.

Will Newcastle United be tempted to give Steve McClaren a call?

Steve McClaren's men missed out of the Championship play-offs (Getty)

It’s the worst secret in football that the Derby County manager has been lined up to replace John Carver at the end of the season.

Expecting to be competing in the Championship play-offs at the very least, the former England boss has kept the Toon waiting all season.

But the Rams’ season is dead. Their home defeat to Reading this afternoon ensured that it will be Brentford and Ipswich Town who join Middlesbrough and Norwich City in the semi-finals.

The Magpies’ hierarchy thought their season was dead too. However they face the very real possibility of plunging into the second tier amid supporter protests and chaos behind the scenes.

Leonardo Ulloa scored a brace for Leicester (Getty)

While the debate over whether McClaren is even the right man to fix their ills will be saved for another day, it’s clear they have to do something.

Today’s defeat leaves them perilously teetering above the bottom three. The dismissals of Daryl Janmaat and Mike Williamson just summed their season up. The players, contrary to reports, are clearly trying. But they are drained of confidence and inspiration.

Leonardo Ulloa headed the Foxes into an early lead after just 38 seconds and Leicester doubled their advantage within 17 minutes as Wes Morgan poked home.

The hosts sealed the three points in the second half when Argentinian forward Ulloa scored a penalty after Emmanuel Riviere shoved Marcin Wasilewski in the box.

The mood in the King Power Stadium was buoyant (Getty)

The long-suffering Toon supporters, who held up red placards directed towards owner Mike Ashley, had to endure yet another embarrassment at the hands of Pearson’s rejuvenated Leicester.

While many pundits are sceptical about the merits of changing manager so late in the season, you just wonder whether Newcastle’s case is a rare exception.

Were McClaren to move to St James’ Park on Monday morning, they might just have a chance to repair some of the damage from their crumbling season.

With just five points separating them and bitter foes Sunderland, before the Black Cats’ match against Southampton this afternoon, it’s clear they need to act fast.