In a commanding display, Newcastle United secured a resounding 4-0 victory over Leicester City in their league encounter at St. James' Park on 14 December 2024. The match kicked off at 3:00pm in front of a vibrant crowd of 52,235 fans, who witnessed a dominant performance from the home side.
Leicester City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking flair. Mads Hermansen started in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of James Justin on the right, Jannik Vestergaard and Conor Coady in central defence, and Victor Kristiansen on the left. The midfield duo of Oliver Skipp and Hamza Choudhury aimed to control the centre of the park, while Kasey McAteer and Stephy Mavididi operated as right and left attacking midfielders, respectively. Bilal El Khannouss played centrally behind lone striker Jamie Vardy, who was tasked with leading the line and converting chances into goals. The substitutes for Leicester included Danny Ward, Caleb Okoli, Patson Daka, Facundo Buonanotte, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
The match began with both teams probing for an early advantage, but it was Leicester's Oliver Skipp who found himself in the referee's book first, receiving a yellow card for a bad tackle in the 20th minute. Newcastle capitalised on their growing momentum, scoring the opening goal from a set piece in the 30th minute, with a well-placed right-footed shot that left Hermansen with no chance.
As the first half drew to a close, Leicester struggled to find their rhythm, and the half-time whistle came with the score at 1-0 in favour of Newcastle. The second half commenced with a change for Leicester, as Danny Ward replaced the injured Mads Hermansen just after the break.
Newcastle wasted no time in extending their lead, scoring again from a set piece just two minutes into the second half. A powerful header found the back of the net, putting Leicester on the back foot. The situation worsened for the visitors when Conor Coady misjudged a crucial moment in defence, leading to another goal for Newcastle, again via a header, just moments later.
In an attempt to change the tide, Leicester made a triple substitution in the 59th minute, introducing Caleb Okoli for Hamza Choudhury, Patson Daka for Jamie Vardy, and Facundo Buonanotte for Stephy Mavididi. However, Newcastle continued to dominate, scoring their fourth goal in the 60th minute with a right-footed strike from inside the box, further solidifying their control over the match.
As the game progressed, Leicester's frustrations boiled over, leading to a yellow card for Jannik Vestergaard in the 92nd minute for another bad tackle. Caleb Okoli followed suit, receiving a yellow card in the 96th minute, as Leicester struggled to contain Newcastle's relentless attack.
Despite the scoreline, Bilal El Khannouss stood out for Leicester, showcasing his skills and determination throughout the match. However, it was Newcastle who celebrated a comprehensive victory, leaving Leicester to reflect on a disappointing afternoon at St. James' Park.
