Staff Reporter.
Newcastle moved to within one point of Premier League safety with an impressive win over Champions League-chasing Leicester City.
Joe Willock put the visitors ahead with a cool finish after pouncing on an error from Foxes defender Caglar Soyuncu.
Paul Dummett doubled the Magpies’ lead, rising above Wesley Fofana to head past Kasper Schmeichel from Matt Ritchie’s corner, before Callum Wilson’s second-half double wrapped up the three points.
From 4-0 down, the hosts grabbed two goals inside the last 10 minutes through Marc Albrighton and Kelechi Iheanacho to give the Magpies a late scare.
The result moves Steve Bruce’s side up to 13th, 12 points ahead of 18th-placed Fulham who have four games left.
Leicester, in third, remain five points ahead of fifth-placed West Ham but have now played a game more.
“I have said quietly for weeks that we’d be OK when we got our big players back. My staff have worked tirelessly to make sure we got to this position,” Bruce said.
“We have turned it around at the right time. Normally [39 points] is enough. We are in the dizzying heights of 13th. We haven’t done it yet but we have made big strides in the last few weeks.”
There were some late nerves though for Newcastle and had Dubravka not kept out Perez’s effort in stoppage time, it could have got ugly but they held on to secure a third win in five games.
Premier League Weekend Fixtures:
Saturday 8 May
Leeds United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Sheffield United vs. Crystal Palace.
Leicester City vs. Newcastle United
Liverpool vs. Southampton
Manchester City vs. Chelsea
Sunday 9 May
Wolves vs. Brighton Hove & Albion.
Manchester United vs. Aston Villa.
West Ham United v Everton
Arsenal vs. West Bromwich Albion.
Monday 10 May
Burnley vs. Fulham.