Leicester City moved four points clear of the relegation zone by thumping Newcastle United 3-0 at the King Power Stadium.
Goals from Leonardo Ulloa and Wes Morgan helped them into a 2-0 half-time lead, before the Argentine converted a penalty early in the second half to fatten the advantage.
Mike Williamson was then sent off for a second yellow, before Daryl Janmaat followed him down the tunnel late on in a worrying performance by the Magpies, who gave rise to increasing fears of relegation.
Here, Sports Mole reviews how the game was won.
© Getty Images
Match statistics
LEICESTER CITY
Shots: 19
On target: 7
Possession: 48%
Corners: 10
Fouls: 13
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Shots: 12
On target: 3
Possession: 52%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 9
Was the result fair?
Without a shadow of a doubt. Newcastle fans made a 190-mile trip to watch what was arguably their side's worst performance in a season that continues to get worse under John Carver. They were unorganised, undisciplined, unprofessional, and Leicester were unrelenting as they ruthlessly capitalised on the visitors' shortcomings.
It would be easy to see the two dismissals and believe that it affected the result, but it had no bearing whatsoever, with Leicester already three goals to the good.
Leicester City's performance
On a weekend where every sporting event is destined to be dwarfed by Floyd Mayweather Jr's 'Fight of the Century' with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Leicester floored their visitors with a one-two knockout within 17 minutes to leave Carver's side against the ropes in their relegation battle.
Only 40 seconds elapsed before the first sucker punch launched as Ulloa rose above Moussa Sissoko to glance a Marc Albrighton corner beyond Tim Krul. It was 12 vs. 11 from that point on, with the Leicester fans brilliantly supporting their side from the terraces.
The second goal came on 17 minutes, and it was another set piece as captain Morgan added to United's woes by getting the faintest of touches on Albrighton's wonderful free kick, with major questions over Newcastle's defending. At the other end, the home defence barely broke sweat in defending their two-goal lead until the break, with Emmanuel Riviere breaching their back three on one occasion but fluffing his lines when one-on-one with Kasper Schmeichel.
Ulloa added a third three minutes after the break with a well-taken penalty after Riviere fouled Marcin Wasilewski - a goal that saw United lose their heads, with Williamson and Janmaat receiving their marching orders for silly second yellow cards.
This time last month, Leicester were bottom of the table, seven points off safety and looked down for the count, but, having picked up their fifth win in six outings, Nigel Pearson's side no longer look a team punching above their weight in the Premier League as they take another step toward safety.
Newcastle United's performance
Newcastle looked like a Championship team from the first minute in an abject performance that gave further rise to concerns that they are bound for England's second tier.
With five points separating them and 18th-placed Sunderland before kickoff, visiting the King Power represented arguably their biggest game of the season, but the display did not reflect the risk as Ulloa headed Leicester into a 1-0 lead after just 40 seconds to plunge Carver's pre-match plan into disarray.
It was two 17 minutes later, with more dismal set-piece defending undermining the visitors as Morgan guided Albrighton's cross past Krul. Riviere could have got one back in the first half, but simply illustrated why he is not a striker capable of firing them to safety.
Carver's side had one or two good spells but Leicester's rigid defence forced them to shoot from range, with efforts that seldom tested Schmeichel. If it was not already game over, then it was on 48 minutes when Riviere conceded a silly penalty, which Ulloa dispatched with aplomb.
It was enough to make Newcastle press the self-destruct button, with Williamson and Janmaat picking up clumsy second yellows with fouls that made you wonder whether or not the duo wanted to be suspended for their next outing, given the way things have been going.
It is worrying times for Newcastle, who could be just two points clear of safety if Sunderland beat Southampton.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Leonardo Ulloa: With five goals in his first five games, Ulloa was arguably the prime reason behind Leicester's stunning early-season form and, despite a barren six months or so since then, the Argentine striker is now a big reason why City are edging closer to safety. He netted in the early stages of both halves to set the tone for each period and he, along with a host of other Leicester players, can take a huge amount of credit for the result.
Biggest gaffe
It has to be Riviere, who reminded Carver and the travelling fans of the reason why he is yet to open his account in the Premier League following his summer move from AS Monaco.
The Frenchman, with just Schmeichel to beat, inexplicably missed the chance to reduce the arrears in the first half by falling over as he went to pull the trigger. It was Newcastle's only clear-cut chance in the half and converting it may have changed the course of the game.
Referee performance
It was anything but a quiet afternoon for Mike Dean, who dished out seven yellow cards - including two each for Williamson and Janmaat - but the veteran referee looked to have made the correct call on each occasion. Neither manager can complain about the refereeing.
What next?
Leicester City: Pearson's charges are back here on May 9 to face Southampton.
Newcastle United: United are also back in action on Saturday as they prepare to face West Bromwich Albion.
Shane Callaghan
