Newcastle United ‘advantage’ claimed by rival Premier League boss amid crowd backlash

Two wins. Sounds simple doesn’t it?

All Newcastle United have to do in the next two games is take six points. Do that, and Champions League football will be returning to St James’ Park for the first time in two decades.

Standing in between a guaranteed top four place and the Magpies are two back-to-back home encounters with Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City - as well as a last day trip to Chelsea.

And while the full focus for Eddie Howe over the next 48 hours will be Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls, who head to SJP on Thursday evening (kick-off 8pm), Leicester boss Dean Smith’s attention has already turned to his side’s trip to Tyneside on Monday.

The Foxes are staring down the barrel in 19th in the Premier League - and depending on results elsewhere, could be relegated at Newcastle.

“Of course I do (believe Leicester can survive),” said Smith. “I don’t like playing Monday nights, I don’t think it’s right. We’ll certainly know what we’ll have to do at St James’ Park next week.”

Smith and his players were booed at half time and full time of the 3-0 home loss to Liverpool last Monday, a game which was watched in the King Power Stadium stands by Dan Ashworth.

Referring to the crowd reaction, Smith went on: “The crowd are here to see us try and win football games. They get disappointed when you’re two goals down. No football fan wants to see their team get beat.”