Former Leicester star accuses players of ‘throwing the towel in’ as relegation looms closer

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Even Leicester City’s players seem to know their own fate after suffering yet another defeat.

The Foxes’ 3-0 loss against Newcastle United was embarrassing in its own right as Leicester set an EFL record by becoming the first side in history to lose eight home games in a row without scoring.

To make matters worse, Harvey Barnes’ effort was Premier League goal in the last 21 at the King Power Stadium scored by a player who has represented Leicester.

Although there was the small bright note of Jeremy Monga becoming the second-youngest top-flight debutant behind Ethan Nwaneri, it was another horrid night on Filbert Way and people are rightly criticising the players.

• READ MORE: Ruud van Nistelrooy demand and Harvey Barnes claim made… Five things we learned from Leicester City’s loss vs Newcastle

Matt Piper blasts Leicester City players

Newcastle fans taunted Leicester supporters for the number of empty seats in the ground on Monday night, but who can blame those that didn’t come?

In other cases, some Leicester fans went to watch the U21s side draw 0-0 with West Bromwich Albion. That was still better than watching the seniors.

Players seemed defeated as soon as Jacob Murphy scored the opening goal of the game less than two minutes in and in an excessive post-match rant, Matt Piper didn’t stop short in questioning the players’ attitudes.

On the When You’re Smiling podcast, he said: “I have never, ever, never seen it as bad as this. I have never seen a group throw in the towel.

“We all know they’re relegated, they know they’re relegated, but you are a professional.

“You are being paid thousands of pounds to run around and not put a tackle in.”

When can Leicester officially be relegated?

Even though the Foxes are metophorically down, they could mathematically still pull off a great escape.

With seven games left, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men are 15 points adrift. That means, unless something spectacular happens, relegation will be confirmed against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 26 April.

That would still leave Leicester with another four games to play, including a trip to East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest, who may well be clinching their spot in the Champions League and preparing for an FA Cup final if everything goes well for them.

There’s still time but, realistically, there’s only one way it’s ending.