Ruud van Nistelrooy sends nine-word message to his Leicester side after 4-0 Newcastle thrashing brought flying Foxes start back down to earth

Ruud van Nistelrooy has insisted that Leicester’s rough 4-0 defeat by Newcastle is part of his new side’s ‘development’.

A brace from Jacob Murphy, alongside goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak sunk the Foxes at St James’ Park.

The loss was Van Nistelrooy’s first since taking over at the helm, after he led Leicester to a win in his opening game against West Ham, then a draw with Brighton five days later. 

The Dutchman noted that his side are still ‘reflecting, learning and building’, as he took charge just two weeks ago on December 1.

‘It’s a great game to look back but it’s been only two weeks together. It was very positive to get four points against West Ham and Brighton at home,’ he told BBC Sport.

‘But this one went the other way. We are still reflecting, learning and building something together.

His team conceded a staggering 27 shots to Eddie Howe’s side at St James’ Park on Saturday

The defeat leaves the Foxes languishing in 16th-place, now just two points from the drop zone

‘We will use this game for the development of the team. It was hard. It was 1-0 at half-time. We were a bit lucky not to be down by more goals.

Van Nistelrooy attributed the loss to Leicester’s poor organisation in set-piece situations, where they conceded three goals, and Newcastle’s unrelenting intensity.

The visitors allowed Eddie Howe’s side 27 shots on goal, compared to just four of their own, in Van Nistelrooy’s first away game.

‘It’s costly when you concede in such standard set-piece situations. Then it was going to be hard to turn it around,’ he said.

‘We know how intense Newcastle players are and the intensity in which they play. A lot of the chances they created were form our ball losses and they got quick in the counter-attack.

‘We kept going and trying, but we have to take this one on the chin and move on.’

After the loss, Leicester now lie 16th-place in the Premier League table, only two points ahead of Ipswich in the final relegation spot.

They host Gary O’Neil’s struggling Wolves side at the King Power Stadium next Sunday, who have managed just two wins in their last 15 games.