Sunderland and Villa wins move Magpies closer to relegation

Newcastle boss John Carver suspected defender Mike Williamson of deliberately getting himself sent off as the Magpies’ 3-0 loss at Leicester left them in the thick of a Barclays Premier League relegation battle.

Wins for fellow strugglers Sunderland and Aston Villa left Carver’s men teetering just two points above the drop zone while the Foxes gave their own survival prospects another shot in the arm.