MY ACCOUNT
Newcastle booked their Champions League place with a match in hand after a goalless draw with the relegation-battling Leicester.
It was not without worry as Nick Pope had to produce a crucial save in the 92nd minute to deny Timothy Castagne’s volley.
Eddie Howe’s side dominated much of the game, with Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron and Bruno Guimaraes all hitting the woodwork.
Still a point was all that was required to ensure a spot for Newcastle in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
However, it could have been a much different outcome had Guimaraes received a red card rather than yellow for an early poor studs-up challenge on Boubakary Soumare.
Almiron came close soon after when he powered over after cutting inside from the right and Anderson tested Foxes goalkeeper Daniel Iversen with a curling attempt of his own.
The visitors attempted to hit Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Ihenacho on the break, but Newcastle’s defensive unit did well to snuff out any chances.
Wilson went close four minutes before half-time as he fired a shot against the post and then had his follow-up header cleared off the line by Wilfred Ndidi.
Almiron was also denied by the woodwork with his volley attempt before Isak fired the rebound high and wide.
Then it was Guimaraes’ turn to be denied by the post when he failed to react quickly to a flick-on from Wout Faes at a Newcastle corner and headed straight onto the woodwork.
Leicester almost won at the death when Pope was forced into action to keep out Castagne’s stoppage-time volley to secure a draw and clinch Champions League football for the Magpies.
After the draw, Howe spoke of the relief he had in securing qualification for the Champions League.
He said: “It’s a big relief actually, an amazing night to see the supporters.
“It is just a general reaction to what we’ve achieved — it is incredible. It’s been a great evening for us.”
Howe went on to talk about exceeding the expectations Newcastle had set for themselves this season.
He said: “It certainly wasn’t top four. I think you always hope, you always believe and you have to dream.
“But we didn’t feel that we were ready for that. After last season’s battle with relegation it was whether we could consolidate and become a better team.
“To not have that flirtation with relegation and try to give it a go. The lads have been unbelievable for me this year I can’t praise them enough. Their attitude, their mentality. It’s just been incredible.”
Dean Smith’s side remain in the relegation zone, two points adrift of safety, speaking after the match the Leicester boss was pleased with the performance.
He said: “Only time will tell [if it is a good point]. What we have done is taken it to the last game and made Everton need to win. That’s what we had to do.
“I make no apologies for the way we played today. I felt that we had to stay in the game.
“Newcastle have been one of the top three teams all season, they have steamrollered some teams here [at St James’ Park].
“We couldn’t allow them to do that, with the height they have and the delivery from Kieran Trippier. It was still tough defensively, but we needed that extra centre-back.
“We were starved of the ball for long periods but I thought our discipline was good. Yes, they had some chances, but they have done that against most of the teams in the league this season.
“We were hoping in the last 20 minutes or so we could actually go for it a little bit more, and we ended up getting that chance in the 90th minute.”
