Howe’s men seal spot in Europe’s elite
THEY limped over the line, stifled by Leicester, proving that the last points are always the hardest to win.
Newcastle clinched the point they needed to secure a top-four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League.
By the time Eddie Howe’s stars were leading a lap of honour in front of their adoring fans, the grind of the 90 minutes was forgotten. It was a celebration of games far more potent and exciting than this one.
Newcastle were in control but they could not get the goal they needed for the win, hitting the woodwork three times.
They got the job done, but only thanks to a world-class Nick Pope save in stoppage time from Tim Castagne. The last time Newcastle finished in the top four was in May 2002 under Sir Bobby Robson.
And it is 11 years since they last qualified for Europe by finishing fifth in 2012 under Alan Pardew. It seals a remarkable revival since Mike Ashley sold up to the Saudis and Amanda Staveley’s consortium in October 2021. Those were dark days, with Steve Bruce’s side 19th in the league after seven games with just three points.
That 19 months later Eddie Howe has moulded a top-four team is a magnificent achievement.
Leicester, under Dean Smith, left, are most likely heading in the opposite direction. After nine seasons in the Premier League, including their miracle title win, and an FA Cup triumph two years ago, they are heading down unless they beat West Ham at the weekend and other results go their way.
The Foxes put in a very solid performance, saved by the woodwork twice in the first half and playing a stifling game with five at the back and three midfielders banked up.
But there was little chance of them scoring with such a lack of adventure. They won their first corner after 64 minutes. The Toon had a late
injury switch of their own with Joelinton hobbling out of the warm-up and local lad Elliot Anderson called up to start ten minutes before kick-off.
Despite an electric atmosphere in the build up, it was flat on the pitch. Bruno Guimaraes was very lucky not to see red for a studs above knee tackle on Boubakary Soumare. It was checked by VAR but Andre Marriner’s decision to show a yellow card was unchanged.
Leicester could not get near the Newcastle goal and Callum Wilson hit the post after 40 minutes, then headed goalwards only for Wilfred Ndidi to nod off the line.
Two minutes later Almiron smacked the post after Fabian Schar’s header down, with Alexander Isak firing over from the rebound.Wilson then had a great chance at the back post from Kieran Tripper’s corner but headed over, in a series of missed chances.
At half-time, Newcastle’s chairman, and PIF and LIV golf chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan was given an ovation by the home crowd as he took part in a shooting game with co-owners Jamie Reuben and Mehrdad Ghodoussi. Saudi Arabia’s most powerful businessman and non-royal wore a black and white suit.
After the break Miguel Almiron set up Isak whose top -corner shot was brilliantly saved by Daniel Iverson. Guimaraes somehow headed against the post from a yard out from Trippier’s corner.
Pope then ensured Leicester’s fate is no longer in their hands when he pulled off a remarkable 93rd-minute stop to deny Castagne.