No grand finale but Gordon’s goal seals point at the Bridge
EDDIE Howe and Jason Tindall had their names chanted for long periods as the team played out a 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
The duo then took turns to punch the air in front of a delighted 3,000 away fans in front of the Shed as the season ended in party mode for Newcastle’s Europe-bound fans.
United picked up a final-day point at Stamford Bridge but could have had this encounter wrapped up before half-time on a sweltering day in the capital.
They grabbed the lead early in the game thanks to Anthony Gordon but failed to add to their tally with Miguel Almiron guilty of missing a host of glorious chances.
However, without Almiron’s early-season goals, the Magpies would not have had the platform to push on for a Champions League finish.
Chelsea struck back through Kieran Trippier’s own goal before the break, but even though the home side turned up the pressure late on teenage star Lewis Miley could have nicked it after a cameo appearance.
The final hurrah began at Stamford Bridge with the sun shining and London bathed in temperatures of 22 degrees as fans sipped ice-cold drinks.
Newcastle started the game with
an attack after just two minutes as Allan Saint-maximin slipped in Alexander Isak, who forced Kepa into a fine save but United wasted the corner.
Newcastle went ahead on eight minutes when Saint-maximin was involved again.
He played in Elliot Anderson before the youngster crossed into the area and Anthony Gordon applied the finish for his first Toon goal. Moments later, Almiron broke
forward and struck it straight at Kepa.
With 11 minutes gone Isak had a go from 25 yards out but his effort flashed wide of the post.
Chelsea struck back when Thiago Silva had an opening at the back post but Trippier and Martin Dubravka combined to stop the danger.
Chukwunonso Madueke hit a deflected effort over on 16 minutes before United survived the resultant corner.
Chelsea’s persistence paid off when a quick free-kick found Raheem Sterling who cut inside and then curled a shot at goal.
It beat Dubravka before Trippier’s arm put it over the line for 1-1.
The response from Newcastle came on 31 minutes after Gordon cut the ball across the box from the right for Almiron but he sent it wide.
On 44 minutes Almiron found himself through again after Saintmaximin’s pass but Kepa again made the save with the Paraguay skipper wasting another opening.
Chelsea should have gone ahead on the stroke of half-time when Lewis Hall’s cross into the box deflected off Sven Botman.
Dubravka made the save again but it came back to Sterling before Newcastle cleared their lines.
The Blues made a half-time change as Wesley Fofana came on, replacing Trevoh Chalobah.
Chelsea threatened down the right on 53 minutes when Madueke broke found space but sent his shot over the bar.
Chelsea’s changes continued when Kai Havertz and Ruben Loftus-cheek made way for Joao Felix and Chukwuemeka.
The home side missed another great chance when Sterling’s
deflected effort went over the bar.
Howe turned to the bench for the first time on 69 minutes when Callum Wilson and Jacob Murphy were sent on to try to win the game.
There were 15 minutes to go when England Under-17 international Lewis Miley came on for his debut along with Dan Burn for Targett and Anderson.
Newcastle survived a penalty scare on 78 minutes after Chelsea screamed for a Burn handball
Miley came agonisingly close to a debut goal with 10 minutes left when he played the ball in and Silva’s clearance fell back into the teenager’s path and his curling strike skimmed the bar.
The away end immediately started chanting: “Lewis Miley – he’s one of our own.”
The Magpies made a final change when Jamal Lewis came on for Isak with three minutes of regulation time left.
The Blues were handed a great chance to win it in the 90th minute when substitute Christian Pulisic was played in by Sterling but Dubravka made a fine save.
A gift-wrapped chance in stoppage time then followed when Trippier conceded right on the edge of the area but Felix sent the set-piece flying over the bar.
Felix then somehow missed a close-range header – after finding himself unmarked – but his effort flew over the bar and Newcastle were handed a point.
The first half had belonged to United but they were lucky to eventually escape with a point.
For all that, had young Miley’s debut fizzer dipped just under the bar, the headlines could all have been very different.