Newcastle United moved within touching distance of Champions League football next season with a crucial victory against 10-man Chelsea at St James’ Park.
The Magpies and Chelsea started the day locked on the same 63-point tally before Newcastle got the perfect start when Sandro Tonali’s close-range finish gave them the lead after just 112 seconds.
The visitors’ task was made even harder when striker Nicolas Jackson was rightly sent off for a needless forearm smash on Newcastle defender Sven Botman 10 minutes before the break.
Manager Enzo Maresca adjusted by using Cole Palmer as a false nine, inspiring a Chelsea revival after the break, with keeper Nick Pope twice saving well from Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez.
Reece James missed another big opportunity for Chelsea, but Newcastle survived to wrap up a priceless three points in stoppage time when Bruno Guimaraes’ strike took a deflection off Malo Gusto and looped over keeper Robert Sanchez.
While it was delight for Newcastle, it was despair for Chelsea after an expensive loss as they now face Manchester United at home before a potentially decisive visit to Nottingham Forest, also chasing a Champions League place, on the final day of the season.
Newcastle, up to third in the table, travel to second-placed Arsenal before closing out their campaign at home to Everton
Newcastle on brink of dream season
The celebrations when the final whistle sounded illustrated the importance of this win as Newcastle and manager Eddie Howe stand on the brink of closing out a magnificent campaign.
They secured their first major domestic trophy since 1955 – their first success of any kind since the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup – when they beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley in March.
And now, after a hard-fought win against a Chelsea side rivalling them for a place in the Champions League, Newcastle are in prime position to return to Europe’s elite competition next season.
