Newcastle secure Champions League place despite home defeat by Everton

Newcastle United sealed their golden ticket to the Champions League despite Everton securing a deserved victory at St James' Park.

Eddie Howe's side started the day in fourth place in the Premier League and on course for Europe's elite competition, but looked in danger of missing out as they produced a performance riddled with nerves.

Everton, in 13th place before kick-off after their rejuvenation under manager David Moyes, were more composed and ordered, taking the lead through Carlos Alcaraz's header after 65 minutes.

Newcastle's supporters were in a state of high anxiety until news filtered through that Manchester United were ahead against Aston Villa, sparking scenes of wild delight inside St James' Park.

Champions League qualification caps an outstanding season for Newcastle, who won their first domestic trophy in 70 years - and their first silverware at all since 1969 - by beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

Newcastle United's players got the message loud and clear before kick-off with a giant banner stretching the length of the famous Gallowgate End reading: "You entered the pitch as players, you left it as legends."

It could all have been so different when Everton led and Aston Villa were drawing at Manchester United.

But events elsewhere ensured Newcastle's players and manager Howe were able to take a glorious lap of honour at the final whistle and bask in the afterglow of a campaign that brought success at home and a passage into the Champions League.

Newcastle were nowhere near their best as Everton controlled the game in front of an increasingly frantic St James' Park crowd, and the Geordie nerves were really jangling when Carlos Alcaraz stole in on Vitalii Mykolenko's cross to beat Nick Pope with 25 minutes left.

There was a stunned silence until huge roars swept round the stadium in an attempt to shake Newcastle out of the anxiety that had gripped them from kick-off.

In the end, the loudest cheers came from those following events at Old Trafford, as Manchester United's belated attempt to secure some joy from a dismal season by beating Aston Villa spread all the way to Tyneside.

There was still a short wait after the final whistle until Villa's crucial defeat was confirmed, allowing Newcastle and their supporters to officially celebrate qualification for the Champions League.

Source: BBC Sport