After a prolonged hiatus of 20 years, Newcastle United will rejoin Europe’s elite Champions League competitors subsequent season following a Premier League top-four-guaranteeing goalless draw at dwelling to struggling Leicester Metropolis on Monday.
It was not fairly the fantastic dwelling sign-off the followers had been anticipating as Newcastle dominated from begin to end with out discovering the online, however they didn’t actually care because the dream of Champions League soccer got here to fruition.
“I am unable to put it into phrases to be sincere. When you informed us two years in the past this was going to occur, we would not have believed you,” midfielder Sean Longstaff informed Sky Sports activities.
“We have crushed Juventus right here 1-0 (within the Champions League), you see it on outdated DVDs. To be part of this, I am buzzing.”
Newcastle had 23 objective makes an attempt to Leicester’s one and had been denied by the woodwork 3 times because the guests dug deep for some extent that retains their survival hopes nearly nonetheless alive forward of the ultimate spherical of video games on Sunday.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are in third place with 70 factors and one sport to play, 4 forward of fifth-placed Liverpool who even have one match remaining. Fourth-placed Manchester United have 69 factors with two video games left.
Leicester moved up one place above Leeds United on objective distinction into 18th and should win at dwelling to West Ham United on Sunday and hope Seventeenth-placed Everton fail to beat Bournemouth.
Bizarrely, after doing nothing however defend their penalty space for all the match, Leicester abruptly regarded harmful within the 5 minutes of stoppage time and however for an outstanding save by Nick Pope from Timothy Castagne would have snatched a shock win.
The ultimate whistle was met with enormous roars from the St James’ Park devoted who can hardly consider the pace at which their membership has been reworked because it was purchased by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund in October 2021.
Newcastle had been with out a win and stood nineteenth within the Premier League standings and heading for relegation after 14 years beneath their unpopular Sports activities Direct proprietor Mike Ashley.
However along with the appointment of Howe and a few astute switch enterprise, Newcastle are again with Europe’s huge boys.
Magpies dominate
Newcastle had greater than 80% possession within the first half but it surely was not till shortly earlier than the interval that they got here near taking the lead.
Callum Wilson fired towards the publish and seconds later had a header cleared off the road by Wilfred Ndidi.
Miguel Almiron then shot towards the publish with Alexander Isak slicing the rebound broad earlier than Wilson headed one other probability broad as Newcastle hammered at Leicester’s protection.
Foxes boss Dean Smith despatched on England midfielder James Maddison for the second half after surprisingly leaving him on the bench however the assault versus protection sample didn’t change.
Isak pressured an important save from goalkeeper Daniel Iversen and Newcastle by some means failed to attain when defender Wout Faes headed a nook towards his personal publish and Almiron did not get a contact.
Newcastle then skilled some nervy moments however the social gathering began in earnest as the ultimate whistle blew.
“It means every thing,” Newcastle full-back Kieran Trippier, one of many first signings after the takeover, mentioned.
“I took a threat after I first arrived however I at all times believed in each determination I made. The membership has been by means of a tricky second however now we’re reaping the rewards.”