Race will go down to wire, says boss

EDDIE Howe was not in the mood to discuss the prospect of wrapping up Champions League qualification early - knowing the race for Europe's top table may go down to the final day of the season.

- By LEE RYDER

As it stands, all four of the five competitors are now sitting on 34 matches and just a point separates Newcastle from Man City. They have a two-point cushion over Chelsea and Nottingham Forest but the City Ground side have a game in hand. And then there's Aston Villa five points adrift but still in the game knowing one slip-up could see them back in contention.

Howe, speaking after beating Ipswich, said: "It will go down to the wire. The important thing was we bounced back from last week. We have been very consistent and now we have four huge games."