Howe's that for a bit of Toon history

LAST 16 PLACE IN BAG FOR FIRST TIME

- BY LEE RYDER

NEWCASTLE can look forward to playing in the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in their history.

But after blitzing Qarabag 6-1 in Baku last week, the Geordies made much harder work of things on home soil.

That said, Toon boss Eddie Howe’ St James Park experience against the Azerbaijani side was night and day compared to his last shift in the home dugout.

Just 17 days had elapsed since Howe (right)and his team were booed off after the 3-2 defeat against Brentford.

On a night here in which CEO David Hopkinson picked up a cheque for £94million for qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League, it was very much a case of: Crisis? What crisis?

Since the late defeat to the Bees, Newcastle have eased into the knockout stages of Europe and set up an FA Cup fifth round tie against Man City.