United rejoin Europe's elite despite ending season with a nervy defeat

NEWCASTLE United staggered over the line to clinch a Champions League place in front of watching chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

- By LEE RYDER

Despite losing 1-0 to Everton and Jordan Pickford pulling out all the stops to try to dent Newcastle chances, the Magpies stumbled to Europe's top table by virtue of Man-chester United's win at Old Trafford over Aston Villa. That was enough to book United's Champions League ticket and secure a £100m jackpot.

The United supremo will not want to sit through another tense afternoon like this, however, and it is clear that a big summer of recruit-ment is required. Head coach Eddie Howe had hinted as much in the build-up to this game by underlin-ing the fact that four departing players in the last 12 months had not been replaced.

But as the party started at St James' Park it should not be lost on what a magnificent season this has truly been for Newcastle and Howe. Lifting the club's first piece of sil-verware since 1969. Pickford was taunted as the game played out with a chant of: "Have you ever seen a Mackem in Milan."

Yet this was Newcastle's day despite the narrow loss that could have caused plenty of damage to the long-term project at St James' Park.

The Magpies started the game knowing a win would secure their place at Europe's top table. The two captains, Bruno Guimaraes and Pickford, went forward for the toss but it was the Wearsider who won and inevitably opted to turn things around with Newcastle attacking the Gallowgate End first.

United's first real goal attempt came on four minutes when Anthony Gordon tried to beat his England team-mate and former Goodison Park colleague from dis-tance but sent his shot over the top.