Newcastle 0-0 Leicester
by Harry De Cosemo
at St James’ Park

NEWCASTLE UNITED booked their place in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years after a 0-0 draw against relegation-bound Leicester City at St James’ Park.

It was a strange evening, and a meeting of two clubs who are in a way swapping places. Newcastle, after years of battling at the bottom, are looking up.

Leicester, though, are rooted in the bottom three with one game remaining, just seven years after that remarkable Premier League title win.

An emotional Newcastle boss Eddie Howe paid tribute to supporters after the game, with a top four finish now assured for his side.

"I think if you're not united with the fan base, regardless of how you play and performances, I don't think it's going to work,” he said. 

“The first thing was to show how important it was that we represented the city in the right way, and that's through sheer hard work and determination.

"The supporters, even in the dark days during the first few weeks, have stuck with us. They've galvanised the squad this year without a doubt.”

"Whenever you achieve something you're not just happy to participate. You want to succeed and want success. I want success massively for this football club. We'll enjoy tonight, but we want to bring silverware here if we can in the future."

The game could have taken a difficult turn for the home side when Bruno Guimaraes caught Boubakary Soumare with a high tackle.

He was shown a yellow card, but was perhaps a little unlucky it wasn’t upgraded to red by VAR.

From there, the game settled into an expected pattern. Newcastle had over 80% possession in the first half, but Leicester’s low defensive line stunted their momentum and kept them at bay.

Without James Maddison and Harvey Barnes from the start, Leicester’s gameplan became clear; they looked to suck the life out of the match and hold on as long as possible. It was working by half time, with the score goalless.

Newcastle did hit the woodwork twice before the break, first through Miguel Almiron and then Callum Wilson.

Chances came and went in the second half with more clearances off the line from a dogged Leicester backline. Guimaraes should have given Newcastle the lead, but they were trickling towards the point they needed to celebrate, rather than roaring towards it as many expected.

The Foxes continued to frustrate, existing only to survive for a point from which they really needed three, without taking as much as a shot until stoppage time.

And then the one moment, of hope for the visitors and dread for Newcastle. Timothy Castagne shot from close range and forced Nick Pope, who could had been a spectator from the first minute, into a vital stoppage time save.

When the whistle blew, it was greeted by a deafening roar, as if Tyneside was collectively releasing the pressure valve of two decades worth of frustration away from Europe’s top table.

For Leicester, the result doesn’t really help. The Foxes will need a big swing on the final day if they are to avoid a shock return to the Championship.