9 mins A Matt Ritchie corner from the right found Jonjo Shelvey on the right side of the area. He controlled the ball before dispatching a fabulous dipping volley into the far corner of the net at the Hammersmith End of the ground.

Pursued by messrs Hayden, Schar and Lascelles the scorer legged it to the opposite end of the ground, where his celebrations in front of the away throng were intense to say the least, clenched fist salutes and kiss blowing rounded off by the "binocular" gesture seen previously from him.  

The exertions of that marathon celebration however may well have caught up with him in the second half, when he looked knackered.  1-0

11 mins Ritchie played in Christian Atsu on the left side of the box via a deflection and Atsu managed to get a shot away which was spilled by Sergio Rico straight to Ayoze Perez who prodded home the rebound from close range. 2-0

Half time: Cottagers 0 Magpies 2

61 mins Another Ritchie corner from the left was swung in and found the head of Fabian Schar who rose highest to nod down and into the Putney End goal. Celebrations this time included Ritchie repeatedly slapping the goalscorer on the back of his head. 3-0

90 mins Perez slotted a through ball for Salomon Rondon who had just managed to stay onside. Rico saved his first shot but the on-loan forward reacted first and managed to squeeze the rebound under the 'keeper and into the net.

The delight of the scorer was evident to all and he was congratulated by the rest of his team mates, even Martin Dubravka rushing from one end of the pitch to the other to join in. Ritchie's contribution to proceedings on this occasion was to tweak Rondon's ear. Rather you than me pal.... 4-0

Full time: Cottagers 0 Magpies 4

Reporter: "They (the fans) were singing we want you to stay, are you going to stay here?"

"No I'm not going to stay here, I'm going back to Newcastle right now!

"We did well. The main thing is this was the last game of the season, and to do that when you are safe, away, and in front of a lot of our fans, I’m really proud and pleased for this group of players.

"If you want to compete against these teams you have to do everything right. Are we close? You never know. If you spend money you might not stay.

"What I can guarantee is that was my last game this season! We will see what happens in the future. Obviously, you know we have a meeting coming soon, and hopefully, we will have more news for everyone.

"Because we have been talking about this for a while my answer is always the same. We have a meeting coming soon, hopefully, and then we will see where we are.

“Someone will ask me the question, do I want to stay? It’s very easy. I can see the potential of this massive club and hopefully we can do things in a way that will be good for everyone to move forward, maybe together. 

"He (Mike Ashley) said congratulations to everyone We were in the dressing room, so he was talking to me and the team, saying thank you very much but nothing special.

"He came to say thank you very much to all the players and everyone in the dressing room. We will have a meeting hopefully this week and we will see where we are. I don’t know exactly (when): hopefully this week but as soon as possible.

“The fans have been so good all season, since I have been here they have been fantastic and I am trying my best to give them something back.

On Rondon:

"I think he was desperate to score another goal! And it was important for him because he’s a striker. 

"Even more important for me is the contribution for the team: the way he was working in defence, linking with the players around, his assists.

"His ten goals was his best score mark in the Premier League and today he has another one. He is really happy and a key player.

"I think he has been an important player for us. I think he wants to stay, the problem is because he was so good the more will be watching him.”

On Shelvey:

"It’s true that it’s been difficult. He’s someone that loves football, that wants to play every game... at the end (of the season), he was patient, working hard. 

"Today, I’m really pleased because he scored a good goal and played a good game.”
 

They Said

Scott Parker:

"I think it was a harsh scoreline, but it is what it is. I don’t think it really reflected the game but, on saying that, we got to the final third really well but we lacked a cutting edge about us at times.

"Ultimately they’ve got some good players who obviously hit us on the break, they scored with a world-class strike for the first, and it proved costly.

"It's disappointing really. I don't think the scoreline reflects the game but saying that, I thought in both boxes, we didn't do well enough at times.

"We had our chances or at least we got into those final third areas, but we lacked that cutting edge about us.

"The game ran away from us a little bit and rather than taking a deep breath and getting some sort of control.

"It is frustrating, really frustrating. We had become a bit more resilient but today I felt at times there were signs of the old us.

"When the game becomes a basketball match for us, which I mean back and forth, we are the side that look like they are going to concede.

"Of course it has been a disappointing season but in football as quick as you are down you are always around the corner from a new challenge and the new challenge is the Championship next season. 

"There were signs in our play today of what we are trying to do and that is something I love but, of course, there are some other things I am not keen on.

"We will be in tomorrow and will go through the finer details of pre-season. We will take a break next week and then it will be foot to the floor."