Half time: Magpies 0 Foxes 0

Full time: Magpies 0 Foxes 0

Dean Smith said:

"We've taken it to the last game and made Everton need to win, that's what we had to do.

"I make no apologies for the way we set up today. We haven’t kept a clean sheet for too long and the reason we are where we are is because of that in my opinion.

"My mind was made up when I watched Newcastle play Brighton on Thursday, one of the best footballing teams in the Premier League this year, Brighton, and in that first 20, 25 minutes, they steamrollered them. 

"I don't think many people would have thought we'd come here and get a result. We had to keep a clean sheet and hope, because we had to make sacrifices with our team sheet today and hope then we were still in the game. 

"It almost worked exactly to plan, but the goalkeeper made a really good save in the 90th minute, which was our only shot, I think.vIf it’s too little, too late, who knows? But we’ve taken it to Sunday now.”

On keeping a clean sheet:

"That's a big thing mentally for the players. It's the first clean sheet at half-time I've had in my seven games. It was important we did that.

"You can't open up here and go at them. It was a tough watch at times but you could see the players were fighting for it. We had a great chance right at the death."

On the potential red card for Bruno Guimaraes:

"It was a really poor challenge, he's caught him on the thigh. I'm not sure what VAR sees there. From what we've seen so far this season that's been a red card many times."

On the relegation battle:

"We're going to need help. There will be a lot of anxiety for all three teams that are in it. Our job first and foremost is to win against West Ham. I'm sure with our supporters behind us, we can do that. Then it's out of our hands.

"As long as we can say we gave it our best shot, we'll fight tooth and nail to stay in there. All we can do is put some pressure on Everton and hopefully we've done that."

Astonishing quotes and performance from Smith and his gutless Foxes. This was a team fighting tooth and nail was it? Not from our vantage point. To see City coaches high-fiving each other at the end was even more laughable than their Leeds counterparts celebrating a point against us. 

Far from making Everton "need to win", Leicester's antics handed the final day initiative to the Toffees. It's out of City's hands now, with Everton assured of safety by beating Bournemouth - regardless of what happens in the Leicester versus West Ham game.  That wouldn't have been the case had Smith's side tested our nervousness more and won...

There'll be no commemorative DVD of tonight's match (although "Howay 0-0" has a certain ring to it), but for those fortunate enough to be present, the sights, sounds and emotions evoked were either reminiscent of former triumphs, or a joyous revelation of just what this place can produce.

Needing one point from their last two games to confirm a top four finish in the Premier League and a place in next season's Champions League, Newcastle did exactly that by drawing with a relegation threatened Leicester City side at Gallowgate on Monday evening. 

A rearguard action from the Foxes saw them keep eleven men behind the ball for the majority of the match; belatedly looking to sneak a goal themselves by bringing on the likes of James Maddison after a combination of desperate defending and the woodwork had kept the black and whites at bay.

An unapologetic City boss Dean Smith admitted that his game plan was heavily influenced by seeing Brighton mown down here last Thursday. Given our enhanced status, the task of overcoming spoiling tactics from visiting sides here will be regularly set, but tonight there were echoes of recent times here when Newcastle didn't possess the talent, direction or motivation to have a go.

"Stay in the game" was in the Rafa Benitez playbook, most notably succeeding in January 2019 when Manchester City were beaten 2-1 here via our only two shots on target - a result we described as a giant-killing, even though it was a league encounter.

Leicester's determination to willfully avoid anything that could be mistaken for meaningful possession meanwhile was a reminder of some desperate days during Steve Bruce's tenure here; a sad state of affairs that is thankfully receding into history. One day it will never have happened.

Eddie Howe welcomed Sean Longstaff back into the side while Jacob Murphy returned to the bench, but a late change saw Elliot Anderson drafted in when Joelinton dropped out after the warm-up.

A first half heavy on home possession but light on chances came to life in the closing stages; Callum Wilson denied by a post then a goal line clearance in the same move, before Miguel Almiron hit the other upright at the Leazes End moments later. 

Bruno Guimaraes headed against the post from close in after the break as United's relentless but unsuccessful attempts to score continued. Visiting goalkeeper Daniel Iversen also denied both Isak and Longstaff in the second half as City recorded a first PL clean sheet in 22 attempts.

The visitors almost silenced a raucous home crowd in added time however; Fabian Schar making one vital interception and Nick Pope superbly denying Timothy Castagne with the only effort Leicester managed to get on or off target; also managing not to give them a second go from the rebound.

That pivotal moment broke what had become an increasingly fearful atmosphere; a genuine sense of apprehension as a collective memory of the "old" Newcastle returning looked set to become reality.
That gave way to scenes of pure glee though when Andre Marriner blew for time.

Following a burst of "Que sera, sera...." to prompt of "Tell me ma...", the PA was silenced and the squad belatedly embarked on what was officially called a lap of appreciation - a suitable conclusion to the most memorable of seasons on home soil, when they lost just twice in 23 games.

The usual entourage of players, coaches and staff joined in, along with ever-increasing quantities of their bairns clad in Newcastle strips and having a kickabout; Miggy's two year old lad to the fore and cheered loudly when poking the ball into the Gallowgate goal. 

With security staff discreetly in place and the ubiquitous documentary cameras accompanying them Al-Rumayyan, Staveley, Ghodoussi and Reuben joined in a massive group photo with the Gallowgate End behind them, as was the case after Arsenal in 2022. Larger numbers of stewards meanwhile were placed on the perimeter to deter any pitch invaders.

Third place may elude Newcastle regardless of the outcome of Sunday's season closer at Chelsea, but given the remarkable achievement of returning to Europe's premier competition this season, that's of very little consequence. 

To boldly go where no Mag has been for 20 years then, and given the opposition here it's wholly appropriate to hark back a decade further, when the Foxes were crushed 7-1 here en route to our Premier League ascension in May 1993. 30 years on, there's a similar sense that the limitless potential at this club is being harnessed once again. 

And so, a season that began with optimism that we'd stay well clear of the drop zone heads to a conclusion with a top flight points total not bettered since 2002, a first cup final appearance since 1999 and a positive goal difference of almost unimaginable magnitude. 

All rather different to "just ticking along" isn't it?

Biffa