Newcastle secure Champion league spot to leave Leicester on the brink

Newcastle secured a place in next season’s Champions League for the first time since 2003 with a 0-0 draw against Leicester, who had just one shot and are on the brink of relegation.

Eddie Howe’s side guaranteed their top-four spot with a dominant display to leave the visitors, two points from safety, needing to win on the final day of the season at home to West Ham while hoping Bournemouth take something at Everton and Leeds don’t overturn a nine-goal swing by beating Tottenham to stay up.

Newcastle controlled the match yet were frustrated by a combination of Leicester’s defending and the woodwork which they rattled three times on their way to chalking up 23 shots and an xG of 2.05 although were fortunate Bruno Guimaraes wasn’t dismissed early on for a reckless challenge.

Leicester only managed one effort that came in the 92nd minute when Nick Pope sharply saved from Timothy Castagne’s volley to deny them a crucial smash-and-grab victory and leave their survival fate out of their hands.

Standings — English Premier League

Pos.		P	W	D	L	GD	PTS	Form
1	Manchester City	36	28	4	4	62	88	WWWWWW
2	Arsenal	37	25	6	6	40	81	DLWWLL
3	Newcastle United	37	19	13	5	35	70	WWLDWD
4	Manchester United	36	21	6	9	11	69	DWLLWW
5	Liverpool	37	19	9	9	28	66	WWWWWD
6	Brighton and Hove Albion	36	18	7	11	20	61	WWLWLW
7	Aston Villa	37	17	7	13	4	58	DWLLWD
8	Tottenham Hotspur	37	17	6	14	4	57	LDLWLL
9	Brentford	37	14	14	9	11	56	DWWLWW
10	Fulham	37	15	7	15	3	52	LLLWWD
11	Crystal Palace	37	11	11	15	-9	44	DLWLWD
12	Chelsea	36	11	10	15	-6	43	LLLWDL
13	Wolverhampton Wanderers	37	11	8	18	-22	41	LWLWLD
14	West Ham United	37	11	7	19	-12	40	LLLWLW
15	Bournemouth	37	11	6	20	-33	39	LWWLLL
16	Nottingham Forest	37	9	10	18	-30	37	LWLWDW
17	Everton	37	7	12	18	-24	33	DLDWLD
18	Leicester City	37	8	7	22	-18	31	WDDLLD
19	Leeds United	37	7	10	20	-27	31	LDLLDL
20	Southampton	37	6	6	25	-37	24