Newcastle United 5 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Tottenham’s hopes of finishing a Barclays Premier League season above north London rivals Arsenal for the first time since 1995 were left in tatters as relegated Newcastle turned on the style at St James’ Park.
As Rafael Benitez was subjected to a sustained chorus of affection from the St James’ Park fans, the under-performing Magpies saved their best performance of the season for the time it mattered least.
Two goals from Gini Wijnaldum, one for Aleksandar Mitrovic, plus late strikes from Daryl Janmaat and Rolando Aarons — the latter two after Newcastle had been reduced to 10 men following Mitrovic’s sending-off — sealed an extraordinary final day 5-1 victory.
And coupled with Arsenal’s win over Aston Villa, it meant that Spurs — who had briefly reduced the deficit to 2-1 through Erik Lamela — would end a hugely promising season in third place and behind the Gunners once again.
It will come as scant consolation for Spurs that Harry Kane held on to his Golden Boot award despite barely threatening Karl Darlow’s goal, while the boost for already-doomed Newcastle will increase exponentially if Benitez is persuaded to stay for next season’s Championship campaign.
A low-key first period was notable only for the support for Benitez cascading around St James’ Park, and the inevitable plane hired by Sunderland fans trailing a banner reading: “Auf Wiedersehen Prem Tyne To Go”.
Christian Eriksen screwed the first shot wide for the visitors but the hosts settled better in the spring sunshine with Mitrovic in particular looking threatening as he sent an early effort squirming over the bar.
Newcastle’s more enthusiastic approach paid off in the 19th minute when Janmaat’s right-wing cross was only half-cleared by Toby Alderweireld and Mitrovic teed up Wijnaldum to poke home from close range.
Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris plucked a Mitrovic effort out of the air but the visitors, doubtless still afflicted after coming up short in the title race, were hardly playing like a side in search of north London bragging rights.
Four minutes after Kyle Walker ballooned a helpless effort over the bar, Mitrovic rose above the defender at the other end to head home from a Sissoko cross and send the pro-Benitez chants into overdrive.
Eric Dier shot wide in the 55th minute as Spurs began their belated rally, then Kane’s first chance to confirm his place at the top of the scorers’ standings was denied by a fine interception by Jack Colback.
Lamela narrowed the deficit on the hour, ramming a shot through Darlow’s hands from a tight angle, and Spurs’ hopes increased the 67th minute when Mitrovic was dismissed for a raking challenge on Walker.
Just three minutes later, however, Sissoko tumbled in the box under pressure from Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen, and Wijnaldum stepped up to send the resulting spot-kick past Lloris and effectively seal the visitors’ fate.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, and possibly to the chagrin of home supporters, the hosts responded with one of their best spells of the season, Sissoko bringing a brilliant save out of Lloris and Andros Townsend racing half the length of the pitch to fire at the keeper.
Substitute Aarons rammed home Newcastle’s fourth in the 86th minute moments after Townsend had rattled the bar, and one minute later Newcastle’s dismal season finished on a faintly ridiculous high when Janmaat drove the fifth past Lloris.
Watford 2 Sunderland 2
Watford twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland as Quique Sanchez Flores oversaw his final game in charge at Vicarage Road.
The Black Cats looked on course to celebrate achieving Barclays Premier League survival with a final-day victory as Jack Rodwell and then Jeremain Lens put them in front.
But both times Watford hit back, Sebastian Prodl heading home and Troy Deeney converting a second-half penalty to ensure the Hornets took a point, with honorary life president Elton John watching from the stands.
Sunderland may well feel aggrieved after the impressive Duncan Watmore and Dame N’Doye both had goals ruled out.
It means Watford end the season 13th in the table while Sunderland finish 17th, just outside the relegation places.
Flores on Friday confirmed he will leave at the end of the campaign and while there was a smattering of appreciative banners in the crowd, there was no obvious distress regarding the Spaniard’s departure.
Watford have avoided relegation for the first time in the Premier League era, and reached an FA Cup semi-final, but this was their eighth point from the last 30 available and performances have not suggested a turnaround is near.
Print deadlines may have played a part but in his two-page piece for the matchday programme, it was notable that captain Troy Deeney failed to mention Flores’ name once.
The Hornets, however, need only look in the opposition dug-out for a note of caution. Sam Allardyce was sacked by Newcastle in 2008 with the club 11th in the table and the Magpies have endured two relegations since, the latest sealed by Sunderland’s win over Everton on Wednesday.
The visiting supporters spent most of the first half celebrating their rivals demise as fancy dress, inflatable animals and a impressive repertoire of anti-Newcastle chants contributed to a party atmosphere in the away end.
Allardyce was even invited to repeat his safety-sealing dance by the travelling fans, although this time he opted to stay seated.
West Brom 1 Liverpool 1
Liverpool clearly had their minds on Wednesday’s Europa League final but West Brom were still unable to end their Barclays Premier League campaign with a win as they drew 1-1 at The Hawthorns.
Jurgen Klopp perhaps gave an indication of what his starting line-up will be in Basle against Sevilla by making 11 changes, with star performers such as Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, James Milner, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge not even on the bench.
A disjointed Liverpool team made a lacklustre start in the west Midlands and fell behind after 13 minutes. Joe Allen, perhaps the only man on duty on Sunday with any hopes of being involved in the forthcoming European showpiece, did his slim chances little good by giving the ball away midway inside his own half to Jonathan Leko.
The teenager weaved his way between three Liverpool defenders before slipping a pass down the right-hand side of the penalty area to Salomon Rondon who beat goalkeeper Adam Bogdan at his near post with a low shot.
For 17-year-old Leko, making only his third start for West Brom, a first Premier League assist represented the perfect moment, which incidentally was the name of Martine McCutcheon’s song that was number one in the charts on the day he was born in April 1999.
It was a great individual run by Leko but an an even better solo effort from Jordon Ibe brought Liverpool level midway through the first half.
Ibe dummied the ball on the halfway line and embarked on a run down the right-hand touchline. In the absence of any meaningful challenge, he drifted infield, inside the penalty area and sent a left-foot shot into the far corner of the net.
The two goals were the only noteworthy attempts of a largely forgettable first half which had a typical end-of-season feel to it. Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster made a straightforward save from a tame Sheyi Ojo shot while Allen and Kevin Stewart were way off target with long-range efforts.
The second half offered marginally more in the way of goalmouth action, mainly at the Liverpool end and primarily involving Rondon.
The Venezuela international striker almost restored West Brom’s lead immediately after the break. His glancing header from Craig Gardner’s free-kick struck the inside of a post and he put the rebound over the crossbar from a tight angle.
Either side of the hour mark Rondon then glanced another header wide, this time from a driven Craig Dawson cross, and then saw a shot, after initially mis-controlling the ball, diverted wide by the fingertips of Bogdan.
Everton 3 Norwich City 0
Everton made a winning start to life after Roberto Martinez as Tim Howard bade farewell with a clean sheet.
Toffees fans had been calling for the Spaniard’s head with increasing ferocity and Bill Kenwright finally brought the axe down on Thursday.
Only five home wins in the Premier League this season played a big part in Martinez’s demise but David Unsworth and Joe Royle, who were placed in temporary charge, were victorious at the first time of asking as Norwich were dispatched 3-0.
The relegated Canaries certainly did not offer the stiffest opposition and James McCarthy put the hosts ahead in the 19th minute, with Leighton Baines netting a penalty just before half-time.
Kevin Mirallas added the third three minutes after the break as the toxic atmosphere of recent months at Goodison Park was replaced by a stroll in the sunshine.
Howard, making the 414th and final appearance of his decade at Goodison Park, received a standing ovation before the game and was never seriously tested.
The American, who is returning home to join the Colorado Rapids, wrote an emotional farewell letter to fans, saying: “I love all of you, and am so grateful for what the club and everybody affiliated with it has given me.”
Southampton 4 Crystal Palace 1
Southampton have secured a top-six finish and qualification for next season’s Europa League with a convincing 4-1 Barclays Premier League defeat of Crystal Palace.
Julian Speroni’s record-equalling appearance for Palace proved a disappointing one after his error led to Sadio Mane scoring Southampton’s opening goal, and thereafter Graziano Pelle, Ryan Bertrand and Steven Davis added further goals to secure the comfortable victory that takes them up to fifth place. Jason Puncheon notched for the Eagles.
Manchester United can yet overtake Southampton by defeating Bournemouth in their rearranged fixture, but the guarantee of European competition unquestionably represents success for Ronald Koeman’s team.
Stoke City 2 West Ham 1
Stoke came from behind to beat West Ham 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium and leave the visitors facing the possibility of missing out on Europe.
Michail Antonio’s 23rd-minute opener for the Hammers was cancelled out in the 55th minute by a Giannelli Imbula strike.
Diafra Sakho had squandered a great chance to make it 2-0 just before Imbula’s equaliser and a series of goal-line clearances subsequently stopped the visitors regaining the lead, with only inches in it on one occasion.
Potters substitute Mame Diouf then headed home with two minutes to go to wrap up a first victory in seven for his side, who finish the season in ninth place in the Barclays Premier League table, matching their final position in the last two campaigns.
West Ham finished seventh, and will only qualify for the Europa League if Manchester United beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final next weekend.
It has been a fine season for Slaven Bilic’s side — this was their second defeat in 13 league matches — and it will make for a cruel conclusion if they are denied the reward of playing European football at their new Olympic Stadium home next term.
