The Magpies Get Clipped at the End

Today was the last regular league feature of the 2011 / 2012 season. With Nurnberg and Oxford finishing their decent and disappointing (respectively) seasons last weekend, Newcastle played today against Everton. Earlier in the week, Chelsea lost their second to last fixture, putting them out of reach of Newcastle. That meant that the Magpies would at worst finish in 5th, giving them a spot in next year’s Europa League. With that safety net under them, they could go for a win in their match against Everton and hope for 3rd place Arsenal and 4th place Tottenham to lose their matches, then qualifying them for Champions League.

Newcastle United vs. Everton – While the Toon would be vying for a win, Everton were riding high in league games, having not lost since late March. Although it wouldn’t mean anything but bragging rights, they were also hoping to finish higher in the league table than city rivals Liverpool. All they needed to make that official was a win.

To be blunt – and to fast forward through the first half – Newcastle was basically out of the match at halftime. Through the season, they have been a side of two faces – either one that wants to score goals or one that doesn’t. Today it was the latter. Although Newcastle had a chance at the Champions League and Everton just simply finishing above rivals Liverpool, it would be the latter side in this fixture that wanted the match more. In the first half, the Magpies just had three shots, all off target. Everton on the other hand had eight shots, two of those finding the back of the net.

The second half was a bit better, but mildly. Demba Ba was finally able to work Everton and US National team goalkeeper Tim Howard with a strike in the 65th minute, but Howard kept it out. Just a minute later, Everton got their third putting Newcastle even in a larger hole.

Everton though apparently felt sorry for the lads from the Northeast. After a 72nd minute strike from Yohan Cabaye, Everton gave up an own-goal in the 73rd. Even with that little bit of hope that it was now just a 3-1 match, Newcastle would only get just one more shot on goal in the 78th minute – a Cisse header, totaling a poor three shots on goal total for the match. Although Everton would have chances after that, the match would end 3-1. Well… I should say the match would mostly end there. There was some fighting after the final whistle, with Everton’s Tim Cahill being awarded a red card. 

With that flap up at the end, Newcastle’s season would come to a close. It would be a great season that, with the 2-0 loss to Man City last week, would finish with two losses. Still though, Newcastle finished the season far above expectations. They finished with 64 points in the Premier League table, landing them in 5th place – still good enough to qualify for a spot in next year’s Europa League.