For weeks, the Newcastle United head coach has told anyone who would listen that nothing will be decided until the final day, that the skirmish for a Champions League place would go down to the wire.

Chelsea, Newcastle United and Manchester City’s task to qualify for the Champions League has become clearer after Sunday’s Premier League fixtures. Nottingham Forest kept their Champions League dream alive with a hard-fought win over West Ham before Arsenal booked their place in next year’s competition by beating Newcastle.