Newcastle United could require five more Premier League victories to secure a place in next season's Champions League.
Beating Tottenham Hotspur 6-1 at St James' Park means that United arguably already have one foot under the Europe's top table next season.
A six-point gap means that Spurs, Aston Villa, Liverpool or Brighton will require title winning form to catch Eddie Howe's Magpies, and Newcastle would have to completely implode in the last seven matches of the season.
READ MORE: Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur highlights and reaction from St James' Park
As things stand that doesn't look like happening and picking up something on the road at Everton on Thursday coupled with three more points at home to Southampton next Sunday could result in a major stride to one of football's big prizes. In the mean time Tottenham face Man United at home then Liverpool away.
The fact that Villa, Liverpool and Brighton remain on the coat-tails mean nobody can get completely carried away. But Newcastle are extremely close to the Champions League now.
Keep winning, and they won't need to worry about taking it to the last day or the last week of the season. And nobody beneath them can afford to slip up.
Newcastle hit six in the Premier League for the first time since 2015
The Magpies scored six goals in a Premier League game for the first time in eight years with their best goal-laden top-flight display since a 6-2 win over Norwich City. That day Gini Wijnaldum grabbed four goals as the Canaries were stuffed on Tyneside.
In comparison though the victory over Spurs on Sunday was much, much better. For a start, the game was essentially over by the ninth-minute mark.
The 5-0 half-time scoreline was the biggest since 1993 in a league game although Kevin Keegan's side back in the day managed to go in six up at the break in the old First Division. Spurs fans know what it's like to lose heavily on Tyneside after a 7-1 beating in 1996 but that isn't the biggest hiding in the Premier League at the famous old ground.
This didn't end with a record Premier League scoreline but it's worth considering it was against a team assembled to challenge for the title - not a struggling team like Norwich or Sheff Wed in 1999 when the Owls were beaten 8-0.
This was an expensive team who were completely dismantled. No wonder fans lapped it up.
Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben make celebrations extra special
The Newcastle directors did not waste any time in showing their appreciation after the thumping win over Spurs. The duo made their way down to the hallowed turf to greet players as they left the pitch after the amazing win.
As the players left the pitch after the lap of appreciation Reuben and Ghodoussi were on hand to high five each player. Newcastle as a club are celebrating success together.
You'd never have seen the previous owner do something like this. Thankfully that's now a distant memory.
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