They limped over the line, stifled by Leicester, but dominant. The last points are always the hardest to win.
Eddie Howe’s side clinched the point they needed to secure a top-four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League.
By the time Newcastle stars were leading a lap of honour in front of their adoring fans, the grind of the actual game was forgotten. It was a celebration of games far more potent and exciting than this one.
