Newcastle United co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi watched on with pride from the Milburn Stand as Southampton were swept aside in the second half.
The Ripon financier, who has helped transform the club's fortunes, made a dressing room visit to encourage the squad and tell them how proud she was of them, but like Eddie Howe there are no champagne corks being popped yet. The bubbly will remain on ice for now but preparations for next season can now at least be made with more confidence.
Howe has spoken of two or three different lists of targets at Newcastle and the Champions League income would bolster the coffers by at least £15million simply for getting there. Finishing in third or fourth place could bring in approximately another £20million with the Magpies earning £131.5m for 11th compared to Spurs and Chelsea picking up £150million for third and fourth, a similar windfall is on the way on Tyneside.
