It was the final day which mattered not a jot because Geordies had already reached the promised land that was never visualised during the bad days of relentless darkness.
Newcastle had punched above their weight all season, proved the mass doubters spectacularly wrong. So how the Toon Army were determined to enjoy their last trip out while contemplating more illustrious European jaunts to the likes of Madrid, Barcelona, Milan and Paris.
A 1-1 draw at Chelsea meant United finished with their fewest defeats in a top flight season - only five compared with their previous best of eight. That is the definition of consistency.
