Eddie Howe had his Jurgen Klopp moment with Newcastle United fans after the players had finished showing their appreciation to 3,000 singing Geordies at Stamford Bridge.
It was a moment which felt like weeks of pressure had finally been lifted on the normally calmer figure of Howe but one he richly deserved. For all the noise at Chelsea from the Newcastle contingent, it was Howe's salute to supporters that got the loudest roar of the day.
On an afternoon that fans had remastered Status Quo's Rockin' All Over the World song to fit in the names of Howe and his assistant Jason Tindall the pair looked on cloud nine as they celebrated finishing fourth. Don't forget Klopp had been cranking up the pressure on Newcastle in recent weeks and did not ditch his own fist pumping during an excellent run of form.
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But here Howe was able to relax for a few minutes and share the moment with supporters who had travelled to London to get behind the Magpies. Just when we thought it was about to calm down Tindall was ordered back to the fans by the likes of Fabian Schar and Anthony Gordon who encouraged him to take his own piece of the limelight.
And Newcastle fans loved it just as much. Tindall also got a massive ovation which Gordon and Schar chuckling as they made their way off the pitch.
The Chelsea away game always promised to be a celebration and it didn't fail to disappoint. If Newcastle can bottle up some of that camaraderie going into 2023/24, another fantastic campaign could be around the corner.
Newcastle's season is officially as good as Sir Bobby Robson's class of 2002
Newcastle can now say they have had their best season for 21 years as they finished fourth in the Premier League to clinch a Champions League place. Back then stars like Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Nobby Solano and Kieron Dyer led the way.
This time around it has been Callum Wilson, Bruno Guimarares, Kieran Trippier and Nick Pope among the stars. Not only have Newcastle matched fourth place though they have also finished on the same points tally of 71.
United managed 68 goals and can boast the joint best defensive record in the league with Man City. But they did not beat Robson's side's goal tally of 74.
A draw at Chelsea is still a big improvement
This may have been a Chelsea side that have struggled this season with Frank Lampard about to leave the club. But the draw against bottom half opponents at least ended a run of 10 matches in all competitions without a win.
In fact Newcastle have lost here 10 times in a row with their last goal coming back in 2019. To get something from the game this time was an added bonus.
