Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and Everton manager David Moyes
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and Everton manager David Moyes
David Moyes has congratulated Newcastle United on qualifying for the Champions League after his Everton side gave the Magpies an almighty scare.
Everton seemingly had nothing to play for when the Toffees travelled to St James' Park on the final day.
After all, regardless of the result, Everton were going to finish in 13th place.
However, you would not have known it.
Not by the way Moyes barked orders and got in the fourth official's face and not by the way Everton competed on an afternoon the visitors won half a dozen more duels than the anxious hosts.
It was Newcastle who needed a victory to ensure their fate remained in their own hands, but the black-and-whites struggled to the point where Eddie Howe felt his team's 'desire to win and do well was probably too great'.
Carlos Alcaraz went on to head Everton in front midway through the second half to leave Newcastle in very real danger of missing out on the Champions League because 10-man Aston Villa were level with Manchester United at the time.
In fact, a crestfallen Fabian Schar was among those who collapsed to the turf following his side's 1-0 loss because the defender thought his side had blown it.
However, Newcastle still managed to finish fifth after rivals Aston Villa suffered a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford and Moyes was quick to play tribute after the black-and-whites secured a seat at Europe's top table.
"St James' Park is probably the worst place you would want to come in the last game of the season with them knowing that they maybe have to win to qualify for the Champions League," the Everton boss told reporters. "Newcastle's form has been so good.
"Congratulations to them because Eddie has done a brilliant job here. Winning a cup and qualifying for the Champions League?
"He deserves an awful lot of credit."