WHEN the fixture list was drawn up at the start of the season, Newcastle's final away game at Everton always looked like pitting a Champions League contender against a side struggling to stay afloat in the wrong half of the Premiership.

That is how turned out but, while the Magpies began the campaign with ambitions of re-joining the European elite, it is David Moyes' side who can contemplate trips to Madrid or Milan following Saturday's 2-0 win.

Newcastle, on the other hand, must reflect on nine months of missed opportunities and madness. Needless to say, both shortcomings were in evidence again at Goodison Park.

If Saturday's game proved anything, it is that Everton are not a great side. Indeed, for much of a one-sided first half in which Newcastle could, and perhaps should, have taken a two-goal lead, they were frankly awful.

But, through a combination of neat finishing, resolute defending and sheer will to win, they recovered after the break to secure the victory that takes them into Europe's premier club competition for the first time in 30 years.

That is why they will finish in fourth place in the Premiership table, just as Newcastle's persistent failure to produce any of those qualities is the reason why they will finish nearer 14th.

Not for the first time this season, Graeme Souness' side carved out two glorious chances to take the lead before the break and, not for the first time either, they were spurned.

Darren Ambrose's control let him down as he raced clear following a defence-splitting through ball from Charles N'Zogbia, before Patrick Kluivert, who again mixed dexterity with disinterest, headed James Milner's cross wide despite finding himself all alone at the back post.

"We had our chances and we were guilty of not taking them," said Souness. Worse was to come.

The phrase 'resolute defending' is not in the Newcastle lexicon and, with just two minutes of the first half remaining, the visitors presented their hosts with the lead. Everton had failed to carve out a chance before that point - it didn't matter when they could sit back and let their opponents do it for them.

Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta whipped in a free-kick from the left touchline and, almost incredulously, David Weir was left completely unmarked as he stooped to head home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Unsurprisingly, Newcastle's defenders joined their manager in apportioning blame immediately. Somewhat less justifiably, they focused their attacks on referee Barry Knight.

It is safe to say that the Kent official is not on Souness' Christmas list. His last visit to St James' Park saw him dish out three cards as Newcastle imploded against Aston Villa and award two penalties, the second of which shouldn't have been given.

Saturday's decision to award a free-kick against Jean-Alain Boumsong was equally debatable and, to Souness at least, it simply exacerbated his previous wrongs.

"We've had a very, very difficult time with Mr Knight in the last two games," moaned the Magpies manager. "He has not been kind to us, and that is an understatement.

"Before the game, he apologised to several of my players for giving a penalty against Stephen Carr in the Aston Villa game.

"It wasn't a penalty - television replays have clearly shown that it was outside the box. If you remember that game, that goal put us 3-0 down. Immediately after the kick-off, we had two players sent off out of extreme frustration. Mr Knight was the referee, yet he escaped without any criticism.

"Here, he has made a completely and utterly wrong decision in giving a foul against us, which resulted in them getting the free-kick from which they scored the first goal. So we feel hard done to yet again with Mr Knight."

Souness has a point - Boumsong's challenge on Marcus Bent was unnecessary but not unlawful - but it was not the referee that gave Weir the freedom of the six-yard box moments later.

That was Boumsong's doing and, while Newcastle's stand-in skipper formed an otherwise impressive partnership with Titus Bramble, similar lapses of concentration have cost the Magpies time and time again this season. Surely Souness would be better addressing them than any refereeing deficiencies.

Similarly, Knight was not responsible for the impromptu bout of boxing that saw both Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer dismissed in the wake of Aston Villa's third goal last month.

That was down to the rank indiscipline and sheer stupidity that has plagued Newcastle all term. From Dyer's refusal to play on the right of midfield at Middlesbrough to Craig Bellamy's unscheduled outburst at Arsenal, Souness' side have proved adept at shooting themselves in the foot. Right on cue, Shola Ameobi added his name to the list of Magpies miscreants 12 minutes after the break.

As he tumbled to the ground following a foul from the niggling Tim Cahill, the Newcastle striker threw a clumsy haymaker at the Everton midfielder.

It failed to find its target - a fitting metaphor for far too much of Ameobi's play this season - but the act alone was enough to send Knight scurrying for his red card.

"I cannot defend Shola in any way, shape or form," admitted Souness. "When that happened, the game was over."

To rub salt in the wound, Cahill doubled his side's advantage two minutes later, calmly slotting past Given after Arteta's miskick landed at his feet on the edge of the area.

Everton's players prospered because they drew on the spirit and unity that have carried them into the Champions League.

Their opponents, however, were left to rue the actions of a player whose idea of helping his team-mates out was to make sure there was plenty of warm water in the bath at the final whistle.

Result: Everton 2 Newcastle United 0.

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