CHAMPIONS League football assured again next season and third place in the Premiership. The only negative was that relegated West Bromwich Albion ensured Newcastle United's wish of equalling last season's 71-point tally was not granted yesterday.

A Dobie double at the Hawthorns proved enough to halt the Magpies' progress on the final day, as a goal each from Jermaine Jenas and Hugo Viana failed to earn Sir Bobby Robson a win at one of his former clubs.

Newcastle have made undeniable progress this season but their failure to match, if not better, 2002's points total was a huge disappointment to Robson.

The Newcastle manager promised that he would try to give March signing Darren Ambrose his first taste of Premiership action and he did.

The £1.5m capture from Ipswich was given the last 14 minutes at the Hawthorns and teenage striking sensation Michael Chopra soon followed him onto the top-flight stage.

Neither player had much chance to turn on the style but perhaps their time will come another year - perhaps even next season?

The game ended with Aaron Hughes the oldest of Newcastle United's outfield ten at just 24.

It was a game that unfolded into an exciting encounter, despite a largely uninspiring opening half. In the end there were four goals but there could easily have been more.

Lomana LuaLua was guilty of the worst miss of the game - blazing over late in the second half after Nolberto Solano had cut the ball back from the byline.

LuaLua would have been hoping to finish the campaign as he started, with two goals.

But, despite showing a number his tricks, the DR Congo international, who scored two in Newcastle's opening win over West Ham, had an unproductive day in front of goal.

Robson, with a threadbare squad to choose from, made three changes to the side which clinched a Champions League place with a 1-0 win over Birmingham City eight days earlier.

Andy O'Brien was preferred to Titus Bramble in defence as a replacement for Jonathan Woodgate. The Irishman played despite being pencilled in for a nose operation today.

Full-back Andy Griffin and LuaLua were also additions to the side and they came in for Olivier Bernard and the suspended Craig Bellamy respectively.

There was also a place for goalkeeper Shay Given, who boasts the proud record of being the only Premiership ever-present at the club during the campaign.

West Brom, meanwhile, were hoping to avenge the nightmare 6-0 defeat by Liverpool in their last home clash as they bid a fond farewell to the Premiership after just one season. Horden's Bob Taylor was handed an emotional and rare League start by manager Gary Megson.

The 37-year-old, whose testimonial is being held on Tuesday, was given a standing ovation when he left the field with a tear in his eye.

Both sets of fans gave the impression there was a lot at stake at the Hawthorns, but the reality was only personal pride was there to be dented. Neither side dominated the opening half and goalkeepers Given and Russell Hoult were rarely called into action.

The best move of the first period came after just 11 minutes. Jenas and Aaron Hughes combined on the edge of the area and the latter's cross to the back post was tapped in by Shola Ameobi. However, referee Graham Barber blew for offside.

Suddenly, though, West Brom decided to pick up the pace and midfielder Andy Johnson should have broken the deadlock.

The former Nottingham Forest man was put through by captain Derek McInnes. But Johnson's attempted lob over Given never threatened the goal.

Neil Clement and Jason Koumas both wasted free-kick opportunities for the hosts, after which Newcastle's class began to tell and West Brom proved why they were codemned to life in the Nationwide League along with Sunderland a while ago.

LuaLua's trickery and cross led to Larus Sigurdsson sticking out a leg unconvincingly in the penalty area. The ball rebounded off the Icelandic defender for a corner.

And from Solano's flag-kick Jenas jumped unchallenged to head in the opening goal of the game just before half-time.

Newcastle had been marginally the better side, but in all fairness it was hardly a pulsating opening and it would have been no surprise if it remained goalless. Seconds after half-time Ameobi's header rebounded off the cross bar and fell at the feet of Jenas, who could not turn the ball across the goalline.

Solano, making his 150th Premiership appearance, played a delightful long ball to Ameobi shortly after. And the gangly forward rounded the keeper and somehow managed to get in a shot from a tight angle; defender James Chambers did well to block on the line.

But Megson's men were determined to end their brief spell back in the big time on a high.

And, after Given made a superb save with his feet to deny substitute Scott Dobie, the former Carlisle striker put West Brom back on level terms on 57 minutes.

Dobie chested down a McInnes incisive ball before cooly slotting past Given. On 73 minutes the same striker grabbed his second when he reacted first to a loose ball curling a shot low past Given. But Viana ensured the spoils were shared with his superbly taken free-kick with ten minutes to go.

Result: West Bromwich Albion 2 Newcastle United 2.

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