Final day Euro clockwatch – Starring Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester United | OneFootball

The race for places sixth to eighth on the final day of the season – Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester United the contenders.

That familiar sinking feeling arrived at 3pm, with the team news.

Not just Gordon absent from our line-up. Our two closest rivals, Man Utd and Chelsea, facing opponents who were lacking big, big players in Dunk and Solanke.

All that didn’t seem to matter at 4.02pm, when Toney tapped the ball into the United net. Thank goodness for VAR, which called it offside.

4.11 Joelinton misses a sitter at the far post after being set up by Isak, hitting the ball wide from six yards. 4.17 Caicedo scores from one yard inside the Bournemouth half after Neto, the Cherries’ keeper, unwisely channels his inner Beckenbauer. 4.21 Barnes, unmarked, puts us one up from a Guimaraes cross. 4.26 Longstaff finds the net after good work by Isak. Flagged for offside and VAR agrees. Meanwhile, at Stamford Bridge, Cucurella continues to act like a spoilt brat ang gets Semenyo booked. 4.36 A slip by Pinnock lets in Isak, who plays the perfect low cross to Murphy for a tap-in. 4.38 Reguilon presents the ball to Murphy, who passes to Bruno. He sets up Isak for the Swede’s 25th goal of the season. Meanwhile, at Stamford Bridge, Bournemouth stretch Chelsea but managed only one shot on target, which is comfortably saved. The so-called Billion-pound Bottle Jobs go for their half-time break one up, though their opponents are offering a bit of hope to United’s fans of a sixth-place finish, especially with Solanke poised on the bench. At the Amex, a Brighton team with six changes have prevented the Salfords from scoring in the only half-time 0-0. 5.06 Bournemouth are straight on the attack and win a corner. Unal fails to connect with a teammate’s cross-shot six yards out after a minute of pressure. 5.07 Janelt pulls a goal back for a Brentford team who have been on the beach since we scored the opener. 5.08 Chelsea go up the other end and Sterling essentially ends our hopes by scoring through Neto’s legs from six yards. 5.10 Unal scores with a deflected shot and Chelsea’s lead is halved. 5.20 Solanke is brought on by Bournemouth, who continue to press. 5.23 Pope saves impressively to keep the score 3-1. 5.25 Chelsea make three substitutions. 5.31 Wissa smashes in Brentford’s second from 18 yards and suddenly it is game on. 5.32 Dalot puts the Salfords one up at Brighton. 5.34 Brentford make an attacking substitution. 5.35 Hall bursts into the box and is brought down by Mbuemo. The penalty is awarded but then changed to a free kick on the edge of area after VAR intervenes. 5.38 Isak’s dead ball shot is blocked weakly by the keeper and Guimaraes follows up to score our fourth. 5.40 Solanke misses the far post by two inches with a fierce low cross shot. Was that the moment? 5.47 Hojlund doubles the Salfords’ lead at the Amex. 5.49 Petrovic makes a flying save to keep Chelsea ahead. 5.51 Bournemouth push for an equaliser as seven minutes of stoppage time start at Stamford Bridge. 5.55 Bournemouth waste three great chances in five seconds, with Solanke the most culpable. 5.59 All over at Stamford Bridge and we finish the season in seventh.

Will it be enough for European football next season?

Yes, as long as Man City win the FA Cup.

Newcastle United:

Barnes 21, Murphy 36, Isak 38, Bruno 77

Brentford:

Janelt 48, Wissa 70

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Brentford 53% (54%) Newcastle 47% (46%)

Total shots were Brentford 10 (3) Newcastle 12 (8)

Shots on target were Brentford 5 (1) Newcastle 7 (5)

Corners were Brentford 3 (1) Newcastle 0 (0)

Touches in the box Brentford 12 (5) Newcastle 29 (19)

Newcastle team v Brentford:

Pope; Krafth, Schar (Dummett 90+2), Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton (Trippier 81); J Murphy (Almiron 68), Isak (Wilson 81), Barnes (Anderson 68)