Newcastle United settled for fourth position in the Premier League table on the final matchday of the season, drawing 1-1 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Magpies needed Manchester United to slip up against Fulham at Old Trafford to stand a chance of finishing third, but Erik ten Hag's side were 2-1 winners over the Cottagers.
The result in London therefore mattered little for Eddie Howe's side, who will have Champions League football next season, but they claimed a point against an improved Chelsea.
The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute through Anthony Gordon, but an own goal from Kieran Trippier in the 27th minute saw Chelsea level the scores, and it finished 1-1 in interim manager Frank Lampard's final game in charge of the Blues.
Mauricio Pochettino is set to take charge of the Blues this summer, and he will be confident of improving on a season that has seen the London club finish down in 12th spot in the table.
Newcastle had a half-chance inside the opening two minutes when Alexander Isak worked some space inside the Chelsea box, but the forward's effort was saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The visitors did manage to make the breakthrough in the ninth minute, though, with Elliot Anderson's brilliant low cross being tapped into the back of the net from close range by Gordon.
It was another incredibly poor goal to concede from Chelsea's point of view, with two players being attracted to the crosser, and Gordon was free inside the penalty box.
Isak sent another effort just wide of the home side's post in the 11th minute, before Martin Dubravka did well down the other end to keep out a header from Thiago Silva, which had been deflected towards goal.
Chelsea managed to level the scores in the 27th minute of the contest, with Trippier turning an effort from Raheem Sterling into the back of the net from close range.
The equaliser had been coming, with the Blues responding impressively to the early setback, and they put the pressure immediately back on Newcastle, with a dangerous delivery from Cesar Azpilicueta causing problems inside the away side's penalty box.
Miguel Almiron just missed the post with a low strike in the 32nd minute, before the Newcastle attacker had another opportunity six minutes later, firing over the crossbar from inside the box, with more questionable defending from Chelsea presenting the opportunity to the 29-year-old.
The home side almost took the lead in the closing stages of the first period when Sterling met a low cross from Lewis Hall, but Dubravka was on hand to make an excellent save, before Newcastle's number two goalkeeper kept out a strike from Enzo Fernandez in the follow-up.
Chelsea continued to look the more likely in the early stages of the second period, with Sterling's 20-yard strike bringing a smart save from Dubravka.
Hall then fired over the crossbar in the 65th minute after smart work from Noni Madueke, with Newcastle camped on the edge of their own box.
Joao Felix was next to try his luck for the home side, firing wide of the target in the 71st minute, before Fernandez missed Dubravka's goal from distance three minutes later.
Chelsea wanted a penalty in the 78th minute, with an effort from Sterling striking the hand of Sven Botman, but the referee was not interested and VAR agreed with the on-field decision.
Newcastle youngster Jamie Miley clipped the top of the crossbar in the 80th minute; Chelsea then had two late chances to win it, Dubravka making an excellent save to deny Christian Pulisic, before Felix headed over from close range, with the points being shared at Stamford Bridge. body check tags ::
