Everton 2 Newcastle 0: Everton need dream no longer. After a season spent gatecrashing the quartet at the top, fourth place and a chance to compete among Europe's elite has been secured. "To take a team from 17th to the Champions League is incredible," said David Moyes, champagne in hand. "It's the greatest achievement of my managerial career."
A comfortable 18th victory on Saturday, combined with Liverpool's defeat at Highbury yesterday, propelled them into a competition they have not graced in 34 years. That such progress was ultimately achieved at their city rivals' expense was apt: for the first time in 18 years, they will finish above the European Cup finalists this season.
"There was an awful lot of confidence coming out of Liverpool saying they'd catch us and that they were the best team in the city, but there was never any pressure on us," said Moyes, who was managing Preston in what is now League One only five years ago.
"Very few people would have thought we'd be in this position and, to be honest, the best we hoped for was mid-table. But I relish the challenge of building on this and so do the lads."
"We have been mocked by teams up and down the country," said Kevin Kilbane. "But we have proved a lot of people wrong. A lot of European teams won't fancy coming here."
Who will be at Goodison Park to greet them remains to be seen. David Weir, whose goal was his first in three years, is one of seven players out of contract as of July 1st and is still wondering whether he will be around to enjoy the spoils of a giddy season.
"I am hopeful of being here next season," said the veteran defender, who has been offered less than half of the £16,000 a week he currently earns."It is every player's dream to play in the Champions League."
Only Duncan Ferguson of the seven whose deals expire appears ready to agree new reduced terms, with the futures of Alessandro Pistone, Gary Naysmith, Leon Osman, Alan Stubbs, Steve Watson and Weir all in doubt.
Newcastle could have done with some of the veteran's grit. They outplayed the hosts throughout the first half, yet Everton weathered the busy running of James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia and Darren Ambrose.
The youngsters all missed excellent chances and, when Jean-Alain Boumsong clattered Marcus Bent, the Merseysiders sensed their chance had come. Mikel Arteta's free-kick was deep and Weir, ignored by the flustered Boumsong, nodded down and beyond Shay Given.
The award of the free-kick infuriated Graeme Souness, but that did not excuse the marking. By the time Tim Cahill gathered Arteta's shot to ram in Everton's second, the visitors had been reduced to 10 men with Shola Ameobi having flung an arm at the Australian.
"Mr (Barry) Knight has changed the course of games with catastrophic consequences for us recently," added Souness, who saw the official send off three of his players against Aston Villa. "But everything is going for Everton at the moment."
