Newcastle United's European aspirations have suffered a slight blow in a 1-1 Premier League draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at St James' Park.
In a contest largely devoid of quality in the attacking thirds, Joel Veltman's opener put Roberto De Zerbi's men deservedly ahead, but Sean Longstaff replied for the Magpies before the break.
Late pressure from Newcastle was futile as the sixth-placed Magpies fell six points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, while Chelsea and Manchester United remain within touching distance of Eddie Howe's men, who can at least fall back on their superior goal difference.
However, a point for the Seagulls is enough to lift them back into the top half of the table at Bournemouth's expense, although they are also only leading the Cherries on goal difference in 10th position and will almost certainly not be playing on the continent next season.
Longstaff responds to Veltman opener
No sooner had Magpies striker Callum Wilson started to reignite his goalscoring touch before suffering yet another fitness setback - Elliot Anderson replaced his absent teammate - and Brighton could empathise; Julio Enciso stepped in for ankle victim Joao Pedro.
In front of the watchful eye of England head coach Gareth Southgate, Brighton were forcing the issue that little bit more in the earliest exchanges, and their efforts were rewarded with 18 minutes on the clock.
An outswinging corner from Pascal Gross did the damage, as the German's delivery was nodded onto the back stick by Danny Welbeck, and Dutch defender Veltman managed to bully Anderson out of the way before bundling the ball into the far corner.
Newcastle's response to falling behind was largely a positive one, but not until the 34th minute was Bart Verbruggen forced into meaningful action, stopping Sean Longstaff's header from an Anthony Gordon corner.
Brighton's defensive endeavours were not aided by an injury to goalscorer Veltman five minutes before the break - Tariq Lamptey came on in his place - and it was coincidentally an attack down the left which paid dividends for the Magpies in the fourth additional minute.
Gordon strike ruled out as spoils shared
Gordon did brilliantly to retain possession inside the Brighton box and fed Anderson, whose cutback was on the money for an unmarked Longstaff to find the net with a crisp first-time side-footed finish.
Cagey was the word to describe the start of the second half at St James' Park, where the Newcastle substitutes were the key talking points; Alexander Isak's afternoon ended prematurely in the 68th minute, but Joelinton was brought on for his first home match since December.
Both sides were completely bereft of a killer instinct in the attacking third during a low-key second half, but Howe's men started to huff and puff towards the end, as both Miguel Almiron and Harvey Barnes came close in the final 13 minutes.
The Magpies did have the ball in the back of the Brighton net through Gordon in minute 85, but assister Almiron failed to hold his run and was caught offside, and De Zerbi's men did not cave in while under the cosh in additional time.
Newcastle's penultimate game of the campaign sees the Magpies head to Manchester United on May 15, the same day that Brighton host Chelsea at the Amex. body check tags ::
