Newcastle United moved within touching distance of Champions League football next season with a crucial victory against 10-man Chelsea at St James' Park.

The Magpies and Chelsea started the day locked on the same 63-point tally before Newcastle got the perfect start when Sandro Tonali's close-range finish gave them the lead after just 112 seconds.

The visitors' task was made even harder when striker Nicolas Jackson was rightly sent off for a needless forearm smash on Newcastle defender Sven Botman 10 minutes before the break.

Manager Enzo Maresca adjusted by using Cole Palmer as a false nine, inspiring a Chelsea revival after the break, with keeper Nick Pope twice saving well from Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez.

Reece James missed another big opportunity for Chelsea, but Newcastle survived to wrap up a priceless three points in stoppage time when Bruno Guimaraes' strike took a deflection off Malo Gusto and looped over keeper Robert Sanchez.

While it was delight for Newcastle, it was despair for Chelsea after an expensive loss as they now face Manchester United at home before a potentially decisive visit to Nottingham Forest, also chasing a Champions League place, on the final day of the season.

Newcastle, up to third in the table, travel to second-placed Arsenal before closing out their campaign at home to Everton

The celebrations when the final whistle sounded illustrated the importance of this win as Newcastle and manager Eddie Howe stand on the brink of closing out a magnificent campaign.

They secured their first major domestic trophy since 1955 - their first success of any kind since the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - when they beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley in March.

And now, after a hard-fought win against a Chelsea side rivalling them for a place in the Champions League, Newcastle are in prime position to return to Europe's elite competition next season.

They travel to Arsenal before hosting Everton in their final game of the season, with crucial momentum gathered after surviving a nervous second half to overcome Chelsea.

Tonali helped his side make their usual whirlwind start on Tyneside, but the emphasis of the game shifted following Jackson's red card and those tactical adjustments from Maresca.

The anxiety among the Toon Army could be heard and felt as Chelsea established control, but Newcastle found heroes in keeper Pope, who came to the rescue when required, and giant hometown hero Dan Burn, who gave a towering defensive display.

There was huge relief when the win was finally secured after Guimaraes scored the clinching second goal.

Newcastle now just need to finish the job off – and they will feel they are now in the ideal position to do so.

Chelsea were already facing a daunting task in the Tyneside hothouse before Jackson's wild act of indiscipline when they were 1-0 down made their job even harder.

Only Jackson can explain what he was thinking when he launched himself forearm first at Botman, with referee John Brooks delivering the inevitable outcome once he was sent to the screen by the video assistant referee.

Ironically, the Blues improved after the break once Palmer was moved into a false nine position, but Maresca was still dealing with a numerical disadvantage that limited his options.

Chelsea could easily have earned a point. Instead they are now three points behind Newcastle with only two games left, with work still to do to seal a Champions League place that could shape so many futures at Stamford Bridge.

James' late header over the bar from close range will be another source of regret, especially as Newcastle's second goal came moments later.

Chelsea and Maresca now face an anxious conclusion to the season as they try to get back to Europe's top table.