Brighton banished any lingering Premier League relegation fears by grinding out a goalless draw at home to Newcastle to guarantee safety.
Albion controlled possession against the Magpies but neither side seriously threatened to break the deadlock during a rather uninspiring affair.
The Seagulls have been well placed to extend their top-flight adventure to a fourth campaign for a number of weeks, although manager Graham Potter refused to celebrate survival until it was mathematically certain.
Monday evening’s stalemate moved Potter’s men seven points clear of 18th-placed Aston Villa – who have two fixtures remaining – to end a run of three successive home losses.
Leandro Trossard and Adam Webster went closest to a breakthrough for the hosts, while Dwight Gayle and substitute Andy Carroll wasted Newcastle’s best opportunities by each heading off target from corners.
For the 13th-placed Magpies, the battling point prevented them suffering four consecutive losses for the first time since May 2018.
Newcastle could have snatched victory four minutes from time but, after rising above Shane Duffy from Matt Ritchie’s corner, former England striker Andy Carroll directed his close-range header wide of the left post as the disappointing contest ended all-square.
Final score: Brighton and Hove Albion 0-0 Newcastle United
