Newcastle survival in Prem confirmed after Cardiff’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool
Magpies and Bournemouth can play their final three Premier League games without pressure - while the Bluebirds are up against it in their bid not to go straight back down with Fulham
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NEWCASTLE and Bournemouth basked in Cardiff's 2-0 home defeat against Liverpool - because it guaranteed their Premier League survival.
The Bluebirds are even stronger favourites now to join bottom two Huddersfield and Fulham in the Championship next season.
But Cardiff's woe completed a satisfying weekend for Magpies boss Rafa Benitez, who is out of contract in the summer and has hinted he wants to manage in the Champions League again.
After Ayoze Perez's hat-trick put Newcastle 12th with Saturday's 3-1 victory over Southampton, Benitez suggested getting a more competitive budget would increase his chances of staying in the north east.
The ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid chief said: "When I came here, I could see the potential of the club to be challenging, certainly for seventh to 10th in the table but looking higher.
"But when you analyse the transfer fees and wage bills of other teams, we're not competing.
"I am the manager until 30 June. We can see the potential. When you see the teams between seventh and 15th, we have to compete with them."
Meanwhile, Bournemouth can at least relax a little after a jittery campaign.
Winger Ryan Fraser even admitted Saturday's 1-0 home loss to relegated Fulham "summed up" the Cherries' season.
The Arsenal target, 25, said: I think it's mentality, I think we go into games thinking it's too easy.
"That's our season summed up - good one week and then a shambles the next.
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"It's really disappointing because we thought we started well and then we just crumbled."
Four clubs are now battling to avoid the final drop spot, although Southampton and especially Burnley should be safe.
So that leaves third-bottom Cardiff duelling with Brighton, who are three points above them and have played a game less.