Jon Walters' last-gasp goal dampened Newcastle's title-winning party as Ipswich earned a 2-2 draw.
Magpies held as they lift the title
Jon Walters' last-gasp goal dampened Newcastle's title-winning party as Ipswich earned a 2-2 draw at St James' Park.
Newcastle looked set to celebrate lifting the Championship trophy in style when substitute Shola Ameobi fired them in front from the penalty spot six minutes from time until Walters popped up with an equaliser deep into injury-time.
Andy Carroll got the party started when he headed home Wayne Routledge's cross on 26 minutes, but teenage ace Connor Wickham drew Town level three minutes before the break.
The game was played in front of a Championship record crowd of 52,181, the vast majority of them delighted home fans ready to acclaim their title-winning team.
It was the visitors who made the brighter start when Wickham's second-minute long throw found its way to skipper Walters.
The midfielder's first shot was blocked and keeper Steve Harper saved his follow-up with a foot.
At the other end, Carroll failed to make the most of keeper Brian Murphy's hesitancy when he ran on to Danny Guthrie's through-ball but could not find strike-partner Peter Lovenkrands five minutes later.
Newcastle were gradually working their way into the game, but Harper was relieved to see Jamie Peters' 18th-minute cross elude Walters, if only just, in front of goal.
Opener
The Magpies finally took the lead with 27 minutes gone when Routledge turned up on the left wing to beat full-back David Wright and fire in a cross which Carroll met with a thumping header to claim his 19th goal of the season.
But Ipswich were level three minutes before the break when Wickham got between central defenders Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson and produced a fine right-foot finish.
Lovenkrands fired just wide seconds later and the home side responded, but Grant Leadbitter went equally close at the other end in a lively end to the half.
Town defender Gareth McAuley planted a free header wastefully over the bar from Leadbitter's 47th-minute corner, and Newcastle were far from having things their own way.
But they went close 12 minutes later when Jonas Gutierrez and Carroll combined to set up Lovenkrands, who could not hit the target as the angle was closed down.
Carroll headed wide from Jose Enrique's cross seconds later as the home side stepped up a gear, and Ameobi, club captain Nicky Butt on his final home appearance for the club and Joey Barton were all introduced in the quest for a winner.
The changes did the trick and when Butt was tripped by former Sunderland midfielder Grant Leadbitter, Ameobi calmly converted the penalty.
However, Walters levelled as the clock ticked into a fourth minute of added time to deny the home side victory.
