What a way to start the penultimate round of Premiership fixtures - Leicester look set to miss out on the play-offs for the first time in 14 years after that dramatic late win for Newcastle.

I'm off for a lie down, but if you want to remind yourself of the action then have a read of our match report.

Exeter could top the end-of-season table for the first time in their history on Saturday.

A win or a draw with Sale at Sandy Park would guarantee an unassailable lead at the top of the Premiership, while a two-bonus point defeat would mean Saracens would have to win both their remaining games with four-try hauls and hope Exeter fail to win their final match.

In Saturday's other games Gloucester need to beat Bath in their West Country derby at Kingsholm to keep their hopes of a top-four finish alive, while Worcester could seal their Premiership survival with two points against Harlequins at Sixways.

Image source, Getty Images

While tonight's win for Newcastle went a long way to deciding who might get the final play-off spot, tomorrow eyes will turn to the bottom of the table.

London Irish could be relegated without kicking a ball, should Worcester either beat or draw with Harlequins, or lose and get a four-try bonus point and a losing bonus at Sixways on Saturday afternoon.

Should Worcester get one losing bonus point Irish would need to win their final two games with try-scoring bonuses and hope that Worcester fail to get another point to have a chance of staying up.

The table looks pretty grim for the Exiles.....

Image source, BBC Sport

Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards told BT Sport:

"We had a nightmare first half and to be fair to Leicester they did their homework and our set piece was pretty awful.

"But we won and it shows the character of the side.

"They stick at it and even when things go against us they come back for more."

On the winning try: "I thought it was a try definitely."

So Leicester's hopes for a top four place rely on them beating Sale and next week and hoping Wasps fail to win any of their final two matches.

Newcastle know a win over Wasps would guarantee them third place while Gloucester realistically look like the only side with a chance to overtake them - and they have to play Bath and Saracens.

Image source, BBC Sport

Newcastle's wining try-scorer Ally Hogg told BT Sport:

"I don't usually get on the end of those so I was surprised I got over.

"I got it down the first time, celebrated, realised he hadn't blown his whistle and went back down a second time."

On the prospect of making the play-offs:

"From where we've been and the journey since Dean Richards' come in it's grown each year.

"It shows the character of the whole squad and when you have Vereniki Goneva in your team scoring tries left, right and centre you always have a chance."

What a rollercoaster of a ride that game was.

Newcastle snatch a victory at Welford Road for the first time this century to all but kill Leicester's play-off hopes.

Who would have thought that would have happened when Leicester led with 20 minutes to go.

We are still looking at the angles here. Is it a double movement? Is the ball grounded before the referee whistles?

Have Newcastle caused the biggest of upsets here? Try yes or no on Ally Hogg's attempt to get the ball over...

Newcastle are a metre out under the posts...

Newcastle still battering the 14-man defence of Leicester. Can they get the latest of late tries......

Leicester defend the maul well and Newcastle go to their backs.

Now back in the hands of the big men as they probe the Tigers line who defend well.....

Here we go then.... Falcons have the lineout in the Tigers corner......

Newcastle still have the ball on the Leicester 22 and looking dangerous.

Sione Kalamafoni gets sin-binned after getting in the way of a pass in an offside position and the Tigers will finish with 14 men and Falcons kick for the corner.....

With five minutes left this game is back on a knife-edge.

Having earlier said that I couldn't see anyone other then Leicester winning this, I'm going to take it back.

Newcastle are doing their best to spoil the Leicester party.

Vereniki Goneva is looking dangerous with ball in hand, coming in off the wing to batter the Tigers midfield.

Newcastle get a penalty and kick to the corner as Tigers props Ellis Genge and Dan Cole come off - they have been impressive this evening.

Matt Toomua comes off for Tigers and is replaced by Mathew Tait at centre. Toomua has been in pain for quite some time, looks like it might be a rib injury.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

You would be hard-pressed to say anything other than a Leicester win will be the result of this game now.

The home side have asserted control since this second half started and know a win tonight would keep their hopes of a play-off place in their own hands going into the final weekend of the season.