OU have to say one thing for Newcastle United – they certainly know how to put on a show in an attempt to persuade Rafael Benitez to stay.

Two years after the impassioned pleas of the St James’ Park faithful played such a crucial role in convincing Benitez to remain on Tyneside despite his side’s relegation to the Championship, this was another afternoon when the Spaniard was given a glorious illustration of just what might be possible if he opts to extend his stay in the North-East.

On a sunlit afternoon, in front of a packed house chanting his name, Benitez watched his players completely outclass a Chelsea side that might have had their minds on other things, but that will nevertheless be playing European football again next season no matter what happens in Saturday’s FA Cup final.

At the final whistle, he calmly placed his glasses into their case and shook hands with Antonio Conte, before embracing each and every member of his coaching staff. Job done, with Newcastle finishing in the top half of the table.

They signed off in style, with Ayoze Perez’s second-half double following a first-half opener from Dwight Gayle, and as well as ensuring a prize-money return of more than £120m, Newcastle’s tenth-place finish represents a sensational achievement in the wake of last season’s Championship title success.

Charged with the task of keeping Newcastle in the top-flight, Benitez has gone way beyond what could realistically have been expected of him given the limited funds made available by Mike Ashley last summer.

The question he will be wrestling with over the next few days is whether it is realistic to expect him to be able to repeat the feat next season if Newcastle’s owner proves as parsimonious again when the transfer window reopens later this summer.

There were pre-match rumours that Ashley would be present at St James’ for the first time all season, but they proved unfounded. As a result, it is now more than 12 months since he watched a game on Tyneside, a spell of absence that underlines the extent to which he has fallen out of love with his footballing plaything. If he is unable to find a buyer this summer – and that looks increasingly likely with Amanda Staveley seemingly out of the equation - that does not augur well for either Benitez’s future or the likelihood of significant spending.

Ashley might well look at the current campaign and conclude that only piecemeal changes are required, but for all that survival was secured with five games to spare, that would be a huge mistake. Mind you, mistakes have been the sportswear magnate’s forte during his time on Tyneside.

Benitez has extracted the absolute maximum from this squad of players, and it is hard to imagine lightning striking twice next season. With a takeover seemingly unlikely, it is no wonder he is considering his future, with one year of his current contract remaining, and with Ashley proving as non-committal as ever when it comes to summer funds.

Yesterday provided a tantalising glimpse of what might be possible with a meaningful injection of funds, and Newcastle are making a welcome habit of signing off a Premier League season in style. Two years ago, despite already being relegated, they put five goals past Spurs. Yesterday’s scoreline might not have been quite as emphatic, but Newcastle’s dominance over top-six opposition was every bit as pronounced again.

Chelsea kicked off with an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League, but you would not have known it from the way in which Antonio Conte’s players ambled around the field.

Whereas Newcastle’s players were snapping into tackles and surging into space from the off, their opponents barely broke into a jog. As a result, the only disappointment from a home perspective at the interval was that the Magpies were only one goal ahead.

They created their first opportunity with just nine minutes gone, with Jonjo Shelvey firing in a stinging half-volley that Thibaut Courtois did well to beat away. Shelvey found himself in acres of space every time he got on the ball, and a result, his trademark long passes caused a series of problems for the Chelsea defence.

Mo Diame was every bit as effective alongside him, drilling in an early effort that Courtois tipped around the post, and while a number of Newcastle players have improved under Benitez, none have made as pronounced a jump forward as the Senegal international.

Diame whistled another decent effort just past the post in the 21st minute, and Newcastle’s dominance was finally rewarded as they broke the deadlock just two minutes later.

Matt Ritchie delivered a dangerous cross from the right, and while Courtois scooped away Jacob Murphy’s initial lofted effort, Gayle was on hand to head home the rebound. It was Gayle’s first goal since his brace at Bournemouth in February, and took him back alongside Perez in the race to be crowned Newcastle’s leading scorer. His team-mate would move back ahead of him, however, in the second half.

Chelsea barely threatened at all before the break, with their best moment coming to nothing when Jamaal Lascelles blocked Ross Barkley’s shot in the area, and the Magpies would have moved further ahead in first-half stoppage time had Perez not whistled a 20-yard strike fractionally the wrong side of the post.

Perez has been in fine goalscoring form in the last couple of months, and after Chelsea briefly threatened to rally at the start of the second half, with Eden Hazard dropping deep in an attempt to win possession, Newcastle’s Spanish attacking midfielder showcased his predatory instincts to extend his side’s advantage.

Tiemoue Bakayoko’s weak defensive header enabled Jonjo Shelvey to drill in a low 25-yard effort, and from a position close to the penalty spot, Perez flicked out a leg to divert the ball past Courtois. For a player who supposedly lacks a goalscoring instinct, the 24-year-old boasts an excellent record in the second half of the season.

It got even better shortly after the hour mark, although in between times, Martin Dubravka made a sensational save that had a marked effect on the final outcome.

Had Chelsea halved Newcastle’s lead, they might have been able to get back into the game, and an away goal looked a certainty when a swift counter-attacking move ended with Hazard squaring the ball for Barkley. The Chelsea midfielder must have thought he had scored when he rolled in a low shot, but Dubravka somehow kept the ball out with his trailing leg.

It was a magnificent save from a player who has had a massive impact since signing on loan in January, and within the space of 60 seconds, Newcastle were celebrating a third goal at the opposite end of the field.

Shelvey swung over a deep free-kick, Florian Lejeune volleyed back across goal, and Perez stole ahead of his marker to turn home the ball from close range.