Newcastle Falcons cannot qualify from Pool Three of the European Challenge Cup after slumping to a home defeat at the hands of leaders Montpellier.
A poor encounter was settled by two first-half penalties by visiting scrum-half Benoit Paillaugue.
Montpellier were reduced to 14-men when Kevin Kervarec was sin-binned but the Falcons failed to make their advantage count as they struggled for openings.
And although Newcastle dominated the closing stages they could not score.
Newcastle Falcons coach Alan Tait told BBC Newcastle: "It wasn't a great spectacle, it was a poor game and (it was down to) the way we started the game.
"The players have said it in the changing rooms, they've had more to say tonight because they felt they should have had a lot more.
"Jimmy said that if the forwards had started the game like they had finished it wouldn't have been a problem.
"I was very disappointed with our forward ball, the backs were being given ball that was static, we didn't get a platform to attack from."
Newcastle: A Tait; Williams, M Tait, Eves, Amesbury; Gopperth, Pilgrim; Golding, Thompson, Hall; Hudson, Levi; B Wilson, Welch, M Wilson.
Replacements: Ward for Golding (61), Graham for Thompson (46), Fearn for Hall (68), Townson for Levi (46), Gray for Welch (41), Hodgson for Pilgrim (53), Fitzpatrick for Eves (53), Henderson for Bobo (68).
Replacements: Shvelidze for Leleimalefaga (53), Tomas for Caudullo (69), Pratmarty for Uva (48), Chkhaidze for Wasserman (54), Tuilevuka for Pelo (77). Not Used: Rofes, Petit, Fakate.
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