Newcastle United 1-0 Chelsea: Magpies proceed successful run

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe mentioned he can be “silly to not be excited” by the second half of the season after a press release win over Chelsea which retains his aspect third within the Premier League.

A fifth successive Premier League victory, towards an admittedly out-of-form Chelsea, was achieved with England striker Callum Wilson beginning on the bench after sickness, and with a solidity and fluency that their opponents couldn’t match.

Having labored Graham Potter’s aspect exhausting within the first half, and after Sean Longstaff wasted two nice probabilities shortly after the break, Willock lastly discovered a breakthrough when he curled in from 18 yards following a surging run by Miguel Almiron.

A youthful Chelsea, with out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling, improved within the second half after the introduction Christian Pulisic.

The American’s run led to a Conor Gallagher shot, which was nicely saved by Nick Pope, however they may not break down a well-drilled Newcastle.

After Liverpool’s win over Southampton, Chelsea’s third consecutive Premier League defeat means they’ve slipped to eighth within the desk, eight factors behind fourth-placed Tottenham.

Requested if he was excited by what was in retailer when the Premier League resumes on Boxing Day, Howe mentioned: “Once you’re in our present place you would be silly to not be. I am excited by what could be, whereas respecting the standard of the league.

“We have not thought of any permutation or any consequence of the video games. We have simply tried to win them and I believe that is the easiest way for us to assault the second half of the season as nicely.”

Newcastle already constructed for European problem

This was a match that after once more underlined the speedy progress made by Howe’s aspect within the 13 months for the reason that membership’s takeover, and the group celebrated with their followers on the closing whistle following a sturdy finish to the sport, when some steaming challenges have been exchanged.

These confrontations continued after full-time with an altercation between Dan Burn and Kai Havertz, and offended Chelsea gamers maintained their arguments as they departed the sector.

However after a lap of the pitch, the Newcastle gamers headed down the tunnel with large smiles on their faces after a win that would make their followers dream of a European marketing campaign subsequent season, perhaps even within the Champions League.

For lengthy durations, they confirmed larger fluency than their opponents, maybe in step with a extra constant group choice than Chelsea, and the results of having Bruno Guimaraes within the fulcrum of their midfield.

However with Chris Wooden beginning instead of Wilson up entrance, Newcastle failed to actually check Chelsea earlier than the break, with high scorer Almiron flashing a volley over and Gallagher blocking a Dan Burn shot. In addition they had a penalty attraction waved away by referee Robert Jones after the ball struck Trevoh Chalobah.

The hosts ought to have taken the lead shortly after half-time when Almiron’s cross was nodded again by Joelinton, with Longstaff having his effort saved by Mendy after which firing over.

However one other dart from Paraguayan Almiron, who has scored seven objectives in seven video games, helped arrange Willock’s curling strike to ship St James’ Park into raptures.

For 2 groups which have lately gone by way of takeovers, maybe it’s no shock that Newcastle appear extra superior than Chelsea given they’re six months additional into their new-found standing.

The brand new house owners have preached that their evolution will take time, however the end result, efficiency and feeling across the floor on Saturday recommended Howe’s aspect are already constructed to problem the Premier League hierarchy.

Chelsea’s season unravelling

Whereas Newcastle followers basked within the glory of a 10-game unbeaten run as they headed dwelling, Chelsea supporters will surprise what’s turning into of their aspect as they suffered a 3rd consecutive loss in all competitions, excluding penalty shootout defeats, for the primary time since 2002.

Potter admitted afterwards that “quite a lot of studying had occurred” since he was appointed two months in the past.

There was loads of effort from the guests, however as soon as once more an unpredictable Potter group choice regarded disjointed, with their damage scenario summed up by three gamers acting at proper wing-back at totally different factors throughout the sport.

There was little they may do about Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s early damage, however after Cesar Azpilicueta was withdrawn at half-time, Gallagher slotted into the place – and got here closest to scoring for Chelsea.

Potter’s aspect additionally included Lewis Corridor, making his Premier League debut at left wing-back, and had Almiron for firm. However the 18-year-old nonetheless had probabilities to assault in help of Gallagher, Mason Mount and Armando Broja additional ahead.

He arrange Broja for a shot that failed to check Pope within the Newcastle aim, and performed a component in one other assault, the place Sven Botman headed away as Broja virtually linked with Mount’s cross.

Chelsea had Thiago Silva to thank for steering them by way of the primary half after the Brazilian changed Loftus-Cheek early on, however Newcastle’s second-half stress lastly informed.

Pulisic was one of many few brilliant sparks and his operating helped the guests pin again Newcastle, however their desperation looking for an equaliser led to the unsavoury scenes on the finish and pointed to an sad Chelsea camp with additional questions for Potter.

The Blues boss mentioned the membership had skilled an “extremely difficult interval” with a busy run of video games and accidents to key gamers.

“It isn’t good to not get outcomes, it is so simple as that,” he mentioned. “However I’ve to have a look at why that’s and the scenario that we have needed to take care of. It hasn’t been easy in any respect.”

Requested if the break got here at an excellent time, he added: “We have now to see it that approach. We have now to make use of it as a optimistic and as I mentioned we’ll have a few gamers again, we’d like time to refocus, mirror and prepare for the second half of the season.”

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