Toon Miley TEEN SENSATION LEWIS HELPS Delighted SMASH SORRY BLUES
IS anyone up for the fight at Chelsea?
Manager Mauricio Pochettino watched this horror show from the stands as Newcastle blew them away – aided by sloppy, lazy defending and a massive howler from Thiago Silva.
Newcastle were ravaged by 10 first-team injuries but Eddie Howe’s side rekindled their aggression and energy, after two defeats, to romp to victory.
They had 17-year-old Lewis Miley outplaying £106m Enzo Fernandez, Howe gave three kids their debut of the bench and he also lost Joe Willock with an achilles injury before kick-off.
But after a week on the training ground, Newcastle were back on track with Alexander Isak, Jamaal Lascelles, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon sharing the goals.
Only Raheem Sterling could hold his head high for shambolic Chelsea, who had skipper Reece James sent off 17 minutes from time for a second booking.
What have they got for their £1billion transfer spree? Certainly not team spirit.
A combination of the returning Isak and Miley drew first blood.
Gordon swept the ball across the edge of the box to the teenager who powered a ball into Isak’s feet, allowing him to turn and finish.
Chelsea were level in the 23rd minute after Sterling won a controversial freekick and brilliantly converted it.
The winger raced in on goal chased by Kieran Trippier after Lascelles had given the ball away. Sterling seemed intent on going to ground and fell too easily under minimal contact before conjuring a sweet, dipping strike over the wall with Nick Pope static for his fifth of the season.
Fernandez was denied by Pope and Conor Gallagher failed to finish in space. Trippier then hit the top of the bar with a wellstruck free-kick in an open game.
Then Chelsea conceded twice in a crazy 90 seconds.
Ironically Sterling fouled Trippier on the right wing and the England right-back switched play instead of delivering to the box.
Gordon was found on the left wing and curled in a perfect cross to the back post where Newcastle had a three-man overload.
Defender Lascelles planted a header past Robert Sanchez to edge United ahead – his first Premier League goal for more than two years.
Then the blunder of the season. Silva shaped to pass back to Sanchez but pulled out of the ball and prodded it a yard.
Joelinton pounced on the error, surged towards goal and finished from 12 yards.
There was still time for the Toon Army to celebrate a fourth.
Miguel Almiron popped a superb ball in behind with the outside of his left foot, sending Gordon into the box.
The Scouser was allowed to cut inside by sloppy Benoit Badiashile and squeezed his shot into the far corner.