HAYDEN HEADS HOME LATE ON TO GIVE GEORDIES BREATHING SPACE

ISAAC HAYDEN pounced with an injurytime header to hand Newcastle a priceless victory as Steve Bruce’s men eased themselves seven points clear of the Premier League drop zone.

Hayden headed the returning Allan SaintMaximin’s cross past Kepa Arrizabalaga four minutes into stoppage time to send the home fans among a crowd of 52,217 at St James’ Park into raptures.

His first goal since February last year clinched a smash-andgrab victory for the Magpies

Joelinton did hit the crossbar with a firsthalf header, but Martin Dubravka had to make a vital one-on-one save from N’Golo Kante as Chelsea dominated throughout without ever being able to find the killer touch.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said afterwards: ‘The boys worked so hard.

‘Talk about smash and grab, all the cliches, but the one thing we did was defended very well.

‘Of course we nicked it, sneaked it, whatever you want, but when you’re playing against the big boys we have to do that.’

The downside was a nasty looking injury to Jetro Willems and

Bruce added: ‘It looks a nasty one, I think he knew straight away. Our luck with injuries the last few weeks is unbelievable — and they’re the worst kind.’

Frustrated Chelsea boss Frank Lampard admitted: ‘It’s football, you have to get your head around it very quickly.

‘They had one header hit the bar, two or three headed chances but otherwise, second half, I don’t remember them endangering our box.

‘You don’t always create clear-cut chances against Newcastle — fair play to them, they defend with everything — but we absolutely controlled it.

‘It was like a home game in terms of the way we performed on the pitch, but if you don’t score you’re always vulnerable to that sucker punch.’ HEAR MY ROAR: Hayden was a last-action hero for Newcastle