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king long pass head of Clark with h such precision that it might have been delivered by a drone.
And Pedro controlled with his first touch before justifying Sarri’s decision to recall him by lobbing the ball over Martin Dubravka.
It was the Spaniard’s seventh goal of the season.
Chelsea would have increased their lead, had Luiz’s goalbound header from Willian’s free-kick not struck the neck of team-mate Mateo Kovacic and taken a deflection over.
Newcastle responded with Florian Lejeune sending a bouncing volley straight at Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and Salomon Rondon flashing a shot wide.
And the visitors should have been level when Rondon outjumped Luiz to flick on Dubravka’s punt to send Ayoze Perez clear, but the
Spaniard fired wide.
Newcastle did equalise five minutes before the break, when
Clark leapt ahead of
Luiz to meet Matt Ritchie’s left-wing corner with a meaty header that flew inside Kepa’s right-hand post. The visiting fans were still in the throes of ecstasy when Willian broke through, only to send a weak finish wide. Pedro almost struck at the start of the second half, but his shot was superbly saved by Dubravka.
But a moment of magic from Willian broke Newca st l e’s hearts in the 57th minute. He had plenty to do when he collected Hazard’s pass on the left side of the penalty area. But DeAndre Yedlin and Lejeune did not do enough to close him down and Willian worked a yard inside before curling a glorious shot high past Dubravka’s left hand.
It was only his fifth goal of the season – but it illustrated why Barcelona covet the Brazilian livewire.
He could have scored again, but his lobbed effort was tipped by Dubravka.
There was a late run-out for teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi to rouse the home fans again.
Chelsea remain ensconced in fourth place, whi le Newcastle still wait for their prayers to be answered.