Darlow United’s men saved from Saviour as Bruce’s embarrassment
have been a certainty.
United made a surprisingly offensive start by their standards by forcing a couple of set-pieces and corDON’T be fooled by the scoreline, ners, but Federico Fernandez’s tame Newcastle United could have sufheader was blocked before Chelsea fered their heaviest Premier League cleared their lines. defeat for years had it not been for If Newcastle needed a reminder of Chelsea’s lack of sharpness and the the quality they were up against it brilliance of Karl Darlow at St James’ came on the five-minute mark when Park. Timo Werner got down the left and
Somehow, the Magpies trudged in hit a low shot that Karl Darlow tipped at half-time only 1-0 down and while around the post. they did have one or two moments in Darlow made another superb the second half, Chelsea’s second block when he parried Tammy Abragame-sealing goal was an inevitabiliham’s header away from danger. ty. But Newcastle were undone on 10
Steve Bruce had vowed to park the minutes when Mason Mount’s cross bus before a ball was even kicked was swept to the far post and with insisting he could not take on the bigBen Chilwell pressuring, Federico spending Blues and go like for like. Fernandez bundled the ball into the net.buttherewasnoresponsefromthe dismal defeat at Southampton, and Newcastle protested and prayed this proved to be nothing but another for a VAR reprieve but the goal stood fine mess for the black and whites. and Chelsea’s 85% possession had
There’s no doubt had a crowd been been converted into a lead. present there would have been cries Just after the mid-way point, Jacob of “attack, attack, attack” after a Murphy went down in the box shocking opening, while boos would appealing for a penalty but the refer
ee waved away protests before Joelinton’s ambitious effort from 35 yards bounced wide.
Chelsea’s £47million man Werner rattled a shot wide after half an hour with his missed effort keeping Newcastle in the game.
Excellent play from Sean Longstaff as he drove into the box almost played in Allan Saint-maximin, but he couldn’t get a shot away and Jamal Lewis was unable to follow up.
Moments later, Saint-maximin was played in by Joelinton before the Frenchman shimmied into the final third and fired off a defender to win a corner.
On 39 minutes, Isaac Hayden was booked for a foul on Mateo Kovacic before Newcastle survived a dangerous free-kick.
Newcastle somehow managed to get in at half-time with the scoreline at just 1-0.
The Magpies made a change at the break when Fabian Schar replaced Jamaal Lascelles with the skipper spotted limping before the interval.
United escaped on 53 minutes when they lost possession through Schar to free Werner but after the Chelsea star hesitated Ciaran Clark swept the danger away with a vital clearance.
Newcastle responded with Joelinton hitting an effort over but Chelsea finally doubled their lead on 64 minutes.
Werner ripped into the final third and Newcastle’s defence parted like
■ Steve Bruce questions the linesman’s decision the Red Sea before he casually rolled it to Abraham who slammed the ball off the post to make it 2-0.
Bruce had already decided to bring Miguel Almiron on by that stage and the Paraguay international was introduced straight after the second strike from the visitors.
With 18 minutes left Sean Longstaff had a dig from long range but his effort clipped the crossbar and
Newcastle’s continued.
The Magpies made their final change of the day when they resorted to plan B: bringing on Andy Carroll for the closing stages, taking off Saint-maximin on this occasion.
On an afternoon in which the Frenchman looked a danger despite United struggling to give him the ball, it seemed like an odd change.
Werner had the ball in the net again soon after but the goal was chalked off for an offside call.
Sub Almiron forced a save from Edouard Mendy, however, the resultant corner came to nothing.
Chelsea seemed to go easy on United in the latter stages but by that time the points were in the pocket for the Blues.
Carroll’s late chance was deflected into the side netting but the game had long gone by then.
With heads bowed, Toon players departed the field after another home defeat this term.
Only the lockdown saved them from another round of boos.
miserable
afternoon