United in a fight for top-flight life once again
at Stamford Bridge GIVEN Newcastle United’s atrocious record at Stamford Bridge, Saturday night’s showing against Chelsea was actually one of the better performances we’ve witnessed at this venue in recent years. There was nothing wrong with the way Rafa Benitez’s men went about their business against an expensively assembled Blues side and the fighting spirit and determination was there for the travelling Geordies in the famous Shed End to see. However, the bigger picture is much more worrying and home form from earlier in the season is coming back to haunt the Magpies as they sit in the bottom three of the Premier League. Mike Ashley was in the main stand at the Bridge and may have looked on wondering what the problem is for United after they went close to gaining what would have been a very respectable point. But as Benitez paced around his technical area he looked a frustrated man as he knew with a little bit more backing, this side is capable of going toe to toe with the top flight’s big boys.
Lack of investment in key areas is absolutely choking United again this season.
The game was decided by two moments of true quality as Pedro dinked the ball over Martin Dubravka from a long ball in the first half, before Willian craftily picked his spot with a piece of raw skill just before the hour mark to score the winning goal.
Other than that, Newcastle matched Chelsea for endeavour and they created their fair share of chances before just falling short.
There’s not much you can do to stop players like Willian and Pedro when they get into those positions, but with one or two more creative players, United could well have forced a second equaliser.
Again, had Benitez’s side had a little bit more pace and little bit more quality they may well have had Kepa Arrizabalaga sweating in the final stages.
Chelsea usually have the game sewn up long before the end against Newcastle, but on Saturday evening