FFP rule change may not offer a solution – 5 things
Newcastle United writer Ciaran Kelly reports for Chronicle Live that the club’s Stamford Bridge hoodoo continues following a damaging 3-2 defeat against Chelsea.
Nicolas Jackson gave Chelsea the lead early on before Alexander Isak drew Newcastle level with a superb finish just before half-time. Goals from Cole Palmer and Mykhailo Mudryk put Chelsea in command in the second half, although substitute Jacob Murphy pulled one back for the visitors late on with a rocket.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
Mid-table Newcastle make Chelsea look good
Few would have anticipated this ending up being a meeting between 10th and 11th when the fixtures were announced at the start of the campaign, but Newcastle looked every inch a mid-table side on Monday night. Having set out to press Chelsea high – Alexander Isak, Miguel Almiron, and Anthony Gordon were right on the edge of Djordje Petrovic’s box for goal kicks – the Magpies quickly settled the hosts’ nerves by gift-wrapping the opener in just the sixth minute following a catalog of errors at the back.
First, Malo Gusto found it far too easy to skip past Dan Burn down the right and get a cross away. Then, Martin Dubravka crouched down to gather the ball, but Sven Botman got there first and casually cleared as far as Cole Palmer on the edge of the area. Finally, Palmer, Chelsea’s danger man, had all the time he needed to take a touch before rifling on the volley, and Nicolas Jackson cleverly diverted the ball into the net with a flick of his heel.
If Newcastle’s defending was poor for Chelsea’s first goal, well, it was even worse for the Blues’ second after the visitors had got back into the game. Dan Burn sliced his clearance out for a throw-in under no real pressure in the build-up, and Gusto then had so many unmarked options nearby and threw the ball back to Moises Caicedo, who Miguel Almiron casually jogged to close down. Caicedo played the ball to Enzo Fernandez, who, similarly, had all the time and space he needed, and the World Cup winner drew the black and white shirts to him before threading the ball to Palmer. The Chelsea star took a touch inside before whipping the ball past Dubravka.
There was still time – lots of it – for substitute Mykhailo Mudryk to get in on the act. Newcastle defenders were far too high up the field, and Sven Botman failed to stop Nicolas Jackson wriggling away. Jackson raced up the field, and although Newcastle got players back, the striker squared it to Conor Gallagher, and Mudryk nipped in to dance into the box and round Dubravka to make it 3-1. It was the 32nd goal Newcastle had conceded on their travels in the Premier League this season. Damningly, that is as many as Sheffield United at the bottom of the table.
Newcastle will strengthen this summer, but even if the Premier League introduces new financial rules by then, the Magpies will still be limited by what they can spend. The top-flight aligns with UEFA’s regulations, allowing up to 70% of revenues to go on transfer fees, wages, and agents’ fees. Those already at the club have to defend better.
Early olés add to the agony of defeat
Mauricio Pochettino and Todd Boehly will never have heard such abuse from opposition fans—let alone from their supporters—but those expletive chants at the away end at Brentford last time reflected the frustration of Chelsea fans. Pochettino could not help but admit that he hoped ‘one day here they support me in the same way’ Newcastle fans have backed Eddie Howe.
This game looked ripe for Newcastle to frustrate a revolutionary crowd and get a first win here since 2012, but Pochettino need not have worried. The Argentine got the game and result he needed. Chelsea fans, who had been so quiet, even at 1-0 up, found their voice and taunted: “No noise from the Saudi boys!” after retaking the lead before a rendition of ‘Champions of Europe – you’ll never sing that!’
By the time Chelsea went 3-1 up, the home support was shouting ‘olé!’ every time their side completed a pass. There was still a quarter of an hour to go.
Although Jacob Murphy did pull one back, with an absolute rocket late on, to set up a grandstand finish, a point would have flattered Newcastle.
Alexander Isak’s moment of magic is in vain
Just before half-time, Chelsea fumbled around in the middle of the park, and Bruno Guimaraes dinked the ball into Isak’s path. The record signing took two deft touches before picking out the bottom corner from the edge of the area with a Henry-esque finish. When they needed him most, in that first half, Isak stepped up for Newcastle, and that should not come as a surprise; each of the Sweden international’s last eight Premier League goals has either drawn Newcastle level or put them one goal in the lead. Isak deserved more on Monday night.
It was one of the most underwhelming Chelsea backlines Newcastle had faced in recent years, yet, remarkably, off-color Newcastle failed to even have a single shot on target in the opening 42 minutes. Newcastle needed a moment of magic in a game that looked every inch a mid-table battle. Alexander Isak soon provided it.
Just before half-time, Chelsea fumbled around in the middle of the park, and Bruno Guimaraes dinked the ball into Isak’s path. The record signing took two deft touches before picking out the bottom corner from the edge of the area with a Henry-esque finish. When they needed him most, in that first half, Isak stepped up for Newcastle, and that should not come as a surprise; each of the Sweden international’s last eight Premier League goals has either drawn Newcastle level or put them one goal in the lead. Isak deserved more on Monday night.
Anthony Gordon’s pain in front of Gareth Southgate
Game plan does not pay dividends
Having tweaked their game plan against Wolves, allowing Gary O’Neil’s team to have possession before hurting them with their pace on the counter in a 3-0 win, Newcastle had a blueprint to take to Stamford Bridge. The sort of game plan that had thwarted Chelsea for so long when these sides last met at the Carabao Cup – only for Newcastle to concede a 92nd-minute equalizer.
However, Eddie Howe wanted to get on the front foot and take the game to Chelsea, just as Newcastle did at their best. This side has struggled to do that for a while now, and this was a familiarly chaotic display. Newcastle can’t afford to rock up to the Etihad and play like this on Saturday.
