Here’s the game as we saw it – as it happened.
There was a rousing tribute to Gary Speed before kick off with John Carver in tears on the sideline and the Newcastle crowd were roaring out “There’s Only One Gary Speed”
The Newcastle crowd were in good form as the game kicked off and the atmosphere at the ground seemed to be electric.
A long kick downfield by Petr Chech was cleared well on the volley Ryan Taylor.
Then a great through ball put Demba Ba through and David Luiz brought him down and he was the last man and should have been sent off – but he only got a yellow crad – a terrible error by the referee Mike Dean.
It was just a shocking decision by Mike Dean and if these referees don’t stick to the rules – which are very clear in these situations – what’s the point?
It was a big start by the Newcastle side in the first 10 minutes of the game and Newcastle were rocking the Chelsea defense which looked very uncertain.
Another free kick by Ryan Taylor was too close to the the goalkeeper Cech, who took the ball well.
Then on 13 minutes Cabaye was adjudged to have brought down Daniel Sturridge and referee Dean gave a penalty.
Frank Lampard took the penalty but a fantastic save from Tim Krul low to his left saved the day for Newcastle.
Wonderful goalkeeping from the Dutch International.
On 16 minutes Strurridge hit the post when his shot was not blocked, and he was given too much time and space to get the shot in.
Chelsea were proving too fast for the Newcastle defense and Sturridge looked a serious threat and seemed to have too much speed for Ryan Taylor.
After 20 minutes the game was still scoreless but Chelsea had hit the post and missed a penalty.
The Sturridge had a decent chance from just outside of the box but his shot was slightly wide.
After 22 minutes Sturridge was sent straight through, but Tim Krul smothered his left foot shot in great style – Tim had saved Newcastle at least twice so far in the game.
Strurridge again had the ball on the right as Chelsea seemed to be playing the ball down the right wing to expose Ryan Taylor, who was finding Sturridge’s speed hard to handle.
Then on 25 minutes Lovenkrands put the ball over well form the left and Ba’s shot was very saved by Cech. Lovenkrands looked very sharp in the game so far.
On 28 minutes James Perch started to warm up and it looked like Coloccini had picked up a knock – this would be a big big blow to Newcastle.
This was the first time in the league this season that the back five had been changed.
And then some magic on the left wing got past the Newcastle defense and it was Steven Taylor who just cut out the cross for a corner, as Chelsea were pressing Newcastle at this stage.
On 30 minutes it had been a hectic game with Chelsea getting the better of the chances.
On 25 minutes a Demba Ba header hit the post with a header from as Guthrie cross, and Chelsea cleared it bit almost put it into their own goal.
The game was a humdinger after 35 minutes with both sides having chances and both sides hitting the upright. The Mata came in from the right wing but his shot was well blocked by Ryan Taylor.
Then on 38 minutes Chelsea went ahead when a brilliant header by Drogba after a cross By Mata that gave Tim Krul no chance, but the Newcastle defense had gone to sleep.
Mata had got away from his marker Cabaye at a throw in which seemed to have been Newcastle’s and the Spaniard got the cross in – but it was poor defending by Newcastle.
Then Sturridge was clean through the middle of the Newcastle defense but another great save by Tim Krul saved Newcastle, who were missing Coloccini at the back.
It was a good save by Tim low to his left, but Sturridge should have scored.
Chelsea were ahead at the half and apart from the first 10 minutes Chelsea had been playing something like their old selves – unfortunately.
But Chelsea should have been down to 10 men after only 4 minutes, when David Luiz should have received a straight red card.
The TV replays showed it was a stone cold red card but of course Mike Dean will not be pressed to say why he didn’t give it. Newcastle had been robbed.
Demba Ba was looking sharp and Newcastle would need to get the ball to him more in the second half.
Newcastle made a change at half time as Shola Aemobi came on in place of Hatem Ben Arfa, and we’re not sure if it’s a tactical switch – but it probably is and Newcastle will play all out 4-4-2.
Newcastle were pressing Chelsea immediately after the break, and Obertan was showing up well but he must improve his final pass.
Newcastle need a goal to get back in the game as Newcastle had 79% of the play in the first 51 minutes of the second half.
Then on 53 minutes Drogba had a great chance to put Chelsea further ahead, but he screwed his right foot show well wide from six yards out, when it was easier to score.
A right wing cross had been completely misjudged by Danny Simpson as the Newcastle defense was looking less than solid.
On 55 minutes a Cabaye corner was headed against the Chelsea cross bar by Didier Drogba, and then Chelsea broke away quickly and it took another brilliant save from Tim Krul from Ramieres saved Newcastle.
Ramirez was clean through and should have scored so either side could have scored a goal within 30 seconds.
On 58 minutes Shola Ameobi broke through the middle but his shot was just wide of the post.
Then Obertan was though on the right but his cross wasn’t good and behind the two Newcastle strikers.
On 70 minutes it was still 1-0 to Chelsea as both sides were attacking each other and Chelsea were counter-attacking quickly to catch the Newcastle defense short at the back.
On 71 minutes Shola’s brother Sammy came on for Peter Lovenkrands – the Ameobis are the first brothers to play for Newcastle since the Robledo brothers (George and Ted) in the 1950s.
On 74 minutes a Sammy Ameobi shot was cleared off the line by John Terry as Petr Cech mishandled a cross.
Then on 80 minutes a terrific shot by Shola Ameobi hit the bar and from the rebound Sammy Ameobi hit a decent shot which was well saved by Cech.
When you’re luck’s not in it’s not in.
Then on 83 minutes Sturridge was straight through on Krul but again Tim made a great save.
On 88 minutes Chelsea broke through and caught Newcastle short at the back and Kalou was set up by Torres and Kalou put the ball home, although even then Tim Krul did get a hand to the ball.
The Steven Taylor had to go off with what looked like an injury and Newcastle were down to 10 men.
Then in the 3rd minute of injury time Sturridge finally took a chance and blasted the ball past Tim Krul.
Two goals in the last two minutes with the third goal when Newcastle were reduced to 10 men gives the impression that Newcastle were well beaten but they weren’t but they didn’t get the rub of the green.
And what would have happened if referee Mike Dean had rightly sent off the loose cannon David Luiz after 4 minutes?
But the lads must recover from this defeat for the game at Norwich next week, as we must keep picking up the points and wins if we can, but we have no idea how serious the injuries are to Colo and Steven Taylor.
I may even have to look around for my boots again.
In the cold light of day we took just one point from the last three games and had a goal difference of -5 and are out of the top four.
Teams:
Newcastle United (4-4-1-1): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Ryan Taylor; Gabriel Obertan, Yohan Cabaye, Danny Guthrie, Peter Lovenkrands; Hatem Ben Arfa; Demba Ba
Substitutes: Steve Harper, Davide Santon, James Perch, Dan Gosling, Sammy Ameobi, Leon Best, Shola Ameobi
Chelsea: (4-3-3): Petr Cech; Branislav Ivanovic, David Luiz, John Terry (c), Ashley Cole; Ramires, Oriol Romeu, Frank Lampard; Daniel Sturridge, Didier Drogba, Juan Mata
Substitutes: Ross Turnbull, Jose Bosingwa, Ryan Bertrand, Raul Meireles, Florent Malouda, Salomon Kalou, Fernando Torres
59 comments so far
Indian Magpie
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:30 PM
Comment #1ppl here saying the performance was poor, we need some change. pardew says the back 4 wont be changed
why not
if it makes team better
Indian Magpie
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:31 PM
Comment #2off topic,
anything in spurs being in for KRUL
Louis583
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Comment #3Indian, I Think his price has just doubled after today’s match..
ToonDownSouth
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Comment #4I was screaming at the screen in the pub I was in every time Sturridge got clean through down the right, time and time again.
I respect Ryan Taylor, and he’s the kind of guy I want representing us, but he really needs to be changed.
He should probably have been sent off at the end too for trying to kill Sturridge – I was geniunely hoping he would be, but we’ll probably have to play him at CB now!
yorkshireToon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:34 PM
Comment #5krul – amazing our motm could of been double figures without him
simpson – didn’t do anything wrong really looked better when compared to ryan taylor
saylor – solid gonna struggle without him for a while i think its gonna be
collo – amazing on pitch saved us with his textbook interceptions
raylor – im an admirer of his but its time for santon to come in he’s too slow to be a full back
cabaye/guthrie – played well picked out passes
obertan – poor gave ball away constantly and never looked like taking a man on
ben arfa – looked good taking players on why bring him off?
ba – class
obviously feeling agreeved about the red card but pardews decision the play long ball football in the second half was a bit dissapointing however we gave them a game and on another day could of got something
seantoon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:34 PM
Comment #6We’ve no choice but to change the defence now. We’ve got a defensive crisis. Time for a young lad from the academy to step up and make a name for himself
JackButler
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:35 PM
Comment #7Indian
If Carrol went for 35mil that Spurs would not pay, then Krull has to be out of their price range.
Just more cockney reporters writing out of their arse instead of writing the truth
JackButler
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:37 PM
Comment #8Colo is out for a week or two while Saylor could be out for a while, is Willo back in training? would like to see Tavernier get his chance
ToonDownSouth
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:37 PM
Comment #9Lol, keepers don’t sell for that much!
Isn’t the most expensive keeper ever Buffon at £30m? And part of the fee was the “value” of a part exchange player.
daztoon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:39 PM
Comment #10@tds
Was defo a red card but we’ve had a lot of ref decisions go our way this season.I think the biggest issue is raylor last 3 games opposition have exploited our weakness at left back
messi_is_king
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:39 PM
Comment #11chin up lads. lets not forget how far we have come in a short space of time.
we have a good run of games now so if we keep the faith n get behind the lads we can push on again!
also think ben arfa deffo needs to saty in team he is class played the top 3 n showed flashes can only get better
roshan MAGPIE
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:40 PM
Comment #12I Think KADAR and PEARCH will be our next center backs GIVES ME SHIVERS
seantoon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Comment #13De gea cost 17mill and I think krul has proved he’s better than him
Indian Magpie
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Comment #14watched the game, the manner of defeat hurts
ToonDownSouth
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:42 PM
Comment #15sean
Fair enough yeah. I think in the long term De Gea will be the better goalkeeper. United did spend a whole year searching for VDSs replacement.
kevymartins
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:43 PM
Comment #16@daztoon like what 1 pen vs man utd in 2years
the reff was a DIRTY BIASS t i t
ffs even there first goal like how could the even have noticed it wass there throw …and then ben arfa n all were getting snapd an the cu nt was giving them throwins
if colo wannabe was sent off then we woulda beat them rember what we did to a 10 man arsenal??
THE REFF SHOULD BE SHOT THE BALDY EFFIN C0CK SUCKING PR ICK
JackButler
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:43 PM
Comment #17Dont know if any of you can get the channel but there is a tribute special to Gary Speed on BBC Wales tonight at 5:30
seantoon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:44 PM
Comment #18Anelka and Alex hand in transfer requests i want them both
LGFUAD21
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:44 PM
Comment #19Oops. Voted Cabaye but yeah Krul.
I though Cabaye and Guthrie were decent in midfield. Especially Cabaye who created a lot.
Ben Arfa again showed some great creativity at times. Having him on the pitch definitely improves the whole team. We play a higher standard of nice passing football with him plugging the gaps and giving options.
Missed Colo but Perch did decent considering he hasnt played there for ages.
Raylor got skinned and missed Jonas.
Obertan certainly the WORST player. He has the skill and ability. What he doesnt have is the brain for the game yet. He needs to start thinking 2 moves ahead instead of running into traps he is never going to get out of. The only thing he really contributed was when Cabaye or Guthrie would take a one-two with him to lessen the pressure form Chelsea.
Worrying about Saylor and Colo. Could be up the creek.
That said we played well at times and held up against them. The score in no way reflects the game. Im not saying they didnt deserve a win. But it should have been 2-1 or 1-1.
This is how i think the team should look (injuries aside)
Simmo Saylor Colo Raylor
Sammy Tiote Cabaye Jonas
HBA
BA
Sammy shows at times a great ability to back track and help out in defense. Which is a surprise given his size. He is also more intelligent than Obertan which often trumps skill and again is surprising because of his age (you’d think Sammy would be doing what Obertan does due to inexperience). He can also score. Jonas on his stronger foot. Shola should be used as an impact sub more. He has appeared effective in this role recently. He is also very good at taking the ball down and
boater
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:44 PM
Comment #20Hmm a game of agonising moments. The red card not given, Ba and Shola’s efforts. A game of tiny margins all stacking up against us.. tiote or Jonas may just have given us the extra 2% needed to get something out of that game.
We were utterly hopeless on the wings today until Sammy came on – only Cabaye is a bonafide first team starter in that midfield 4 and it showed. Ba had one of his best games in a black and white shirt. Shola played very well again off the bench – had to dig deep to create anything against a deep, packed in Chelsea defense but did that.
Obertan – don’t like criticising our own, but how we missed someone with good decision making on the right wing.. is Solano completely retired now?
We went for it second half and the team can take heart,, 5th is amazing with some slightly easier games coming up.
roshan MAGPIE
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:44 PM
Comment #21I think that we have to play like the kevin keegan s entertainers who just scored more goals than conceded
kevymartins
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:45 PM
Comment #22Seatoon
alex is a fat piece of sh it
Indian Magpie
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:45 PM
Comment #23i hate to say it, but we need to go the way tottenham have gone
daztoon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:46 PM
Comment #24Arsenal should have had a pen as should wolves not to mention goal disallowed
Indian Magpie
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:46 PM
Comment #25a whole weak ahead of me, thinking abt this
seantoon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:47 PM
Comment #26Fat? You must have one hell of a figure one you kevy if u can label Alex fat. He’s a better defender than ridgewell who were currently after
ToonDownSouth
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:48 PM
Comment #27boater
Doesn’t Nobby still play for Hartlepool? Or is he gone now? I’d love to dig out the old Solano shirt aha
The thing that bugs me is that 1-0 would have been a fair result. Forget the possible red – “swings & roundabouts”. They scored 2 because we had 1 CB.
And Perch actually had a decent game :/
kevymartins
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:48 PM
Comment #28That reff today was a fcuking wnaker
feel sorry fr are team after that …it was a disgrace a joke and that piece of ass should be sacked simple as …could’nt reff a game in the u8’s league
Klatoon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:49 PM
Comment #29Wow,Kadar and Perch as CB’s next week…now there’s a scary thought!
LGFUAD21
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:50 PM
Comment #30@seantoon
Ive said all summer and this season to my dirty manure friends that they should have gone after Krul (obviously im grateful they didnt).
on another note was nice seeing Simmo really encouraging the team at times. Especially given that the press seems to suggest he is not committed. I really think he can only improve with each game.
ToonDownSouth
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:50 PM
Comment #31Klatoon
Effing terrifying isn’t it 😐
yorkshireToon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:50 PM
Comment #32bring on the transfer window
daztoon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:53 PM
Comment #33Only if we buy and not sell players.we have a good team when all fit but a an average squad
seantoon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:56 PM
Comment #34I know what you mean mate. I think krul is a young van der sar. And he can only get better it’s great to see. And I think we can deffinetly stop speculating on tiote going to Chelsea now. They have essien mikel and the new boy today romeu was solid a good player so I really can’t see why they would need tiote
Anis
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:56 PM
Comment #35Why wasn’t Santon brought on for Colo? Does he have an injury or something? I’m assuming if he makes it to the bench, he’s fit enough to play.
ToonDownSouth
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:56 PM
Comment #36If we manage to beat Norwich next week, then everyone will be happy again I’m sure. It’s just the way our fickle football minds work aha.
Thump
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:56 PM
Comment #37Aye Solano is still playing for the Monkey Hangers, TDS.
I haven’t read many of these comments but what’s the word on Colo and Saylor?
yorkshireToon
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:57 PM
Comment #38how any newcastle fan can say de gea will be better than krul is beyond me
LGFUAD21
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:57 PM
Comment #39@Boater, you say that about Cabaye but Guthrie has been good and that’s down to Pardew completely. Pardew has taught the team the basics that can immensely improve your game but are all too often overlooked
GeordieToon89
Dec 3, 2011 at 3:57 PM
Comment #40Apparently there think Taylor might have ligament damage he’s going for a scan soon as the swelling goes down, Colo’s got a dead leg he’l be fine for next week hopefully
Perch played really well when he came on