In the end, Newcastle were well beaten by a good Chelsea side after we had gone ahead with an opportunist goal from Dwight Gayle after 12 minutes, for his second goal this season.
Goalkeeper Courtois had blocked the ball beating a Newcastle player to a good through ball, but Dwight was in the right place at the right time to put the ball home.
From then on Chelsea were on top in this game where Rafa played three at the back and with two wing-backs.
Matt Ritchie played in the left wing-back position, but Matt had a poor defensive game and was responsible for two of the Chelsea goals.
In fact, all three goals conceded by Newcastle were from defensive mistakes and that getting to be the story in too many of our Premier League games.
So Rafa has to quickly sort out how Newcastle defend although hopefully both Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummett will be available next Saturday for the home game to Leicester City.
Dwight Gayle – scored after 12 minutes
Newcastle are starting to leak too many goals – and our defense was the foundation on which we got off to a solid start to the season.
And it’s worrying we have taken only one point from the last 18 played for.
Chelsea’s first goal came after 21 minutes when Lejeune didn’t clear the ball in the penalty area and it went straight to Eden Hazard who hit a bobbling ball past goalkeeper Darlow to equalize the scores.
And then 12 minutes later Matt Ritchie made a poor attempt to head the ball clear but only gave straight to a Chelsea player who crossed the ball quickly and Morata headed the ball home past Darlow – it was all too easy.
It was 2-1 at halftime with Chelsea controlling the game.
In the second half Newcastle hadn’t given up by any means, and we were still in with a chance at 2-1 down
But then in the 74th minute, Matt Ritchie made a tackle inside the box on Victor Moses that he shouldn’t have made, and he gave away what was a clear penalty.
Hazard converted from the spot to make it 3-1, and in fact, we were fairly lucky to get away with that score as Chelsea could have scored more.
Benitez brought on Hayden, Shelvey, and Yedlin as second-half subs but it made little difference.
We have now lost more than half our league games – 8 games out of 15 games played and we remain on 15 points.
At this rate, we will have 38 points at the end of the season from the 38 games – one point more than we finished up with when we were relegated last year.
But once Rafa sorts things our we expect to have a lot more than that come May – but at the moment it’s just a little worrying with our collapse in the last six games.
Chelsea and the other top five teams are not where we will get our points and wins from this season.
But games against the other 14 teams are very important to Newcastle, and we must start picking up some wins soon.
Against Leicester, at home, next Saturday would be a good time to start, but the former Champions have been in good form lately.
Teams:
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen (Cahill, 80), Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Drinkwater, Fabregas (Bakayoko, 78), Alonso; Hazard (Willian, 78), Morata.
Subs not used: Caballero, Pedro, Zappacpsta, Batshuayi.
Newcastle: Darlow; Manquillo, Lejeune, Mbemba, Clark; Merino (Yedlin, 85), Diame (Shelvey, 75); Murphy, Perez (Hayden, 61), Ritchie; Gayle.
Subs not used: Elliot, Aarons, Joselu, Mitrovic.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Comments welcome.
14 comments so far
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:27 PM
Comment #1Hoots absolutely did a better job than Rafa in the Champ. That’s clear.
He also had us on 19pts at this stage on our return..
chicousa
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:27 PM
Comment #2MotM??? Wow, that is a tough one this week…
toon kk
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:29 PM
Comment #3More defensive mistakes, maybe so but we were just outclassed. Chelsea have outclassed the majority of premier league clubs.
lochinvar
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:31 PM
Comment #4Anybody who doesn’t think we’re in a relegation group is deluded. One fortunate point from 18 is not healthy and the players looked shellshocked and knackered.
Swansea at the moment are three points behind us and Everton are now clear of us because they’re showing fight. The investment needed in January and by the first week is frightening and will need to be decisive. Rafa leaves the substitutions way too late but I have a feeling that some games are written off in advance so rotating players is to give us better options in games we are targeting to win – such as Leicester who have Vardy by the way rather than to win against the likes of Chelsea. There’s no hiding behind the sofa lads this is a rough ride and Shelvey is no Nolan – the type of player we need just now.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:32 PM
Comment #5Only players than can come out with their heads held high – well not high but up – Darlow, and Murphy. Merino did Ok on the ball but let the runners run. Aso thought Gayle did OK along with Manquilla.
Yedlin for Merino – Rafa what the F**k was that about
Ritchie Shite – Perez not far behind
If I was Mitro I would tell Rafa to stick his team and club up his arse – Sorry might not like the guy might not be brilliant but his ommission has become personnel and that should NEVER happen when you manage a football club.
toon kk
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:33 PM
Comment #6Houghton did a great job for us, he also had better player’s imo. If MA had backed him propley instead of disgraceful pushing him out we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in today.
Nufc-83
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:35 PM
Comment #7Charlie merino do ok on the ball did you watch the game?? Gave possession away time after time.
Nufc-83
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:36 PM
Comment #8No doubt houghton had a much better side than the one we have now.
lochinvar
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:37 PM
Comment #9When is Lascalles back – tomorrow can’t come soon enough
Nufc-83
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:38 PM
Comment #10Teams below us playing each other today so there will be a gap close for sure.
SPRINGY
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:40 PM
Comment #11The sky pundits seemed to think that the takeover could be sooner rather then later and said something along the lines of that ashley has said that takeover was to far gone to turn back….anyone know if anything has happened??
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:41 PM
Comment #12Fact is that all of their bench would be in our first team, to see Willian coming on was enough to make me shrink even further behind the sofa.
Conte was being kind to us by not bringing on Pedro he’d have well and truly skinned Ritchie at LB.
I must admit to being very confused to see Mbemba and Manquillo both playing right side.
And I was shouting at the TV to get Shelvey on before they get a third, but that didn’t happen till it was too late but I think he might have already given up before he was actually shoved onto the pitch. He needs to start games, certainly before HT.
HT himself started well enough but once Chelsea got their act together he started to look like well loved pantomime performer, the rear end.
Hopefully we’ll have Lascelles and Dummett for the Leicester and a bit more steel in defense.
Time for us to go on a good run.
Oh and if Rafa picks a similar team to today for the Leicester game then I’ll start to believe Catchie’s theory.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 2, 2017 at 3:45 PM
Comment #13Nufc-83
Merino – I thoght he diod ok – he tried to get things going get the ball forward unlike some of the others- ie Ritchie with his inside back balls all game – slowed the game up time after time and at faulr for two of the goals had a mere.
Yes I expected to loose but not to surrender – at least have a bloody go – you never know you might get lucky
toonluvva
Dec 2, 2017 at 4:14 PM
Comment #14Sorry but I just can’t see what playing Diame brings us. Too slow, no vision and never tracks back.
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect us to win @ Stamford Bridge but the manner of their defeat was disgusting. Nice to see Gayle scoring though.
Our defence needs good shaking.