Great Performance... But Another Kick In The Teeth

YCMIU... Our best first half performance of the season by a country mile and we still end up without a win. This rollercoaster of a highly emotional up and down season continues.

In the first half this was the Newcastle United in the pomp of Eddie's reign.

High press, 100% effort across the pitch, relentless pressure and desire, and constantly bombarding Chelsea's goal with early crosses and quick incisive forward passes.

It was a joy to watch and exactly the type of performance we have been waiting for.

On early crosses... my opinion for some rime is that we have failed to get these in, all too often overplaying passes and trying to walk the ball into the net.

I mentioned this to a mate before the Fulham game and his reply was "Well, Woltemade is never in the box so they would be wasted".

This 'never in the box' is a myth that has become a false fact.

Two early crosses from Murphy and Gordon led to both of Big Nick's goals and from another he nearly completed his hat trick. And not one of them a header.

Those fans saying he is not a 9 need to eat their words - yesterday showed he is as much a box deck poacher as he is an aerial threat. Keep slinging those early crosses in.

Done by an early goal and robbed by the ref and VAR

A great first half performance wasn't capped by a deserved third goal that would have surely given us a win and a desperately needed three points.

Games are never over at 2-0 and the oppo scoring can change the mood in an instant.

And so it was when within minutes of the restart a soft free kick was converted by Reece James to give Chelsea all the incentive they needed to go on the offensive.

But... what was Ramsdale doing taking a position way off centre and leaving an obvious space for James to aim at? I just don't get this off centre standing at free kicks.

I'm putting that goal directly down to bad decision making by Ramsdale.

On to the ref and VAR...

What was VAR doing not referring Garnacho's studs rake to the monitor?

Xavi Simon's was referred for a far less dangerous rake that resulted in a sending off - Garnacho's was to the shin and a potential leg breaker.

The foul on Gordon?

I'm sick of pointing this out - anywhere else on the pitch that's a nailed on free kick and potential booking. Where in the book are there different rules for the penalty area?

There aren't, and it's the same for the holding, shirt pulling and obstruction that goes on in the area. One rule for outside the box, one rule for in. But the rule doesn't exist!

Miley, Hall and Gordon were outstanding

There were so many top performances - especially in the first half - that any three outfield players could be in contention to be named.

For me; Miley, Hall and Gordon stood out.

Miley is now starting to show a range of skills that he has kept largely hidden and I believe his spell at RB will be a blessing in disguise.

He has more time on the ball than in midfield, more space to run into, and he is showing a turn of pace and trickery that I bet he displays in spades on the training pitch.

My bet is we'll see more of that when he returns to midfield as he realises what he can do in training he can do against the top teams in the Prem.

Hall? This young lad has more control of the ball than Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Tied to his feet, even in the tightest of spaces ,he can weave his way out and go on an aggressive forward run at pace. IMO he'll be the best LB in the Prem for years to come.

Gordon? He was back to his supreme best especially in that rampant first half.

Full of purposeful energy, taking on and beating his man, and getting involved in nearly all of our most threatening attacks. Playing like that he is a massive asset.

Next up Man U on Boxing Day

Play as we did yesterday, and with a touch more fortune in the box, we have every chance of delivering a knockout blow to the team we love to hate.

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