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Chelsea 3 Newcastle 0 – Instant United fan/writer reaction to Sunday’s defeat

6 years ago
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Chelsea 3 Newcastle 0 – Sunday 28 January 2018 1.30pm

We asked a number of our regular writers to give us a brief instant reaction after the final whistle.

Newcastle lose 3-0 at Chelsea, in 11 years still to reach the fifth round under Mike Ashley’s reign.

Kevin Christie:

“Another dull and predictable morale-sapping defeat. Total lack of belief and killer instinct.

“We were never at the races. Same old story week in, week out.

“Optimism is in short supply and we will be dead in the water if we don’t get a top-class striker in by Wednesday night.

“More than any other time under the Ashley regime, we really are at a crucial crossroads now. Three days left to save our season.

“Another relegation and Rafa jumping ship and all hell will break loose.”

Jamie Smith:

“Expectedly underwhelming and officially 50 years without a major trophy. What mugs we are.

“Disappointment at another early and obvious FA Cup exit of course will pale compared to the relegation confirming disappointment of no signings come Thursday.”

Nat Seaton:

“Can’t say that we showed any real will to give it a go today.

“Really disappointing away cup performance – how many times have we said that in recent years?!

“Here’s hoping that Wednesday night’s tactics and performance produce a big improvement…”

Paul Lyon:

“Thought we did OK in the first half, if we’d stuck one of our chances away we might have made more of a game of it in the second.

“Just the league to focus on now, hopefully it’s a non-eventful passage to mid table obscurity…”

Ben Cooper:

“Well it was nice of us to give Chelsea the opportunity to have a training game so they could give a bit of confidence to a few squad players and blood a couple of youngsters.

“I can’t see what we got out of it except to put off anyone wanting to sign Saivet and Haidara.

“We played ok for 30 minutes, were sloppy defensively for their two first half goals and unlucky that both of them had a good deal of fortune about them.

“In the second half we were just plain awful.

“We never got any players far enough forward to cause Chelsea serious defensive problems, even when they gave the ball away our forward players lacked belief.

“Not that we had many forward players, sometimes none.

“All in all, another typically NUFC way to get dumped out of the cup. Chelsea didn’t even really have to try in the end. Just turning up was enough to beat us today.”

Jamie Swan:

“What can you say that hasn’t been said for weeks? We are completely impotent.

“I would have been less surprised today had we won than if Donald Trump arrived at my house in Air Force one and offered me a threesome with a Cilla Black look a like.

“Chelsea were pretty average really but strolled it in the end with the quality that they had.

“We were not that bad first half even in conceding two goals, not battered by any stretch.

“But we offer as much of a threat up front as Andreas Andersson’s granny.

“Mike, you need to sort out some back ups for Rafa and guess what mate? You will have to pay real money.

“But for the sake of the press, it’s not from his pocket or the goodness of his black withered prune of a heart – it’s from the club’s revenue!

“Massive game Weds. Window shuts the same day. MASSIVE!”

David Punton:

“That second half was pretty dispiriting stuff from NUFC, in contract to a brighter opening period.

“A few missed chances, while Chelsea with more investment and quality took theirs.

“Rafa Benitez had to be allowed to rebuild in a big way last summer. Instead he was denied that, the owner seemed to move the goal posts and we had to scrimp along as usual.

“So that’s another FA Cup exit. This competition has been nothing short of a nightmare since Mike Ashley took over.

“We all grow weary of this owner, this regime.

“How much longer will this warmed up dog sick of an approach go on?”

George Stainsby:

“Pressed well for first half hour, and unlucky for the second goal. But we offered nothing in the second half.

“More creativity needed and less panic at the chances we do have. Three points on Wednesday and I’ll forget about this. Just.”

Toon Bano:

“As soon as the draw was made, I instantly assumed our cup run was over.

“But when you see the likes of Newport County give Spurs a massive scare you think, well maybe we can do something.

“How stupid a thought is that?

“Chelsea are a vastly superior team to us but for them to not need to get out of 2nd gear to turn a club like us over so easily, is depressing.

“Mike Ashley has been here now for 11 FA Cup campaigns. Not once have we got beyond the 4th round. Not once. That is beyond incredible.

“People say ‘he has done a good job at Newcastle, hasnt he?’ I have to stop myself from physically or verbally attacking them.

“The sooner he is gone, the sooner we can have a cup run, the sooner we can break our transfer record, time and time again.

“The sooner we can start being Newcastle Utd again.”

Stats from BBC Sport:

Chelsea 3 Newcastle 0

Goals:

Chelsea: Batshuayi 31,44 Alonso 72

Possession was Chelsea 61% Newcastle 39%

Total shots were Chelsea 18 Newcastle 9

Shots on target were Chelsea 8 Newcastle 6

Corners were  Chelsea 5 Newcastle 4

Referee: Kevin Friend

Newcastle United:

Darlow, Manquillo (Murphy 77), Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba, Haidara, Saivet, Hayden (Atsu 83), Shelvey, Ritchie, Gayle (Joselu 64)

Unused Subs:

Woodman, Diame, Dummett, Yedlin

Crowd: 41,049

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