Bad case of Deja Vu for Mikel Merino at Stamford Bridge

Mikel Merino was one of Newcastle United’s better players at Chelsea on Saturday afternoon bit to no avail.

Despite an early Dwight Gayle goal it was pretty much one way traffic all game.

Within nine minutes of Newcastle scoring it was Hazard who equalised, then another 11 minutes later it was effectively game over as Morata put Chelsea in the lead.

It was very reminiscent of the 4-1 defeat at Old Trafford and though he was injured for that game at Old Trafford, Mikel Merino thinks it was ‘nearly the same game’ and that by Newcastle scoring  ‘they wake up and they go will all they have’.

Merino is looking forward to home comforts, with consecutive home matches against Leicester and Everton coming up.

The Spanish Under 21 international declaring about the St James Park backing ‘I think with all the strength they give us we will improve’.

The bottom line is that they need to.

Mikel Merino:

“It was nearly the same game (as the one against Man Utd), they are great teams and if you start scoring, they wake up and they go with all they have.

“In both games, we made a good start in both halves, but in the end the individual skills they have, won the match.

“Chelsea are a really good team and they have pace, they have ability, they are individually one of the strongest teams in the Premier League.

“The way they play is so hard to play against. We started by scoring a goal but in the end they have pace, ability and they have won the match.

“Playing at home is always an advantage for us (as opposed to playing away).

“The strength of the crowd (at St James Park) is important and I think with all the strength they give us we will improve.

“We know we have to keep working like this, we have to be patient and confident in our possibilities.

“I have played a few matches in a row after the injury and I think I have responded well, I am feeling better.

“I am not at 100% but it is  (just a) question of time.”

Stats from BBC Sport:

Chelsea 3 Newcastle 1

Goals:

Newcastle: Gayle 12

Chelsea: Hazard 21, 74 Morata 33

Possession was Chelsea 66% Newcastle 34%

Total shots were  Chelsea 23 Newcastle 8

Shots on target were  Chelsea 9 Newcastle 2

Corners were  Chelsea 11 Newcastle 4

Referee: Kevin Friend

Newcastle United:

Darlow, Manquillo, Clark, Lejeune, Mbemba, Ritchie, Diame (Shelvey 75), Merino (Yedlin 85), Murphy, Perez (Hayden 62), Gayle

Unused Subs:

Elliot, Joselu, Mitrovic, Aarons

Crowd: 41,538 (Newcastle 3,000)

(Alan Shearer gives honest assessment on Chelsea defeat HERE)

(Instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to Chelsea 3 Newcastle 1 – Read HERE)

(Danny Murphy can’t believe this Newcastle player can’t get in the team – Read HERE)