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Opinion

A negative display ends Chelsea 1 Newcastle 0 and Steve Bruce’s team back in relegation zone

4 years ago
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It ended Chelsea 1 Newcastle 0.

Only one goal in it and a spirited display from the away side.

The half-time stats showed Newcastle with only 30% possession and not a single corner or effort on target.

At the final whistle it was no different, Newcastle ending with an overall 29% possession and still not a single effort on target or corner, whilst Chelsea had eight on target and 11 corners.

Very difficult to claim you deserve anything when looking at those stats.

Newcastle started the game very deep with five defenders and four midfielders sitting just in front of them, Joelinton an isolated figure.

The first 15-20 minutes had seen a few decent moments for NUFC, mainly thanks to the pace of Allan Saint-Maximin. Chelsea defenders looking anything but comfortable when actually pressed, you can see why they have conceded 14 goals already in their first eight Premier League games.

After that though it became pretty much all Chelsea, pressing and probing the defensive lines of Newcastle.

Hudson-Odoi charged down Dubravka kick outside the box and the keeper was lucky to see it fall safe.

Then Mason Mount found himself unmarked on the turn in the box and not realising how much time he had, hit an instant shot straight at Dubravka, anywhere else and it would have been a goal.

Apart from that though, no real scares for Newcastle in the first half, although Hudson-Odoi looks good down Newcastle’s right.

Could Newcastle hold out and/or find a goal from somewhere in this second half?

The second half though started in much the same fashion as the opening half ended.

With Newcastle actually defending even more, hardly getting out of their own half.

Predictably, Chelsea started really turning the screw as they were invited to attack.

The likes of Willian showing up a bit of a lack of pace in our midfield (Longstaff) duo.

Clark and Schar making some great last gasp blocks and challenges but you could feel the goal coming.

Abraham heading against the bar (deflected off Clark) from a corner, then heading just over with another effort.

Martin Dubravka then making some excellent saves with the pick of them a point blank save from Pulisic.

The ball was repeatedly going into the Newcastle box and it had to eventually happen, sure enough the ball eventually worked across the box and Alonso an extra man unmarked, with his effort from inside the box on the left hand side beating Dubravka.

Newcastle offered nothing in response and Tammy Abraham will still be wondering how he didn’t score, an excellent quick move saw him with a tap in as Dubravka was out of the picture, only for Yedlin to appear from nowhere and deflect it over the bar.

Ciaran Clark had a late ‘chance’ on a very rare Newcastle visit to the Chelsea box, though a very difficult headed opportunity landed on top of the goal.

Not good results elsewhere either, wit Newcastle back in the relegation zone as at the bottom: Watford, Norwich, Southampton, Villa, Everton and Wolves all picked up a point or three.

Stats from BBC Sport:

Chelsea 1 Newcastle 0  – Saturday 19 October 3pm

Goals:

Chelsea

Alonso 73

Possession was Chelsea 71% Newcastle 29%

Total shots were Chelsea 16 Newcastle 5

Shots on target were Chelsea 8 Newcastle 0

Corners were Chelsea 11 Newcastle 0

Referee: Andre Marriner

Newcastle team:

Dubravka, Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Clark, Willems, M Longstaff, S Longstaff, Saint-Maximin (Gayle 85), Almiron (Carroll 70), Joelinton (Atsu 83)

Unused Subs

Darlow, Dummett, Shelvey, Krafth

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