Newcastle are back in action against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Steve Bruce had to rotate the squad with a few key players out such as Javier Manquillo (Ankle) Fabian Schar (Knee) Callum Wilson (Hamstring) and Jeff Hendrick (Suspended) Given the absentee's credit must be given to Bruce for not setting out the lineup for parking the bus, sticking to the 4-3-1-2 formation which has been somewhat successful in recent weeks, particularly against Everton and Southampton. Karl Darlow maintained his position with Krafth and Lewis as the full-backs. The Captain Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark returned at centre half. At centre midfield, we saw the trio of Willock, Hayden and Shelvey. Further forward was Almiron in his prefered CAM role just behind the Striker Dwight Gayle starting for the first time this season, with his previous seven appearances coming off the bench.
Three minutes into the game and it is Chelsea with the first effort on goal with Alonso who received the ball from, Kovacic. Also, drive the shot from the edge of the area but its collected by Darlow. Four minutes later Azpillicueta had a header on target but Gayle headed the ball over the bar for a Chelsea corner which is played in for Tammy Abraham who heads it wide from a good position. Abrahamgound himself clear of the defence in the 15th minute, in on goal Lascelles comes from behind to make the tackle. It was reviewed by VAR and was deemed fair, however, the challenge forced Chelsea's first substitution of the game with an injured Abraham making way for Olivier Giroud.
United's first chance came in the 22nd minute when Shelvey released Lewis down the left-hand side, Lewis then played in Saint-Maximin who cut inside to get a shot away but it was blocked by Christensen. But four minutes later Chelsea went close again when Giroud played a lovely ball wide into the area for Alonso who headed the ball into space for a stretching Timo Werner to attack, but the stretch was too far and the ball went wide.
Chelsea were knocking on the door all through the early stages of the first half and in the 31st minute they let themselves in with Werner trying the handle, getting past Krafth Werner played a fast ball across the face of goal, Darlow palmed it away, into the path of Giroud who doesn't miss the chance to shoot at an empty net. 1-0 Chelsea.
And just eight minutes later Werner turns from provider to goalscorer when a Chelsea corner us flicked on by Giroud who incidentally turned from scorer to provider at the back post for Werner to stretch and this time put the ball in the back of the net. The goal was contested by VAR for a handball on Giroud but it was deemed to have come off his head. 2-0. The last chance of the first half fell to Mount in the box but the Englishman dragged it wide. Half Time. 2-0.
Three minutes into the second half United had a free-kick which was taken by Shelvey, over the wall the shot had to be saved by Kepa who got down to it well. Then in the 53rd minute, Saint-Maximin from the left side whipped in a ball to meet the boot of Willock who struck it wide. Shelvey in the 62nd minute tried a speculative effort from a long way out on the halfway line but the Keeper was wise to it and collected it comfortably.
In the 72nd minute, Lascelles was in the thick of the action again when Alonso put the ball into the box for Werner who got his leg up to the ball and knocked it out for a goal kick. Werner appealed to the Referee, claiming that he was pushed by Lascelles but the Ref wasn't having any of it. In the 75th minute, Fraser replaced Saint-Maximin who wasn't at his best today, Fraser whipped it in and Willock rose over the man towers that were the Chelsea Center backs. Willock nodded the ball down to the bottom corner but Kepa got down well to make a difficult save. Good effort by the loanee.
Chelsea almost went even further ahead in the 79th minute with the substitute Reece James who dribbled his way into the box. James took on the shot which took a deflection off of Lewis and had to be saved by the legs of Darlow.
In the 82nd minute, United linked up well with Carroll heading to ball into the path of Joelinton who showed off his Samba side with a nice little flick on the outside of his boot, over the heads of the Chelsea defence the ball fell to Almiron who blasted it into the stands. Full Time: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle United.
We took our foot off the pedal in this game. The previous three games against Everton, Palace and Southampton saw us pressing and being resilient. But I think the big name of Chelsea intimidated the Mags in the first half. And by the second half, it was too late. For me Dwight Gayle was extremely disappointing. For a man who has to prove himself, he didn't put himself about. Gayle lacked the assertiveness that Andy Carroll and even Joelinton possess. It didn't help with the tactics of playing long balls from the back, up to two of the shortest players on the field ASM and Gayle. Onto Manchester United this Sunday. Similar to this Chelsea game im not expecting much. Hurry back Wilson.
By Sam West.
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