Chelsea 0-1 Newcastle United, Premier League: Post-match reaction, ratings

The match started in rather subdued fashion, with both teams nursing European hangovers, but that seemed to suit Chelsea as we were able to generate a few decent opportunities. Unfortunately Cole Palmer’s shooting radar continues to be miscalibrated, Wesley Fofana put a free header over the bar, then Palmer blocked an Enzo shot that may have been heading for the top corner.

Newcastle didn’t offer much, but then we gifted them a golden opportunity with a breakdown in defending, and they duly took advantage of it to go up 1-0 in the 18th minute.

The goal didn’t change the flow of the game, but it did take the wind out of our sails, and seemingly all impetus, movement and creativity out of our attack. Newcastle sat back with eleven behind the ball and bemusedly watched us pass the ball around harmlessly in a u-shape. A chorus of boos greeted the half-time whistle.

Chelsea came out of the break with a renewed sense of purpose and started to actually threaten the Newcastle goal. But the visitors were able to deal with our increased effort, and when they couldn’t, we opted to overplay and not take shots, or they got lucky with VAR not calling the Woltemade tackle on Palmer a foul in the area. Liam Delap then missed a presentable opportunity while Trev Chalobah nodded just wide from a corner.

We kept knocking in mildly desperate fashion, but could not find the breakthrough. Newcastle threw on a couple extra big men and would repel all our attempts without too much difficulty. James brushed the outside of the post with a free kick in added-on time, but that was the closest we would come.