A dramatic 89th minute winner from Kai Havertz was just about enough to claim all three points from a resilient Newcastle side.
Chelsea began the game the strongest looking to leave their off the field problems to one side, however finding no real space within a packed Newcastle defence.
Newcastle hit back and responded to the home sides strong start as Miguel Almiron had fierce volley saved by recent AFCON winner Edoaurd Mendy.
Tempers reached boiling point in a controversial point of the game where Havertz and Dan Burn both contested for a high ball which resulted in Burn receiving an elbow in the cheek from the German. The Newcastle players like Eddie Howe thought this warranted more than a yellow.
Out for the first half and Newcastle pushed Chelsea back, a potential penalty shout as Jacob Murphy looked to have beaten Trevoh Chalobah only for the defender to firstly pull his shirt and then also trip over the winger yet nothing was given.
Chelsea then thought they had a penalty for themselve as Timo Werner was brought down by Martin Dubravka but once again the forward had strayed into an offside position.
89 minutes and still goalless, Jorginho played a delightful ball over to Havertz who delicately brought it down with his right foot and pocked home with his left foot from close range, sending the Chelsea fans wild.
“Three big, big points”, claimed Thomas Tuchel as his side maintained their position in the Champions League places.
“Very disappointed to lose our unbeaten run that way”, as Eddie Howe described his sides agonising defeat, where a point would have been so valuable in their objective to stay clear of the relegation zone.
