Chelsea have the chance to temporarily move up to the top of the Premier league, with a win over Newcastle in this early kick-off. Chelsea are unbeaten since their defeat to Liverpool on the 20th of September and have conceded just one goal in their last six games. Newcastle will be looking to continue their excellent home record against Chelsea, having won the last five out of seven games at The Sports Direct Arena. Steve Bruce’s side will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat to Southampton last time out and a victory could take them up to seventh in the table.
Team News
Chelsea make one change from their comprehensive victory over Sheffield United last time out; Antonio Rudiger makes just his second league appearance for The Blues this season replacing the rested Thiago Silva in the centre of defence. N’golo Kante captains the side and Tammy Abraham keeps his place in attack alongside Timo Werner.
Joelinton replaces the injured Callum Wilson upfront and Sean Longstaff replaces Miguel Almiron in the starting line-up after the midfielder only just returned from international duty with Paraguay. Ciaran Clark also replaces Fabian Schar as one of the three central defenders, as Bruce goes with the same system that was used in the defeat at St Mary’s .
1′ Kick-off!
The players take the knee before Chelsea get us underway in the first game since the international break.
4′ Chance!
N’golo Kante releases Timo Werner behind the Newcastle defence and the German striker is one-on-one with the in-form Karl Darlow and the goalkeeper does well to tip Werner’s low shot round the post.
9′ Chance!
Another brilliant save from Darlow! Hakim Ziyech picks the ball up down the right and whips a swirling delivery in towards the box and Abraham gets across the defender and heads towards goal, but Darlow is equal to it.
10′ Goal!
Chelsea are ahead early on! The Blues go short from resulting the corner, with Mount playing a one-two with Werner, who set the midfielder down the wing and his low cross was turned in by Newcastle defender Federico Fernandez for an own-goal and Chelsea will be delighted with the start they have made.
Embed from Getty Images15′ Chance!
Newcastle are all over the place! Werner beats the defender for pace down the left-hand side and hits the ball across the box for Abraham, who was inches away from doubling Chelsea’s lead.
20′ Chelsea dominance!
Chelsea are controlling this game with ease! The Blues are keeping the ball in midfield with some delicate play from Kante, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic; Newcastle can’t get out of their own half.
23′ Chance!
Ziyech releases Reece James down the right-wing and the powerful full-back whips a dangerous cross along the ground for Werner, but he can’t quite get on the end of the cross.
28′ Rare Newcastle Attack!
Kovacic gives the ball away sloppily in midfield and Newcastle pounce on it, setting Joelinton away on the two Chelsea defenders. However, the striker tries a speculative effort from distance which trickles wide.
30′ Chance!
Chelsea should have two! Abraham plays Werner in one-on-one with Darlow and the striker looks destined to score, but he tries to find the far corner and somehow puts the ball wide. Will The Blues rue that missed chance?
33′ Chance!
The ball breaks kindly for Sean Longstaff in midfield and he drives into the Chelsea penalty area, before playing the ball wide to Allan Saint-Maximin, but the winger takes too long and tries to back-heel the ball to Jamal Lewis, but it is overhit and Edouard Mendy collects the ball with ease. Chelsea have been defending very resolutely.
35′ Chance!
Abraham gives the ball away too easily and Newcastle break quickly; Saint-Maximin receives the ball on the edge of the box and skips past Kurt Zouma, but Kante manages to block the shot and the ball deflects out for a corner.
39′ Booking!
Isaac Hayden tries to make a slide-tackle on Kovacic who is running towards the box and seemingly gets the ball, but the referee sees otherwise and gives the midfielder the first booking of the match.
45′ Booking!
Mount tries to start a counter-attack for Chelsea, but Jacob Murphy puts in an aggressive tackle on the midfielder and completely misses the ball; the referee gives Murphy Newcastle’s second yellow of the match.
45+2′ Half-Time!
Chelsea will be delighted with that half! The Blues were dominant throughout and Frank Lampard’s only frustration will be that they’re not more goals ahead, especially with the chances that Werner in particular had. Newcastle did grow in confidence towards the end of the half, but they will need to be more potent to trouble this solid Chelsea defence.
46′ Kick-Off!
Newcastle make one change from the first half, with Schar replacing the injured Jamaal Lascelles; the captain tried to continue after injuring himself in a tackle earlier in the game but he couldn’t carry on.
51′ Newcastle resurgence!
Newcastle are taking the game to Chelsea a lot more at the start of this half and the home side are enjoying more possession, but they are still lacking that potent threat at the top of the pitch.
53′ Chance!
Werner steals the ball from Schar, who wanted too much time on the ball; the striker is haring down on goal and wastes another huge chance, as he tries to square the ball for Abraham, but doesn’t get enough on the pass and Darlow gratefully collects it.
55′ Chance!
Ziyech whips a fabulous corner in and the towering Zouma gets up and wins the header, but he can’t quite direct it inside the post and Newcastle survive.
58′ Chance!
Rudiger’s clearance deflects off Hayden fortunately for the midfielder, putting him through on goal but the Englishman strikes over. However, he is spared any embarrasment, as Craig Pawson gives a free-kick for handball against Hayden.
60′ Chance!
That is the best chance of the game for Newcastle! Saint-Maximin runs aggressively at the Chelsea defence before playing the ball inside to Joelinton and everything opened up for the striker, but his shot flies over the bar. That is a huge missed opportunity.
65′ Goal!
What a goal! Werner picks the ball up deep in Chelsea’s half and drives forward past two Newcastle defenders with ease, before slotting Abraham in, who makes no mistake with the finish. That was brilliant from Werner. Almiron replaces Javier Manquillo as Bruce attempts to get Newcastle back in the game.
Embed from Getty Images70′ Newcastle frustration!
The home side look very despondent after that Abraham goal, they were putting pressure on Chelsea to try and get the equaliser but the second goal seems to have sucker-punched them.
72′ Crossbar!
Longstaff lines up a shot from far outside the area and hits it crisply towards Mendy in the chelsea net, who was helpless as the ball rattled the crossbar. Frustration for the home side!
74′ Substitution!
The lively Saint-Maximin is replaced by Andy Carroll, as the home side look to get back into the game.
75′ Disallowed Goal!
Werner looks to have finally scored his goal after rounding the keeper and slotting home, but the flag is raised and VAR shows he was clearly offside. The striker is then replaced for a well-earned rest, by Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Embed from Getty Images79′ Chance!
Almiron breaks away down the left-wing and looks to find the top corner, but the excellent Zouma manages to block the shot and Mendy tips the ball round-the-post for a corner.
81′ Substitution!
The electric Ben Chilwell is replaced by Emerson Palmieri at left-back, as Lampard looks to protect the defender who injured his back playing for England against Belgium.
86′ Substitution!
Ziyech is replaced by Olivier Giroud; the Frenchman will be looking to build on his two goals for his country earlier in the week.
89′ Chance!
Giroud almost makes an instant impact! The ball is whipped over the Newcastle defence towards Giroud, but the striker’s volley is dragged wide and the linesman raises his flag for offside anyway.
Embed from Getty Images90+3′ Chance!
Chelsea almost lose their clean sheet! Carroll manages to get the ball and run in behind the Chelsea defence and goes one-on-one with Mendy but his shot is blocked by Rudiger and flies into the side-netting.
Full-Time! Huge Chelsea Win!
Chelsea go top of the Premier League! Lampard’s side deservedly pick up another three points and increase their unbeaten run to 12 matches, with yet another clean sheet. Abraham’s goal and a Fernandez own-goal gave Chelsea a comfortable away victory and it should have been much more with many missed chances. Newcastle had a couple of chances to get back into the game early in the second half, but they never really threatened Mendy in the Chelsea goal. Are Chelsea title contenders?
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