Newcastle 4-1 Chelsea: Reece James sees red as Blues set unwanted first at St. James’ Park
Chelsea saw their mini Premier League resurgence go up in smoke at St. James’ Park this afternoon.
Mauricio Pochettino’s visitors had at point drawn level but a 90-second blitz in the second half ensured all three points would remain in Newcastle.
Alexander Isak had given Eddie Howe’s men an early lead before Raheem Sterling equalised via a direct free-kick. However, the game effectively turned on its head in 13 second-half minutes; firstly quick-fire goals from Jamaal Lascelles and Joelinton, the latter essentially a gift from compatriot Thiago Silva before Blues captain Reece James picked up a second yellow card.
James was one of five Chelsea players to enter Simon Hooper’s book with such indiscipline certain to displease their manager who ironically was severing a touchline ban. Going down a man left the Londoners right there for the pickings and Newcastle, who are currently enduring an injury crisis, weren’t going to pass up this opportunity as Anthony Gordon scored his fifth Premier League goal this season.
CAPTAIN. 👊©️ pic.twitter.com/FCusoPXS1T
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 25, 2023
Gordon’s effort was a landmark moment as it meant Chelsea had conceded four goals in consecutive Premier League games for the very first time, conceding 4+ goals as many times as in their previous 56 matches in the competition (two). Furthermore, the former Everton man has both scored (1) and assisted (1) in a Premier League game for the third time (once for Everton and twice for Newcastle), while it’s the first time he’s done so at St James’ Park.
This latest setback was Chelsea’s largest margin of defeat in the Premier League this season under Pochettino, indeed it was his biggest loss in the competition since October 2019 when Tottenham suffered a 3-0 loss to Brighton. It’s also now 14 losses at Newcastle including last season meaning they’ve won consecutive Premier League home games against Chelsea for the first time since a run of three in December 2014, scoring four goals in the competition against the Blues for just the second time, last doing so in September 1994 (4-2).
On a mildly interesting note Newcastle are yet to lose a single Saturday 3 pm kick-off under manager Howe (13 wins and six draws).
