Chelsea 0-1 Newcastle LIVE – Gordon goal enough to see off the Blues

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says in his press conference that he is hopeful Sandro Tonali will be available for the game against Barcelona after missing today’s clash through illness.

“If Paul (Tierney) had focused more on his job, which was to make the right decision, we have a penalty today.

“I don’t think anybody in this room can say that Woltemade doesn’t kick Cole Palmer down in the box. So, let’s focus on the things that are important. My team showing unity is not as important as getting the decisions right on the pitch.”

“It’s difficult at the moment with the injuries, especially in attacking areas. I’ll never make excuses. Injuries are a part of the season, but you’re missing three of our most important players in terms of unlocking a low block, which is your wingers. Jamie [Gittens] was due back on the bench and he felt his hamstring late after training yesterday, so we’re just checking up on him.

“Obviously, Estevao is out, Pedro [Neto] is suspended and you’d love to freshen it up. We tried to find different tactical solutions. In saying that, I think we got into the final third enough times, we just didn’t take advantage of those moments.

“They’ve scored a goal other than that from one mistake that I can’t remember them having a clear chance on our goal.”

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior on the goal his side conceded today: “Yeah, there’s a tactical issue. We press in a different way to most teams. It’s a new way of pressing. We don’t step on the press and we don’t cover in a position that we should have done.

“Mistakes happen. They had nothing. They had nothing in the game and we gave them a goal. We talk about the press. I think the press was the reason Newcastle had to kick long balls back to us and we controlled the game.

“But in that moment, we make a mistake and it feels like at the moment every mistake we’re making is ending up in the back of our net and we need to make sure we stop those mistakes.”

Newcastle win, and they didn’t create too much. They didn’t have to. The only goal of the game came from some really poor defending from Chelsea and was enough to see the Magpies to victory.

Not great preparation for Chelsea ahead of a huge game against PSG on Tuesday.

Palmer crosses in and Joao Pedro heads just over. Big chance.

Was that it?

Chelsea have a free-kick from 30 yards which James takes, and it goes just past the left-hand side of the post. Very close.

Eight more minutes.

Palmer delivers a nice cross from the right and Delap gets good contact with a header but it goes just wide.

Hato on for Fofana.

Chalobah comes close from a corner but can’t get good enough contact.

Time is running out now.

Delap misses a sitter from two yards out after a cross from James.

Cucurella met the cross and laid off Delap, and that miss is horrific.

Gordon shoots from outside the box and forces a good save from Sanchez, diving to his left.

Palmer turns Woltemade in the box, who seems to stick a leg out and take him down.

But nothing given.

Lavia on for Caicedo.

Caicedo was on a booking.

Joao Pedro shoots from just inside the box and it takes a couple of deflections before going narrowly wide.

There were loud boos at the end of the first period but the fans have come out in voice now.

Newcastle want a penalty here though, as Fofana tussles with Gordon in the box.

The fans wanted to see a bit more impetus, and Chelsea are delivering more urgency already.

Delap on for Gusto.

Eddie Howe will be smiling, but Liam Rosenior doesn’t have much to be happy about. Loud boos ring out at half-time.

Ramsey comes close from an effort from the edge of the box. It took a deflection and was well saved.

Four added minutes at the end of the first half.

It has been a dire half from Chelsea. Not enough shots, and the goal they conceded was sunday-league level defending.

After lots of calls from fans for Chelsea to shoot more, Palmer does shoot, and comes close. But it was comfortably saved.