A stunning all-round performance by a much-changed Newcastle United side ensured that the Magpies got their revenge on Sunday's opponents in the Carabao Cup.
After being put out of the competition by Chelsea last season, Newcastle owed them a double whammy and duly delivered with a 2-0 win thanks to another goal from Alexander Isak and an own goal by former Newcastle target Axel Disasi bundling home a Joe Willock flick on.
Those goals came during a three-minute spell in the middle of the first half as Newcastle executed their game plan perfectly.
Joelinton also hit the post early in the first half shortly after Chelsea spurned a great chance in the first couple of minutes.
Newcastle set up differently in the second half and adopted a 'come and have a go if you think you're hard enough' approach to the game.
Sitting deep and absorbing everything Chelsea could throw at them, Newcastle could have been playing with fire, especially after Noni Madueke was introduced and provided a lot of attacking impetus to the visitors' play but Newcastle's back line which included Joelinton playing at right back and Anthony Gordon defending deep on the left stood firm.
The Magpies weren't infallible with mistakes being made regularly, but the difference tonight was that there always seemed to be a player available to mop up. Fabian Schar lost his man in the first half, but Lloyd Kelly, who was absolutely outstanding, was on hand to bail out his captain.
In fact, Lloyd Kelly might have given Eddie Howe something to think about for Saturday's game against Arsenal as he looked a lot more solid than Dan Burn did on Sunday, and indeed tonight when he came on as a substitute.
Overall though, we can't complain about anything or anyone tonight. It was an overall accomplished performance, and even while Chelsea had the lion's share of possession, there was never a real worry that they would give Newcastle anything to be concerned about.
Now it just remains to be seen who awaits us in the quarter finals.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
10 | 13 | 25 |
2 |
Manchester City
|
10 | 10 | 23 |
3 |
Nottingham Forest
|
10 | 7 | 19 |
4 |
Chelsea
|
10 | 8 | 18 |
5 |
Arsenal
|
10 | 6 | 18 |
6 |
Aston Villa
|
10 | 2 | 18 |
7 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
10 | 11 | 16 |
8 |
Brighton
|
10 | 3 | 16 |
9 |
Fulham
|
10 | 1 | 15 |
10 |
Bournemouth
|
10 | 1 | 15 |
11 |
Newcastle United
|
10 | 0 | 15 |
12 |
Brentford
|
10 | -1 | 13 |
13 |
Manchester United
|
10 | -3 | 12 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
10 | -6 | 11 |
15 |
Leicester
|
10 | -4 | 10 |
16 |
Everton
|
10 | -7 | 9 |
17 |
Crystal Palace
|
10 | -5 | 7 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
10 | -11 | 5 |
19 |
Southampton
|
10 | -12 | 4 |
20 |
Wolves
|
10 | -13 | 3 |