Newcastle United share spoils with Chelsea in entertaining battle marred by some of the worst refereeing of the season
If you had no skin in that game, that was one of the best games of football you're likely to see this season, but as a Newcastle United fan, you're likely to be absolutely fuming.
Newcastle should have been out of sight as the half-time whistle blew after Nick Wotlemade converted two chances and missed two others. It could and should have been 4-0.
Anthony Gordon also should have scored when he hit one that was tipped over the bar by Robert Sanchez while Chelsea had a player on the deck in the box.
The Magpies were completely dominant for 45 minutes, and even after referee Andy Madley's cheque cleared on the half hour mark, Newcastle were able to keep control for the end of the first half despite getting absolutely nothing from the man in the middle ... but the worst was yet to come from the ref and his crew.
Newcastle didn't turn up for the second half, yet again
The power of a halftime team talk was on full display from the boys in Blue as Chelsea came out like a team possessed in the second half, matching the intensity that Newcastle played with in the first 45 minutes, whereas Newcastle seemed to leave all of their focus in the dressing room.
Reece James hit an absolutely sublime free-kick just minutes into the second half, which just got Chelsea's tails up even more, but still in control. Newcastle went up the other end and were awarded a penalty when Anthony Gordon was charged off the ball.
Wait, no, Andy Madley decided it wasn't worthy of a spot kick, and his VAR team backed him up, offering up a horrendous excuse. Even the TNT commentary team were livid and baffled.
Newcastle had some golden opportunities to regain the lead
On 66 minutes, Chelsea pulled level through, who else but Joao Pedro. It came after a slip from Malick Thiaw allowed him a free run on goal, and he wasn't going to make a mistake when one-on-one with Aaron Ramsdale.
The game went absolutely crazy for the final 30 minutes as both teams threw all they had at each other, and despite a few more less-convincing penalty appeals and a couple of massive chances for Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga, the score remained tied.
A point was probably fair on the balance of play, given how much Newcastle dropped off in the second half, but in all honesty, we should have been out of sight before then anyway, and we should have had a penalty in the second half.
