Newcastle too strong for Chelsea
Second-half goals from Jamaal Lascelles, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon helped Newcastle return to winning ways in the Premier League with an emphatic victory over Chelsea at St James' Park.
Lascelles' free header from Gordon's cross gave the Magpies a 2-1 lead on the hour mark, before Joelinton capitalised on a Thiago Silva error to double the hosts' advantage just 90 seconds later.
And Gordon netted his fifth of the season with seven minutes remaining to put the seal on a comprehensive victory for Newcastle, who lost at Bournemouth in their previous match.
Fit-again Alexander Isak had opened the scoring in an entertaining first half, sending a composed finish beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from 17-year-old Lewis Miley's threaded pass.
Raheem Sterling's delightful free-kick restored parity 10 minutes later, but the visitors were architects of their own downfall in the second half as Lascelles and Joelinton put the game out of Chelsea's reach.
They were reduced to 10 men when Reece James was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Gordon, who completed the scoring late on.
Newcastle's fifth straight home league win moves them to within three points of fourth-placed Tottenham, while Chelsea stay on 16 points.
Reaction to Newcastle v Chelsea and the rest of Saturday's Premier League actionHow did you rate Newcastle's performance? Have your say here.What did you make of Chelsea's display? Send us your views here.Injury-hit Magpies return to formNewcastle fell below their recent high standards at Bournemouth before the international break, but the 2-0 defeat at Vitality Stadium must be viewed in the context of the Magpies' personnel woes and a gruelling run of fixtures that included games against Arsenal, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.
Though Eddie Howe's list of injury absentees remains a worry, his team looked more like their usual selves against Chelsea as they pressed their opponents high up the pitch and deservedly forced an early breakthrough.
They shot themselves in the foot in the build-up to the Blues' equaliser, however, Lascelles cheaply surrendering possession to Nicolas Jackson before Trippier was penalised for a faint nudge on Sterling, who beat Pope with his free-kick.
Joelinton headed wide from an unmarked position and Kieran Trippier rattled the crossbar with a free-kick of his own, but Lascelles made amends for his first-half error by steering Gordon's inswinging delivery into the bottom corner.
The momentum was suddenly back with the home side and when Silva miscued a backpass to Sanchez, Joelinton was first to the loose ball and drilled beyond the Chelsea goalkeeper for his first Premier League goal of the season.
James' late dismissal and Gordon's calm finish were the icing on the cake for the Magpies, who travel to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Blues cause themselves problemsChelsea are undoubtedly heading in the right direction under Mauricio Pochettino, who was not in the dugout at St James' Park after being shown his third yellow card of the season in the 4-4 draw with Manchester City two weeks ago.
But given Newcastle's injuries, this will go down as a missed opportunity to increase the pressure on the teams occupying the Premier League's European places.
The visitors had their fair share of opportunities in the first half, Conor Gallagher curling wide from the corner of the penalty area before Enzo Fernandez was denied by a one-handed Nick Pope save.
Gallagher should have done better when Pope's mis-hit clearance landed at his feet, but his shot lacked the power to beat the Magpies goalkeeper.
In the second half, Lascelles was left completely unmarked for Newcastle's second before Silva - who became Chelsea's oldest outfield player at 39 years and 64 days - laid a third on a plate for Joelinton.
James' red card was also avoidable with the Blues skipper's poor touch gifting possession to Gordon, who was then tugged back by the 23-year-old.
The final score may have been harsh on the visitors, but Newcastle were worthy winners.
Player of the match
MurphyAlex Murphy
with an average of 7.48
Squad number54Player nameMurphy
Squad number3Player nameDummett
Squad number14Player nameIsak
Squad number10Player nameGordon
Squad number11Player nameRitchie
Squad number49Player nameDiallo
Squad number55Player nameNdiweni
Squad number7Player nameJoelinton
Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
Squad number67Player nameMiley
Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
Squad number2Player nameTrippier
Squad number21Player nameLivramento
Squad number5Player nameSchär
Squad number6Player nameLascelles
Squad number22Player namePope
Squad number7Player nameSterling
Squad number1Player nameSánchez
Squad number20Player namePalmer
Squad number3Player nameCucurella
Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Squad number23Player nameGallagher
Squad number8Player nameFernández
Squad number15Player nameJackson
Squad number5Player nameBadiashile
Squad number24Player nameJames
Squad number16Player nameUgochukwu
Squad number26Player nameColwill
Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
Squad number19Player nameBroja
Squad number10Player nameMudryk
Squad number11Player nameMadueke
Formation 4-3-3
22Pope2TrippierBooked at 22mins6LascellesBooked at 46minsSubstituted forDummettat 86'minutes5Schär21Livramento67MileySubstituted forDialloat 90+3'minutes39Bruno Guimarães7JoelintonBooked at 45mins24AlmirónSubstituted forMurphyat 87'minutes14IsakSubstituted forRitchieat 81'minutesBooked at 90mins10GordonSubstituted forNdiweniat 90+3'minutesSubstitutes1Dúbravka3Dummett11Ritchie18Karius29Gillespie49Diallo54Murphy55Ndiweni63ParkinsonFormation 4-2-3-1
1Sánchez24JamesBooked at 73mins6Thiago Silva5Badiashile3CucurellaBooked at 77mins16UgochukwuBooked at 41minsSubstituted forCaicedoat 69'minutes8Fernández20PalmerSubstituted forColwillat 75'minutesBooked at 81mins23GallagherSubstituted forMudrykat 69'minutes7SterlingBooked at 59minsSubstituted forMaduekeat 87'minutes15JacksonSubstituted forBrojaat 69'minutesSubstitutes2Disasi10Mudryk11Madueke19Broja25Caicedo26Colwill28Petrovic29Maatsen52MatosReferee:Simon Hooper
Attendance:52,227
Match ends, Newcastle United 4, Chelsea 1.
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 4, Chelsea 1.
Foul by Alex Murphy (Newcastle United).
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Amadou Diallo replaces Lewis Miley.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Michael Ndiweni replaces Anthony Gordon.
Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United).
Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea).
Substitution, Chelsea. Noni Madueke replaces Raheem Sterling.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Alex Murphy replaces Miguel Almirón.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Paul Dummett replaces Jamaal Lascelles.
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Enzo Fernández (Chelsea).
Goal! Newcastle United 4, Chelsea 1. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Miguel Almirón with a through ball.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Matt Ritchie replaces Alexander Isak.
Levi Colwill (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the right wing.