3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0 | OneFootball

Sunday afternoon’s match ended Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0.

Ahead of each game we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

An interesting afternoon at St James’ Park…

Plenty to talk about after this one.

On this occasion it is David Punton:

POSITIVES

High Noon

There was pressure in this early kick off, with a lot potentially at stake.

The small matter of a place in next season’s Champions League, with all the money and kudos that that comes with it.

Would we freeze? Could we see off this Chelsea side, which does have plenty of quality running through it?

Where we had the edge was our dominance in midfield and we just outfought them.

It always felt like it was going to be a tight game – and so it proved until the 90th minute when Bruno sealed it.

Just the 88 minutes earlier, Sandro stabbed the ball home after two minutes for what was a perfect start.

That goal and the deserved red card for Jackson were they key moments that swung it.

Other results allied to this win put us in pole position for the top five.

In a season when we’ve also won a cup (remember that!) it’s pretty awesome stuff.

With no first teamsignings for three transfer windows, Eddie Howe is turning water into wine.

Man mountain

At the age of 33 Dan Burn is at the peak of his powers.

Yet again the lad from Blyth put in an outstanding shift as Howe changed to three at the back.

He even got himself an assist on a day when we got to put one over Chelsea in the race for Europe.

Burn is a monster of a player. A man mountain who bleeds for the cause. Even the neutrals love him.

He was even majestic in his post-match interview, explaining succinctly why the second half was so tough, with ten men adding that extra pressure on the home team. I really got what was he saying.

Sandro in the frame

In the week where Tonali was profiled by the club’s YouTube channel, it was apt that the Italian had a decisive say in the direction of this six pointer.

His closing down was superb and the goal was a move he both started and finished off. Sandro called the finish ‘lucky’, but by hitting the ball the way he did he ensured the keeper wasn’t getting a sniff.

The day in the life feature about Tonali was wholesome content indeed. A great lad on and off the pitch and you can see that he’s well settled here too.

NEGATIVES

The second half

Dan Burn did a great job explaining what went wrong after the break. However, the second half was still a negative.

The fact is, Chelsea came at us hard after we tried to sit in for too long. We were so deep as the pressure of what was at stake seemed to weigh heavy.

There were some big moments too, some big saves from Pope to narrowly avert a slip up against the ten men.

It was a full time whistle to celebrate but also to breathe a sigh of relief.

Knee bother

It was great to see Sven Botman back in action but more troubling to see him withdrawn with pain in his knee.

Howe confirming that was the issue in the post-match presser.

Let’s hope it was precautionary and it’s not another setback for the big Dutchman.

London whine

There’s a few in that Chelsea team who are particularly odious.

There was plenty of niggle out there, not least from Jackson whose flying elbow could easily have fractured Botman’s cheekbone or broken his jaw.

Palmer is a class player but a workie ticket, as is Cucarella. Enzo in centre mid was also of major annoyance.

A club that sells hotels to itself to sidestep PSR adds to that mix.

Just not keen on Chelsea. Thankfully we got the better of them here.

Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0 – Sunday 11 May 12pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Tonali 2, Bruno 90

Chelsea:

Jackson red card 35

Possession was Newcastle 45% Chelsea 55%

Total shots were Newcastle 15 Chelsea 10

Shots on target were Newcastle 6 Chelsea 3

Corners were Newcastle 2 Chelsea 8

Touches in the box Newcastle 39 Chelsea 22

Newcastle United team v Chelsea:

Pope, Botman (Miley 55), Schar, Burn, Livramento, Gordon (Krafth 65), Tonali, Bruno (Longstaff 94), Barnes, Isak (Wilson 94), Murphy

Subs:

Dubravka, Lascelles, Osula, Neave, Ruddy

(Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)

(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after Chelsea 2-0…Read HERE)