We got them back Dad, just like you said – Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0

The Mag

·31 October 2024

We got them back Dad, just like you said – Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0

So, as I was saying, I didn’t have a bad time at all at the first leg of this week’s Chelsea double header, with the anticipated defeat failing to cast too much of a shadow on my son’s first away game.

However, my report on this very site may have added gravitas to match number two, with the headline of “we’ll get them back on Wednesday son” about to be put to the test.

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Of course, added gravitas wasn’t really required tonight.

As the league season continues to stutter and disappoint, there could be a valuable cushion if interest in the League Cup was extended. The fact that a major rival could be ejected on a night when others faced tricky ties, could add up to breathing space for Eddie Howe, with the quarter final not until mid-December, after some winnable opportunities to correct course in the Prem.

If this route to salvation were closed, the ominous sight of Arsenal arriving next could deepen the growing unrest and see the club spiral into bona fide crisis.

Any hope had to be offset by the concern over the ability to galvanise against one of this season’s pacesetters. It’s a fool’s errand to try and predict what version of the extensive Chelsea squad is going to turn up as they juggle a top four challenge and European football with the cups and the chances are that an XI made entirely of fringe players would consist of household names and future internationals, so the reliance was set on United stepping it up for a third straight home win against the Blues.

As it was, the line ups offered some encouragement, with Gordon returning to United’s amended starting team while Bruno unexpectedly sat this one out to give the midfield a different look and approach. Chelsea made wholesale changes, playing their ‘cup side’ that has largely featured in the Conference League but still featured heavy hitters such as Mudryk, Nkunku and Joao Felix.

Maybe this visiting line up helped encourage United but suddenly everything was back. The press, the creation, the identity of intensity, was all present in an excellent first half. The running of Willock on the left, via his consistently productive link up with Joelinton gave an outlet that was mirrored by Gordon on the other side, ably assisted by the overlapping Hall. It was Isak who was picked out by Willock on the right early on, the Swede producing a magnificent dissecting cross that found the unmarked Joelinton at the back post, only for him to conspire to bundle it wide off the upright.

Chelsea at times were struggling to get out as United got right in their face in a high octane opening and this would be the source of the opener. Jorgensen in goal attempted to play out from the back, with Badiashile’s subsequent lazy pass putting Veiga under pressure from the attentive Joelinton. His miscontrol broke to Fernandez but before he could reach it Tonali came sliding in with an interception-come-through ball that put Isak in for a smashing cool finish across the keeper into the bottom corner. I did get a bit worried about Chelsea’s protests about clumsy old Joe, but there’s no VAR in these capers, so one nil ‘twas.

You always feel more comfortable with a bit of a cushion against these teams but United made us wait almost three minutes before securing this margin. The excellent Lewis Hall slid a quick free kick down the line to Isak, who was given a shocking amount of space by the defence to collect, set himself and deliver a deflected ball onto the head of Willock, who flicked it in the far corner. I got home after the match and was shocked to see this credited as an own goal to Axel Disasi, who had marauded onto the ball and bungled it over the line in the direction it was already heading. Boo, give this back to little Joe you rotters.

As the half dwindled, United seemed to get slightly twitchy and the thought of Chelsea getting one back was a bit unsettling. Joao Felix played a neat one-two with Mudryk and suddenly had space in the box, only for Lloyd Kelly to come steaming in with a magnificent saving block. It felt like Kelly was on hand to do this on several occasions and there’s no doubt the addition of his pace gave the defence a bit of something extra.

At the other end, Gordon hit the afterburners and picked out Willock at the end of the hit run/cross, but the pace on it meant he could only direct it wide. This was all much better in every department lads.

The second half saw a return to a more conservative approach as United looked to preserve their lead. It made for a tenser but less exciting 45, but it worked, so you have to take it as a positive move. First Howe introduced Bruno for Willock, then withdrew the Hollywood blondes from the right hand side, Gordon and Hall making way for the more defensive options of Burn and Livramento.

Joao Felix created bother again, looking certain to pull one back as Adarabioyo’s scything ball through the middle evaded Burn’s attempt to cut it out and allowed the Portuguese a free run on Pope. The goalie coming out fast and making himself big did enough of a job putting Felix off, and he steered it wide to avoid a nerve shredding final ten minutes.

United had their chances, not least Longstaff heading in after a free kick that prompted on the spot direction from Mad Dog himself, but Schar was flagged offside as soon as he shaped to head it back across goal for Longy. Osula also had his brightest game for Newcastle, having been given half an hour as relief for Isak and making some smashing interventions, my own favourite being his bouncing the tank-like Tosin off the ball and into a crumpled beaten heap on the ground.

Osula so very nearly had his goal, as Emil Krafth produced an astonishing forward run practically the whole length of the pitch, shrugging off Chelsea players as he went before sliding it to the rookie striker, who took some magnificent touches to sit down Marc Cucarella before firing in a vicious shot that cannoned the wrong way off the post. It feels like we’re already seeing progress here and I’d love the lad to knock one in somehow or other to get himself up and running soon. Do you, by any chance, hate Arsenal?

The final moments were managed out and a big step forward taken.

The progress we so desperately needed was, against the low expectations we have of draws, complemented by a home quarter final, with Brentford a more than acceptable option. Respect to Jamie Redknapp and Izzy Christiansen for not bowing to the illuminati manipulation (unless they just don’t think we’re a threat any more).

With Man City, Villa and Brighton joining Chelsea in the evacuation pods tonight, things have opened up a bit, and while we won’t have to worry about the loser of Man Utd v Spurs, it would be nice if one or both of Liverpool and Arsenal could crash out before the new year.

Primarily though, we need to be on it to set up the two legs against whoever for ourselves. Having a cup run in the back pocket will, as I said, provide reassurance and a continuation of the performance tonight into the seven league games that separates us from that quarter final, will almost certainly see matters improve on that front. I feel way more optimistic about potentially kick starting that against Arsenal.

It’s a feeling that’s definitely shared by my son Blake, who enjoyed his weekend in London but gained a nice little spot of closure tonight. As I stood up when the final whistle went, I felt a little tug on my sleeve: “We got them back Dad, just like you said.” Thanks lads for not breaking my promise to my kid. Now keep it going.

Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0 – Wednesday 30 October 7.45pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Isak 23, Disasi OG 26

Chelsea:

Possession was Newcastle 35% Chelsea 65%

Total shots were Newcastle 8 Chelsea 17

Shots on target were Newcastle 2 Chelsea 4

Corners were Newcastle 1 Chelsea 9

Touches in the box Newcastle 18 Chelsea 30

Newcastle United team v Chelsea:

Pope, Krafth, Schar, Kelly, Hall (Burn 72), Joelinton, Tonali (Miley 90+2), Longstaff, Willock, (Bruno 63), Isak (Osula 63), Gordon (Livramento 72)