Stamford Bridge awaits – Chelsea v Newcastle preview | OneFootball

It is Chelsea v Newcastle in a televised clash at Stamford Bridge this Sunday.

United hoping to bounce back from an unfortunate defeat to Brighton last weekend.

Travelling fans who remember to put the clocks back, will be able to enjoy an extra hour in bed or the boozer, before a 2pm kick-off courtesy of Sky Sports.

Both sides have only lost two Premier League matches this season and will be hoping to remain near the right end of the table come Sunday night.

This match marks the first of a ‘double header’ between the clubs, who will meet again in the League Cup just three days later.

Newcastle have played eight premier league matches racking up twelve points in the process. The past four matches however, have seen two draws and two defeats in a desperately disappointing run of form.

Away from home we’ve beaten Wolves, drawn with Bournemouth and Everton and lost to Fulham scoring four goals in total.

Chelsea recovered well from an opening day defeat to Champions Man City to win four of their next six matches (drawing two) before a 2-1 defeat at Anfield last weekend.

At Stamford Bridge, they’ve lost to Man City, drawn with Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest and beaten Brighton, scoring six goals in the process. They sit sixth in the league, two points and three places above Eddie Howe’s magpies, meaning the Toon will leapfrog their opponents with a win.

Last time out

Newcastle were left scratching their heads in disbelief after losing 1-0 at home to Brighton, having dominated proceedings and being caught with a sucker punch at the end of the first half.

Profligacy in front of goal has now seen us drop points in the past three premier league matches that could have seen a hat-trick of victories. Ironically, as our performances get better, our results have gotten worse.

Chelsea travelled to table-toppers Liverpool last Sunday and felt unlucky to lose 2-1. They also have what will hopefully be a tiring trip to Greek side Panathinaikos in the Uefa conference league on Thursday evening. just two and half days before meeting the Toon.

Stat attack

Newcastle have won only one Premier League match at Stamford Bridge in the PL era, making this one of our least favourite away trips.

NUFC have scored four goals in their past three visits to Chelsea in all competitions.

Anthony Gordon scored his first goal for NUFC at Chelsea in a 1-1 draw in May 2023.

Our last ten league visits to Stamford Bridge have resulted in an eye-watering nine defeats!

Memorable match

In May 2012, Newcastle were battling Arsenal and Tottenham for a place in the top four. This had been a tremendous season for United who had seen goals from Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse fire them towards the European places.

Cisse was on an amazing run of form and this match would see his very finest hour. In the first half he flicked the ball up with one foot before smashing it home with the other, in the second he was to pull off one of the all-time great Premiership goals. There seemed very little danger when Ameobi chested the ball into his path over twenty yards out and far to the left of the box but our man smashed in a simply outrageous half-volley to seal the three points. Even Chelsea substitute Didier Drogba was applauding on the touchline as United dared to dream of a place in the champions league.

Final score 2-0. Marvellous!

Played for both

Current Toon defender Lewis Hall (and NUFC teammate Tino Livramento) started his career at Chelsea and will be hoping to get one over his old club. The twenty year old made his blues debut against Newcastle in 2022 and won academy player of the year 2023 before joining United on a season long loan with the option to buy.

Demba Ba was a brilliant signing for Toon in 2011 and his goals, along with Papiss Cisse, fired United to a 5th placed finish in his first season at the club. He signed for Chelsea in Jan 2013 having scored twenty nine goals in fifty eight appearances for the black and whites.

Laurent Chavet is unlikely to be remembered fondly by either set of supporters having had underwhelming spells at both clubs. He did however score a belting goal away to the smoggies in an entertaining 2-2 draw in 1998.

Managers

“I’m really frustrated because I thought our general performance today for 65 minutes was really good.I think that’s the best we’ve looked, the most dominant we’ve been in a game and lo and behold, we have plenty of chances, don’t take them and concede a poor goal from our perspective from Brighton’s first real meaningful attack. We’re going through a phase where we’re not scoring, but the positive is we’re creating chances. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, it’s back to hard work on the training pitch.”

Enzo Maresca after a 2-1 defeat away to Liverpool:

Charity

As it is an away match, Newcastle United fans will not be collecting opposite the Gallowgate end,, for the food bank. However, you can still help out and all online cash donation are very much appreciated. For further info and/or to donate to the food bank online go HERE.

There’s no denying that NUFC have a dreadful record at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have looked good this season and we aren’t on the best run of form.

Being a glass-half-full kind of person though, I’m going to say it’s only a matter of time before we turn things around.