NEWCASTLE 2-2 CHELSEA: Nick Woltemade thought he had secured a brilliant victory for the Magpies only for Enzo Maresca's side to come from two-down at St James' Park
Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro completed Chelsea's comeback at St James' Park
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Nick Woltemade's consigned his derby disappointment to history but was unable to halt Chelsea's stirring comeback at St James' Park on Saturday. The German striker, who netted an own-goal vs Sunderland last week, was on the scoresheet after just four minutes as he tapped home Newcastle's opener.
Woltemade was on the scoresheet once again midway through the first-half by with an expert finish from Anthony Gordon's cross. Reece James gave Chelsea a lifeline moments into the second period, with Brazilian forward Joao Pedro levelling matters.
The draw leaves Chelsea sitting fourth in the Premier League ahead of the rest of the weekend's games. Newcastle remain 11th, having let another victory slip through their fingers.
Here are all of the talking points from St James' Park:
Woltemade makes amends
Nick Woltemade was certainly the villain of the piece last weekend as his own goal cost Newcastle against bitter rivals Sunderland. But it only took him a few minutes against Chelsea to get back on track.
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had produced a brilliant stop to deny Anthony Gordon at the back post, only to see the ball fall to Woltemade only a few yards out.
And this time, he made sure the ball was heading for the right net as he thumped it into the roof of the net to score his sixth Premier League goal of the season.
Nick Woltemade
Nick Woltemade celebrates his goal vs Chelsea
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VAR doubles Newcastle delight
The German striker was celebrating once again just 15 minutes later as he doubled his afternoon's work. After Newcastle were given a deep free-kick, the ball was nudged towards Gordon, who was brilliant all afternoon.
He cut back onto his right and produced a tantalising cross that was nonchalantly touched home by Woltemade. VAR took a look at the goal, with the striker close to straying offside.
But the goal was eventually given as Woltemade wheeled off to celebrate once again. That pair almost combined once again before the break as the former Stuttgart man passed up the chance for a brilliant treble.
Chelsea left frustrated
There's no getting away from it, Chelsea's first-half performance in the North-East was dismal. They struggled to cope with Newcastle's high-tempo approach and justifiably found themselves 2-0 down at the break.
But they thought they had found themselves a foothold just before half-time as Pedro Neto appeared to halve the deficit.
But the Portuguese winger clearly scored with his hand - a decision that VAR agreed with as Chelsea were left to reflect on a really disappointing performance in the dressing room.
Reece James
Reece James hauled Chelsea back into the game
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James pulls one back
While Neto was not able to get on the scoresheet, Chelsea captain Reece James certainly was. The England man stepped up from a free-kick from range and produced a brilliant effort to guide the ball into the back of the net via the post.
Given his injury issues over recent seasons, it was just the reward that James deserved. And should he stay fit and produce a few more moments like that between now and the end of the season, he could definitely secure a spot in England's squad for the World Cup.
And James' goal gave Chelsea the perfect platform for a much-improved second-half.
Newcastle left furious
Just as though it looked like Chelsea had been given a route back into the game, Newcastle then thought they should have wrapped it up with a penalty - albeit it was not given.
Immediately after Chelsea's goal, Gordon appeared to be floored by Trevoh Chalobah. Neither the referee nor VAR thought the penalty was deserving a spot-kick however, to the fury of Eddie Howe and his Newcastle players.
There was then another controversial decision in stoppage time as substitute Barnes was felled when clean through but again, VAR stuck with the original decision which was no foul.
Eddie Howe
Newcastle were left furious at their lack of a penalty vs Chelsea
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Magpies show soft centre
Howe's mood will certainly not have been improved by that decision, nor by seeing Chelsea equalise through Pedro. The Brazilian managed to outmuscle Malick Thiaw from a long ball and managed to set himself free.
And he coolly converted past Aaron Ramsdale with a low finish for his fifth Premier League goal of the campaign.
The slip extended Newcastle's frustrating record in the Premier League this season, having now dropped 13 points from winning positions.
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