The Magpies were brilliant in the first half at St James’ Park and were deservedly ahead at the break after Nick Woltemade’s early double.
But Reece James gave Chelsea hope with a brilliant free-kick four minutes after the restart and Newcastle summer transfer target Joao Pedro completed the comeback when he levelled at the midway stage of the second half.
Here’s how the game played out and the big talking points:
**WOLTEMADE DELIGHT AND GORDON BRILLIANCE**
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Nick Woltemade’s opener wasn’t his best goal in a [Newcastle United](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle?ref=au) shirt. Far from it. But after what happened at the Stadium of Light last week, it will almost certainly have mattered more than any of the others.
Restored to the starting XI after being rested for Fulham in midweek, it took just four minutes for Woltemade to open the scoring, pouncing at close range after Anthony Gordon’s effort was kept out by Robert Sanchez.
Woltemade has felt the love since his Wear-Tyne nightmare. He was roared onto the pitch in the second half of the Fulham win and his name echoed around St James’ Park after Saturday’s opener. The reaction from the stands and the opening goal was exactly what the German needed. Weaker characters could have crumbled after what happened last week. This response from Woltemade shows his mindset – like his talent – is elite.
A word, too, for Gordon, for it was the England international who made the opening goal. He scampered back to steal the ball off Gusto, which allowed the hosts to work it out to Jacob Murphy on the right. And it was Gordon who had then raced into the box to make sure he was on the hand to meet the delivery.
Gordon was bang up for this from the off. He crunched into a challenge on Chelsea right-back Gusto and soon after teed up the second with a pinpoint delivery from the left. Woltemade’s flicked finish was equally as impressive.
NEWCASTLE AT THEIR BEST FIRST HALF
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Newcastle’s first half display was undoubtedly their best of the season so far. It was a throwback to the United of last season and the year prior, a reminder of what they can be. They swarmed all over Chelsea. It was 100mph and relentless and the only disappointment at half-time was the fact their advantage wasn’t greater.
Gordon was unplayable on the left and Sandro Tonali looked like himself again in the middle of the park, a wonderful combination of relentless running and complete calm. Lewis Hall, fit enough to return to the side, showed too why he could well be England’s best left-back.
It’s performances like the one in the opening period on Saturday that make the no-shows against the likes of West Ham, Brentford and, of course, Sunderland all the more frustrating and difficult to stomach.
When this Newcastle turn up, they’ve got the beating of anyone. The problem is, Newcastle are so often a different team in the first half and second….
CHELSEA'S SECOND HALF FIGHTBACK
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Despite the excellence of the first half, Newcastle still had some big questions to answer in the second. Mainly, could they manage this game and comfortably see it out?
It was immediately clear there was going to be nothing comfortable about the second period after James’ brilliant free-kick halved the deficit just four minutes after the restart.
Now Newcastle craved something they’ve desperately lacked this season, control. Prior to this game, Newcastle were sixth in the Premier League first half table but 17th in the second.
Why? Do they tire? Is it a mentality issue? Do they lack the nous to deal with twists in games? That shouldn’t be the case with some of the experienced and elite players in their ranks.
The advantage would again have been two and the game might well have been over had Gordon been awarded what looked like a clear-cut penalty when he was wiped out by Trevor Chalobah in the box.
Chelsea’s equaliser came about thanks to the quality of Joao Pedro, who wrong-footed Malick Thiaw with his headed control of Sanchez’s long ball and then raced in on goal and kept a cool head.
That sparked changes from Howe that, in truth, should have come earlier. One substitute teed up another when Yoane Wissa played in Harvey Barnes, but the winger was superbly denied by James.
Newcastle, to their credit, battled back from the disappointment of leaking two and pushed for a winner. Barnes fired just wide after meeting Bruno’s cross. Anthony Elanga had his big chance when he was set away by Ramsdale but opted for goal when he had two men over. Barnes the looked to have been pulled back by James when in on goal in stoppage time but the VAR decision again went against the Magpies, to the fury of Howe.
FORMER TRANSFER TARGET HAUNTS MAGPIES
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Had things played out differently in the summer, Joao Pedro would have been playing in black and white here rather than blue.
The Brazilian made a hugely impressive start to life at Stamford Bridge after snubbing Newcastle for Chelsea but had scored just two in 13 Premier League outings prior to the trip to the North East.
He was quiet, contained and frustrated in the first half, offering very little. But the striker took his chance when it came after the break.
Newcastle's players and coaching staff looked flat at full-time. After the brilliance of the first half, this was two points dropped.