Saturday’s match ended Newcastle 2 Chelsea 2.
Ahead of each match we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.
Plenty to talk about after this Chelsea one!
On this occasion it is ‘Matt Busby said to Joe Harvey…’:
POSITIVES
Unplayable for large parts
Okay, we didn’t win, but make no mistake, that was an excellent performance against a strong Chelsea side who were frankly made to look ordinary for the whole of the first half and for large spells in the second.
Our midfield trio were outstanding. Tonali looked back to his best, patrolling the centre of the park like a pack dog, Jacob Ramsey covering every blade of grass and as far as Bruno is concerned, I’m afraid I’m running out of superlatives to describe the man.
What was heartening was the way in which we bounced back after surrendering the lead when our heads could have gone, and at 2-2 we had the better chances, looked the most likely.
With better officiating and had it not been for an unfortunate slip, I think we would have won, and deservedly so.
Lewis and Lewis
It’s been widely reported that we have the best young full-back pairing in the Premier League in Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.
Only one of those featured yesterday and yet it didn’t matter, I think we have another gem at full-back.
Lewis Miley slotting in at right-back for the injured Livramento and keeping the Argentine Alejandro Garnacho quiet with a very accomplished performance, having played in that same position to such good effect in the League Cup quarter-final in midweek.
On the other flank was Lewis Hall, two years Miley’s senior and with an equally outstanding performance, Pedro Neto hardly getting a kick.
Woltemade Ole, Ole, Ole
It’s hard to imagine what it must feel like to suffer the indignity of scoring at the wrong end in a derby, so it was important that Nick Woltemade bounced back so quickly.
He would have been reassured when he entered the fray against Fulham in midweek as the whole stadium gave him a morale boosting welcome, then Eddie Howe gave the big German his own vote of confidence by starting him against Chelsea.
With two quite exquisite finishes at the Leazes End, Woltemade repaid that faith in spades, twice sending St James’ Park into raptures during the opening twenty minutes.
NEGATIVES
Another lead pegged back
It’s happened too often this season.
We get ahead, or draw level and cannot hang on. Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and now Chelsea at St James’ Park. Leverkusen, Marseilles, Brighton, Brentford and West Ham on the road.
It’s a bad habit and one that we must break, if we don’t want to lose any further ground in the League or win another trophy.
Rank Officiating
A lot has been made of the Chalobah challenge on Anthony Gordon, even our normally sanguine manager calling that one out, not just Andy Madley’s refusal to see what was a stonewall penalty, but also the hapless Peter Bankes in Stockley Park who backed the onfield decision.
As Eddie said (and he must have heard me from high up in Level 7 because in real time, I said the exact same thing), “Anywhere else on the pitch, that is a blatant free-kick.”
Then we had Reece James’ assault on Harvey Barnes, also in the Gallowgate box, another penalty shout going unchecked, James clearly playing the man and not the ball.
What about Garnacho on Ramsey, possibly a red? Then there’s the Fofana handball, possibly a penalty? And how about James when he pulled back Barnes in injury time, should he have walked?
Passionate and gutsy
That was some performance against Chelsea, but the same passion and the desire to bust a gut, just wasn’t there a week ago. I’m thinking of one or two players in particular.