Newcastle United 2-2 Chelsea: Joe Buck match reaction
Alan Shearer has given his thoughts on Newcastle United's performance against Chelsea at the weekend.
The Magpies were looking for a response in the Premier League after the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Wear-Tyne rivals Sunderland a week prior. And they couldn’t have wished for a better start, with Nick Woltemade opening the scoring after just four minutes, before doubling his and Newcastle’s tally in the 20th minute.
Eddie Howe’s men pressed Chelsea with ferocious intensity and stopped the Blues from playing, while they were quicker to almost every loose ball and generated enough chances to take an even bigger lead into the break. Unfortunately, Newcastle couldn’t sustain that level of performance, and by the 66th minute, the scores were level and a superb free-kick from Reece James and an eye-catching individual goal from Joao Pedro.
Alan Shearer praises ‘brilliant’ first-half Newcastle performance vs Chelsea
Despite eventually surrendering the lead, Shearer couldn’t help but praise Newcastle’s first-half performance, which came in stark contrast to their lacklustre showing at the Stadium of Light only six days prior - with a 2-1 EFL Cup win over Fulham sandwiched between.
“I think Newcastle’s first-half performance was the best I’ve seen this season from them,” Shearer said on The Rest is Football. “I thought everything that was missing against Sunderland, the aggression, the energy, the pace.”
Co-host Gary Lineker chimed in: “They bounced back well from that result, because they had the good win in mid-week (vs Fulham). Obviously, in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, defending your trophy, Alan. And I think they probably should have won that game yesterday. Particularly the way they played in the first half.”
Shearer then continued: “I thought they had enough chances. They absolutely battered Chelsea in the first half. I mean, Chelsea looked as if they didn’t know what hit them; they were all over them. They didn’t let them play. As I said, everything, their pressing was brilliant, and that hasn’t always been the case at all this season for Newcastle.
“They were brilliant in the first half, and deserved their 2-0 lead. But if you ever need an example of goals changing games, then that piece of brilliance from Reece James, the free-kick, changed it completely.”
What next for Newcastle United?
While a point will be disappointing for Newcastle after such a strong first half, it still moves them up to 11th in the Premier League table. Only six points separate the Magpies from Saturday’s opponent in fourth place, meaning everything is still to play for. Newcastle must now navigate a tricky away run over the festive period as they travel to Manchester United on Boxing Day and Burnley on 30th December, before back-to-back home league games against Crystal Palace and Leeds United to kick off 2026.
The schedule doesn’t ease off there, either, with the Magpies remaining at St. James’ Park for a cup double-header against Bournemouth in the FA Cup third round, and Manchester City in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
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