Long before the final whistle one thing was crystal clear; Newcastle’s players were prepared to jump through hoops of metaphorical fire for Eddie Howe. Despite being ravaged by a litany of injuries Howe’s team summoned up frankly awe-inducing reserves of energy to ultimately steamroller a hitherto supposedly renascent Chelsea into submission. What on earth does Newcastle’s manager feed his squad on?
Admittedly Chelsea’s Reece James was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 73rd minute but, by then, the home team were so firmly in control that the recent talk of Mauricio Pochettino presiding over a serious challenge for Champions League qualification at Stamford Bridge seemed fanciful in the extreme. On this evidence defending remains very much a work in progress in west London.
