Chelsea players may well need to overcome an unexpected disruption to their plans as they face Newcastle this evening.
The Blues travel to the north east for the final game before the World Cup break knowing that anything but a win will leave them well adrift heading into the winter internationals. Graham Potter's side are already six points behind Eddie Howe's Newcastle and the two sides are going in opposite directions in the table.
The Magpies are riding high as one of the form teams whereas Chelsea have taken just two points from their last four league games as frustration mounts at Stamford Bridge. Newcastle haven't had the same fixture congestion as Chelsea and may well be fresher than Potter's men, but that won't be used as an excuse for their slump.
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With all of Chelsea's squad knowing of their World Cup squad status as well it adds in an extra mental dimension to the squad that Potter picks. Whereas 14 players are confirmed as going to the tournament and will have the fixtures starting from next week on their minds, Newcastle are less burdened and may well be more focused on proceedings.
However, on top of that, Newcastle fans have tried to put Chelsea players off by lighting fireworks outside the team hotel the night before the game. In a picture posted online, a Toon fan said: "little 3am firework display for the Chelsea team tonight, wakey, wakey, wakey."
There was also a video posted showing the effects.
A similar tactic was used by Marseille fans ahead of their crucial Champions League tie against Tottenham, the Frenchmen did a much bigger job, though, and will likely have likely have had more of an impact on the Spurs players. The Newcastle fireworks were rather tame in comparison.
The fireworks in France also didn't have the desired effect, with Tottenham going on to win the game. Chelsea will be hoping for the same to happen for them.
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