Newcastle United's odds to win the Premier League title have been slashed again after their victory over Chelsea.
The 1-0 win - which came courtesy of Joe Willock's second half winner - still leaves Eddie Howe's team seven points behind Arsenal but the Gunners must face Newcastle twice this season. For all the pandemonium after the narrow win against the Blues, United passed a serious test of their top-flight mettle.
Consequently, their odds to win the title were slashed again, this time as low as 28/1 with William Hill - something unthinkable 12 months ago. And given Newcastle had odds of 500/1 with some bookies at the start of the campaign, the turnaround is sensational.
READ MORE: Newcastle United 1-0 Chelsea: Joe Willock sends Blues into meltdown with chaotic scenes at full-time
For all fans chanted: 'We're Newcastle and we're gonna win the league' on Saturday night there is an element of fun about their unlikely position. However, teams are fearing the Magpies now and the reaction to teams who don't come out on top against United is there for all to see.
Chelsea join some of the other big boys with a full scale meltdown
We have seen it against Liverpool, in August when Newcastle wound up the Reds, then we seen it at Old Trafford in the 0-0 draw as Ronaldo and co lost the plot. Like Man United, Spurs were then hit by a huge fine after losing to the black and whites.
And now Chelsea join the list following a post-game brawl after Kai Havertz took exception to Dan Burn's delight at the end of the game. After the game it emerged that the Havertz spat dated back to the 1-0 win for Chelsea when the Blues man elbowed the Geordie in the face and got away with not being sent off. Newcastle have been down in the dumps over the years but they are now genuinely rattling opponents.
Eddie Howe tries to manage expectations on Tyneside
Eddie Howe has always said this season he would not talk about positions or where Newcastle finish. Privately he may feel that United have at least a shot at the Champions League slots.
After all they will be seven points clear in the top four if Man United slip up at Fulham tomorrow. But the reality is Howe may use the game by game philosophy that got the Magpies where they are.
He said after beating Chelsea: "We’ve put ourselves in a good position to hopefully kick on. The break has probably come at a bad time for us. We’d like the games to continue."
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