Saturday’s early kick-off certainly didn’t disappoint as Newcastle threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Chelsea at St James’ Park, with questions remaining about Eddie Howe’s future at the club.
Nick Woltemade made amends for his Tyne-Wear derby performance with a fourth minute goal to open the scoring after Robert Sanchez could do nothing but parry Anthony Gordon’s effort directly into his path.
The German then got his second of the game again thanks to some fantastic work from Gordon as Newcastle completely dominated the first 25 minutes of the game, leaving Chelsea with a mountain to climb.
Enzo Maresca’s side saw that mountain and weren’t daunted. Captain Reece James pulled one back with a fantastic freekick before Joao Pedro levelled things via an incredibly rare assist from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea continue to start poorly
This isn’t the first time Chelsea looked all at sea in the first 20-30 minutes of a game, it’s a worrying and regular occurrence for the West London club. In the first half, Newcastle created six big chances and had five shots on target from a total of seven.
Maresca’s side had a good amount of the ball, going into the break, the possession was split 50/50, and Chelsea made 202 passes, with a massive 94 in their own half. There was a genuine lack of any idea.
The second half was a totally different story. Chelsea came out all guns firing and dominated from the whistle, having nine shots, four of which were on target and 58% of the ball, while Newcastle had four with zero on target and an xG of 0.29.
A mentality problem for Newcastle?
This game marks 13 points dropped from winning positions for Newcastle, the joint most in the Premier League. If they had managed to keep a hold of all those points, Howe’s side would be level with Aston Villa right now, but there is no point in dwelling on hypotheticals.
In this game, Newcastle could probably count themselves a little unlucky. The penalty call with the result at 2-1 felt like a big moment, on another day it might have been given, but to call it a stone wall wouldn’t be entirely true.
Howe has done a fantastic job since joining Newcastle, he’ll never be forgotten for earning his side their first piece of major silverware in 70 years, but with the Champions League to contend with too, it might be a bit much at the moment.
Robert Sanchez is criminally underrated
It was another real standout performance from the 28-year-old, not only did he keep Chelsea in it at times, he became the second ‘keeper in the Premier League to register an assist, behind Arsenal’s David Raya.
Just three minutes after Woltemade opened the scoring, with Malo Gusto down on the turf, Sanchez managed to turn a wonderful effort from Gordon over the crossbar, and it wasn’t the only save he made.
Sanchez ended his game having made three saves, four recoveries, and 10/35 accurate long balls, one of which ended in an assist for Pedro’s equaliser. Questions about Chelsea needing a new ‘keeper have suddenly fallen silent.
With eight clean sheets, he has the joint most alongside Raya. Sanchez has really stepped after a mistake-laden first two years at the club.