Eddie Howe is synonymous with tidiness, efficiency and time management. Given there is absolutely nothing slapdash, careless or wasteful about Newcastle’s manager, his team’s increasing penchant for losing control is proving a puzzling paradox.
Newcastle have developed a habit of throwing leads away this season and, 2-0 up thanks to a Nick Woltemade double, they were at it again here. Second-half goals from Reece James – who was outstanding at both ends – and João Pedro ensured a much-improved Chelsea atoned for an abject first 45 minutes by departing with a point that could conceivably have been three. Newcastle have now dropped 13 points from winning positions this season.
At least it began well for the home side. All too often this term, they have started games half a yard off the pace, while Anthony Gordon has frequently flattered to deceive.
For once, it was different. Four minutes were on the clock when Gordon pickpocketed Wesley Fofana and the ball was worked out to the right wing where Jacob Murphy’s cross prefaced Gordon forcing Robert Sánchez into a save.
When Chelsea’s goalkeeper could only parry that effort, Woltemade lashed the rebound home. Six days after the Germany striker’s decisive own goal in defeat at Sunderland, all sides of St James’ Park sung his name.
Much of Newcastle’s football proved similarly appealing. With the out-of-sorts Sandro Tonali looking like his old, game-dictating self, in central midfield Newcastle were playing with the sort of vision and incision that had recently gone missing.
In the 20th minute Woltemade scored a second. On this occasion celebrations were delayed as the video assistant referee engaged in a protracted review to determine it was not offside. Once again, Gordon played an integral part in the goal’s creation. First the England winger beat James to the ball and then his cross was flicked beyond Sánchez’s reach by Woltemade’s outstretched toe.
Newcastle’s 6ft 6in striker may not be super quick and his attempts at pressing from the front suggest he finds it awkward but Woltemade’s rich amalgam of extraordinary technical skill and ruthless finishing thoroughly bewildered Chelsea.
As his performance vindicated Howe’s decision to begin with the £55m Yoane Wissa on the bench, some of Cole Palmer’s clever link play emphasised just what a very fine forward he is. Palmer was entitled to feel let down by too many underwhelming Chelsea teammates. Admittedly Pedro Neto did deposit the ball in the back of the net before half-time but, given that he used an arm to steer his header beyond Aaron Ramsdale, it counted for nothing.
By the interval Woltemade really should have completed a hat-trick but volleyed another Gordon cross narrowly wide before Sánchez, seemingly on the brink of implosion, marched out of his area and issued his defence with a dressing-down. Sánchez appeared to be furious that when Palmer tumbled over his colleagues had stopped in their tracks and waited, forlornly, for the referee to stop play.
Chelsea are not World Club champions for nothing and, shortly after half-time, James reduced the deficit courtesy of a fabulous free-kick.
As his shot arced, swerved and dipped its way over the home wall, Ramsdale was left throughly deceived. Suddenly Moisés Caicedo was stepping on the gas in central midfield, Neto began making his presence felt on the right and Marc Cucurella started advancing from left back.
Newcastle rallied and thought they had answered back when Trevoh Chalobah’s shoulder charge on Gordon sent the winger crashing in the area. Contentiously, no penalty was awarded and Chelsea swiftly equalised.
Howe was extremely keen to sign during the summer and there was considerable disappointment when the former Brighton forward opted to join Chelsea. The Brazilian duly reminded Howe of what he missed out on when, having connected with Sánchez’s long kick, he headed the ball beyond Malick Thiaw and proceeded to advance before unleashing a shot into the bottom corner.
Two Newcastle substitutes very nearly atoned but when Wissa played Harvey Barnes in, a brilliant tackle from James saved the day for Chelsea.
In stoppage time Howe was convinced a penalty should have been awarded when James appeared to fell Barnes but a VAR check for a potential red card detected no offence.
