'The disruptors of the Premier League'

'The disruptors of the Premier League' - National reaction to Newcastle United's Chelsea triumph

This is how the national press reacted to Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Chelsea.

Newcastle ‘dark arts’ - The Telegraph

Writing for The Telegraph, Mike McGrath and Rob Smyth highlighted the new-found tactics adopted by Newcastle to help grind out results. The piece detailed: “With the clock run down after seven long injury-time minutes, Chelsea still had a throw-in to launch into the penalty area.

“As Marc Cucarella attempted to take aim, there stood in front of him the figure of Jamaal Lascelles stopping him. Newcastle’s club captain was in a fluorescent bib and not on the pitch as he blocked off a final attempt at an equalising goal.

“Some call it the dark arts. Or s---housery, in modern parlance. But in anybody’s language, it was a message that Newcastle are the disruptors of the Premier League. They sit in the Champions League places heading into the mid-season break and belief will grow that they can stay there after this victory against one of the elite they want to replace.”

World Cup break untimely

Louise Taylor referenced the World Cup break as the “only thing” that could halt Newcastle’s top-flight momentum. She wrote in The Guardian: “Graham Potter may have benefited from a recent “Glow Up” but his players seem to be experiencing a bit of a messy makeover. Given Chelsea have failed to win any of their last five Premier League games, it has proved somewhat less successful than their manager’s new hair style, as, thanks to Joe Willock’s sumptuously curling winner, Eddie Howe’s renascent Newcastle registered a sixth straight victory.

“Willock and co go into the World Cup break third in the top tier with the domestic season’s impending six-week hiatus apparently the only thing that can apply a brake to the extraordinary momentum which promises to sweep them into next season’s Champions League.”

‘First time Chelsea laid a glove’ - The Sun

The Sun preferred to focus on the post-match brawl between Dan Burn and Kai Havertz, mocking Chelsea for their impotency in attack. Jake Sanders wrote: “Tempers flared at full time of Newcastle's victory over Chelsea. Kai Havertz looked the most aggrieved and was almost trying to fight the entire Newcastle team.

“The German appeared to be particularly unhappy with Dan Burn, which led to Jacob Murphy also getting involved. In truth, it was the first time on the night Graham Potter's side laid a glove on the hosts.”

England manager debate - Daily Mail

The Daily Mail made an interesting analysis regarding Graham Potter and Eddie Howe’s potential England career after the result. Craig Hope wrote: “To some, this may have looked like an audition of the England hopefuls. Not the players. The managers. How ironic, then, that a victory should move Eddie Howe further still from the possibility of the Three Lions post. But in defeat - a third on the spin for turgid Chelsea - Graham Potter’s odds will likely be shortened.

“For should Gareth Southgate ride into the sun after the World Cup - or, more likely, find himself burnt beneath it - there is close to zero chance of Newcastle head coach Howe taking residence at St George’s Park. He has been the favourite with most bookmakers for a while now, and that is because he is the outstanding candidate.

“Potter, meanwhile, is only two months into his new venture at Stamford Bridge. He would not want to be jumping ship for England, but he could be pushed. After all, he is the first Blues boss to lose three consecutive league games in seven years.”

Sky Sports on purple patch

Laura Hunter noted how Newcastle have matched a record set in the famous 2011-12 season under Alan Pardew. In her Sky Sports match report, she wrote: “Newcastle have now won five consecutive Premier League games for the first time since 2014, while they are unbeaten in 10 for the first time since 2011.

“Potter, conversely, is the first Chelsea manager to lose three league games on the trot since Jose Mourinho in November 2015 - who incidentally lost his job the following month.”