Oscar’s fifth goal of the season followed by Diego Costa’s 15th keeps the Blues at the top of the table and maintains our 100 per cent home league record. The first and one of only two sides to beat us this season provided another good test in the opening half but conceded shortly before the break. From that moment on Chelsea were in control and produced a second-half display worthy of more than just Diego Costa’s strike, although that was a goal of the highest quality. Today’s centre-back paring of John Terry, making a milestone appearance, and Kurt Zouma on his first Premier League start were rewarded with a clean sheet, the team’s 15th in our last 18 top-flight games at the Bridge. Manchester City, playing at the same time, drew 1-1 at Everton so a gap opens again between first and second place. Oscar’s fifth goal of the season followed by Diego Costa’s 15th keeps the Blues at the top of the table and maintains our 100 per cent home league record. The first and one of only two sides to beat us this season provided another good test in the opening half but conceded shortly before the break. From that moment on Chelsea were in control and produced a second-half display worthy of more than just Diego Costa’s strike, although that was a goal of the highest quality. Today’s centre-back paring of John Terry, making a milestone appearance, and Kurt Zouma on his first Premier League start were rewarded with a clean sheet, the team’s 15th in our last 18 top-flight games at the Bridge. Manchester City, playing at the same time, drew 1-1 at Everton so a gap opens again between first and second. TEAM NEWS Zouma retained his place following his goal and commendable performance against Watford in the Cup and Petr Cech was also selected again. Gary Cahill and Thibaut Courtois were both on the bench. Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Terry were rested completely last weekend. All returned. There was a very familiar look to the most-attacking four – with the Belgian joined by Brazilian boys Oscar and Willian, and Diego Costa the spearhead. Newcastle made seven changes from their side that exited the FA Cup against Leicester and were able to restore Tim Krul in goal and captain Fabricio Coloccini in central defence. Daryl Janmaat, Jack Colback, Moussa Sissoko, Ayoze Perez and Yoan Gouffran were the others introduced. FIRST HALF With the setback at St James’ Park just a month ago and defeat at Tottenham our most recent league result, this game could be viewed as a test of this Chelsea team’s mettle. It was one of the players retained by Newcastle caretaker boss John Carver following last weekend’s defeat, Remy Cabella, who saw plenty of the ball in his wide-right position early on. The Blues had to defend for a spell and proved up to the task, with Cech making one commanding catch. A thumping header forward by Terry on the occasion of his 648th appearance, the joint third most in Chelsea history, sent his side on the attack. Oscar attempted to split the defence with a swift ball to Diego Costa but it was well cut out. Newcastle continued as the brighter side however and Terry deflected an 18th-minute shot after Cabella had appeared on the opposite side of the pitch and dribbled his way into the area. The tricky French international winger then won a free-kick that was hammered through the wall by Gouffran. Cech was hurried into a punch out but suddenly the Blues had caught the visitors with too many men upfield. It was three of ours bearing down on just Coloccini and Krul. Hazard took the defender out of the equation with a pass sideways but rather than shoot from the left, Diego Costa sent the ball back inside and Newcastle cleared. The best chance so far had not been taken but it did liven up the Blues. Oscar shot wide as we sustained the pressure but then on 31 minutes, the ball broke Newcastle’s way in midfield and Cabella cut inside the exposed Terry. Fortunately Cech, with a good diving save, was equal to the low, curling shot. Five minutes later Sissoko hit the outside of the post from out wide after a promising Chelsea attack had broken down. Our uncomfortable first-half immediately continued with a forced substitution. Azpilicueta appeared troubled by a groin problem moments before he tried to defend a Magpies attack. Now he was on turf and unable to continue. Filipe Luis was the natural replacement. Yet despite all this it was Jose Mourinho’s men who would go down the tunnel at half-time ahead and Newcastle were complicity in their conceding. A coach’s nightmare, they simply weren’t switched on when Willian took a short corner. Ivanovic, from the byline, centred low to Oscar who swept the ball home, Krul’s despairing boot on the line doing nothing more than diverting the goalbound shot on its way in. PA-21910245_oscar Indeed we could have been 2-0 up had Krul not saved well from Willian’s free-kick. Diego Costa had been fouled on the edge of the box at the cost of a booking for Mike Williamson. John Terry had been the prominent Chelsea peformer in the first half, a reflection of the play, but a much better 45 minutes was to come. SECOND HALF The Blues were denied yet another very good claim for a penalty less than 10 minutes into the second period. Fabregas had crafted the opportunity for Diego Costa to cross and Coloccini’s arm was clearly extended out from his body when it stopped the ball. The Chelsea players were not in any doubt but Roger East, refereeing his first game of ours disagreed. Coloccini had the air of someone who had got away with one as he walked away. There were soon smiles on Chelsea faces however. Colback was booked for a tug on Hazard a minute before Diego Costa clinically doubled the advantage. It came from the type of one-touch passing that has characterised Chelsea at our best this season. Hazard again was involved at the sharp end, as was Oscar, and our topscorer was calmness personified in not taking his first chance to shoot, instead steadying himself with one more touch before finding the bottom corner from 12 yards out. PA-21910654_diego costa Half an hour remained. Cech touched a deceptive cross from Sammy Ameobi, who had just come on, over his bar after a rare second-half attack from the visitors. The blustery conditions of the first-half had eased but it was still windy in west London. Newcastle left-back Paul Dummett was yellow-carded for chopping down Willian on halfway with Nemanja Matic following into the book for a foul in a similar spot, Chelsea’s first caution of the afternoon. Oscar would later see yellow after a foul on Colback. The Blues were looking bright, with Diego Costa and Hazard especially threatening. One scintillating run from our Player of the Year almost cut right the way through and Diego Costa went one step further by getting his shot away, only to be denied by a flying clearance from Coloccini who had chased back. Remy replaced Diego Costa for the closing minutes and flashed one shot across the goal of his former club, but it was at the other end the last round of applause was earned as Zouma sharply intervened to complete another satisfying display. Chelsea v Newcastle Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Azpilicueta (Filipe Luis, 38); Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar (Ramires 78), Hazard; Diego Costa (Remy 83). Unused subs Courtois, Cahill, Mikel, Drogba. Scorers Oscar 43, Diego Costa 59. Booked Matic 70, Oscar 75. Newcastle (4-3-3): Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini (c), Williamson, Dummett; Sissoko (Riviere 84), Anita, Colback; Cabella, Perez, Gouffran (Ameobi 63). Unused subs Woodman, Santon, Haidara, Vuckic, Armstrong. Booked Williamson 45, Colback 58, Dummett 65. Referee Roger East Crowd 41,612
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 12:11:19 +0000
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