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Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea: Newcastle drop points AGAIN after disgraceful refereeing!
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After one of the best first-half displays of any team this season, Newcastle United dropped points at home to Chelsea due to individual errors and terrible refereeing.
Michael gives his immediate thoughts on the game whilst trying to remain in the Christmas spirit.
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Transcript
Newcastle's Dominant Start and First Half Performance
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's happened again man hello everyone this is the daily newcastle i'm michael grahamslaw and today we're here to talk about newcastle's 2-2 draw with chelsea at st james's park in the final premier league fixture before christmas And I never thought I'd be saying 2-2 draw precisely an hour ago. It's currently 20-3. And an hour ago, I was thinking, oh, this is going to be a brilliant, brilliant victory for Newcastle United.
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Going into the game, it probably was the dullest feeling Newcastle fans had under a Eddie Howe at this point in the season. Usually Christmas were a little bit cheerful. But a 12.30 kick-off at home against a big team after narrowly beating Fulham in midweek.
00:01:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
and landing possibly the hardest tie we could in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. But on a freezing day that risked thawing out, Newcastle heated things up with arguably their best first-half performance of the season.
Missed Opportunities in First Half
00:01:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's unfortunate that that fire could not last, but we'll get to that. And we'll go straight into the lineups because Eddie Howe made four changes from the side that beat Fulham.
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tino Livramento obviously dropped out after injury. Lewis Hall came in after rumours that he wouldn't be able to make the team earlier in the week. Sandro Tonali came in for Joe Willock and we switched up the attack with Harvey Barnes and Johan Wisser dropping out for Anthony Gordon and Nick Voltamada who came into the game with one goal in 11 games.
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But from the first minute Newcastle United were the better team and we saw the Newcastle United that we wanted to see in the derby and we've wanted to see for a very long time.
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
While Anthony Gordon will certainly take the plaudits in the first half, every single player seemed to leave everything on the pitch. The Magpies took an early lead through Nick Valtamada, his first of two.
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jacob Murphy cross finding Anthony Gordon at the back post, his volley excellently saved by Robert Sanchez. Chelsea couldn't react quick enough and Nick Valtamada just nonchalantly blasted the ball into the roof of the net. And you're thinking, okay,
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe, just maybe, this is going to be a really good reaction and a really good day. And it should have been really. Newcastle dominated the first half and could have been 5-0 up at half-time if we took all of our good chances. In reality, you know you're not going to take five good chances. In a row Nick Valtemar had a number of opportunities and it only took 20 minutes for have a brace as a quick free kick found its way out Anthony Gordon he cuts inside and an in swinging cross get to wal themart basically finds Valtemar brilliantly. he gets a touch and doesn't really divert the ball all that much but it adds an extra touch onto the ball and it sends it beyond Robert Sanchez Newcastle 2-0 up after 20 minutes and it looks like they're cruising it could have been even better or if you're a Chelsea supporter bad to worse as Alejandro Garnaccio could have been red carded after losing the ball in midfield to Jacob Ramsey studs up challenge on the Newcastle midfielder so a yellow card brandished
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's one of those for me that if the referee gives it and gives a red, it's not overturned. Go with the referee. In that scenario, you don't mind it. um Newcastle was still the better team and we still had a number of chances. Nick Valtomada put a great chance wide. Another cross in from Anthony Gordon. and Beats Malagusto on the right. He had the better of them all of that first half.
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Nick Valtemar at the back post, stretching just a little, knocks it over the bar, just a little too high. Newcastle should have been 3-0 up. There were other chances as well. um But Chelsea, all they really had was a small phase of possession at around the 40th minute mark.
00:04:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you're thinking, and just don't let them concede here. Don't let them score here, sorry. and you're in for a decent, decent end to the first half. Did end up with Chelsea scoring, but it was ruled out as Pedro Neto handled the ball. The cross came in, he heads it down, and ah it just hits off his arm and goes beyond Ramsdale. I was more concerned that it somehow managed to trickle past Ramsdale after moving at the speed of a tortoise. um But it was a bouncing ball, so maybe we'll give him that. But it wasn't it did didn't look great at all for Ramsdale. um And you could argue, I've seen it argued, that the first Chelsea goal um doesn't exactly bode well for him either. Personally,
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm a bit more 50-50 on it. But in the first half, sticking with the first half, it was the best first half we'd seen from Newcastle this season. The athleticism and andsity intensity that had made Newcastle really tough team to beat in recent seasons was back.
00:05:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or at least we thought it was. Defensively, Malik Chau was stepping into challenges, making interceptions brilliantly. Lewis Miley, fantastic at fullback again. However, all that changes in the second half.
Chelsea's Momentum Shift
00:05:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cole Palmer buys a three-kick for Chelsea. Jacob Ramsey a little bit naive in making a challenge, and but Palmer went down really quite easily. um He's about 25, 30 yards out Closer to 25, in all honesty. Rhys James and Cole Palmer standing over the ball. Let's see the ball's the microphone right there for those on Spotify, unfortunately. You won't be able to see, but...
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
One either side and the ball can realistically go either side. So if you're on Ramsdale, surely your thought process is right. I'm going to move a little bit more central just in case either side hits it Because I'm looking at that and I'm going, Cole Palmer's going to whip that with his left foot and he's going to curl it into the top corner. That's the what I'm initially thinking.
00:06:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's so much space on that left-hand side. Rhys James takes it. He's standing on the left. He curls the ball into the left-hand side of the goal. Aaron Ramsdale dives, but realistically, he probably should have took a step closer to his left.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He's overprotecting that near post, and it's it's one of those where it felt like the goalkeeper was almost scared of being beaten at the post he was closest to. And to be honest, with it being a more central free kick,
00:06:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I definitely thought he should have been in a bit of a better position, but at the same time, he's overcompensated to to maybe try and give them that chance and go, right, if I'm going to be beaten, it's going to be through a fantastic strike, which unfortunately it was, but it meant Chelsea were back in the game after any a dreadful first half.
Defensive Lapses Lead to Chelsea's Equalizer
00:07:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And from a Newcastle comfortable position, it all of a sudden got a whole lot nervy. whole lot more nervey i don't know i was nervous just there i was nervous but newcastle should have had the chance to put it beyond all doubt ian mckay's 3-1 would have came to fruition um but a penalty was not given to newcastle after nathaniel shalaba thrashed smashed and dashed anthony gordon off the pitch it's a clear cut penalty in my opinion
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a bit shoulder to shoulder. The referee isn't sure, so he doesn't give it. VAR confirm it, and we'll be hearing an apology from PGMOL or whatever they're called before Christmas. It was stated it wasn't a penalty because it's deemed as a shielding action and that it was side to side. My question is is, how on earth do you shield the ball from a player when you're not even between the player and the ball? He comes from absolutely nowhere and just absolutely swipes.
00:08:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anthony Gordon out. um It is a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge, but for me, the aggression there is far too much. And I'm not the only one. You take any luck on X and you go, Newcastle penalty. It's Chelsea fans saying they were incredibly lucky. Joe Cole sitting there going, oh no, what has he done? Every single player and person in the stadium thought it was a penalty, except from VAR and the referee. So...
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Newcastle dreadfully unlucky there but it doesn't make up for the fact that you go into half time 2-0 up and before 65 minutes it's 2-2 and Chelsea get the equaliser because it set it starts off pretty much all Chelsea in the second half the Newcastle threw it away a long ball by Robert Sanchez somehow Newcastle, despite being in a leading position, have left Malik Chao one-on-one with João Pedro.
00:09:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
João Pedro wins the header. Malik Chao slips. Doesn't even slip fully. He just loses his footing for a slight slight second, but allows João Pedro to get in front of him and slide the ball on beyond Ramsdale to make it 2-2.
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at this point, you are thinking, what on earth is happening? And thinking about it after the game, At 2-1 up, why are Newcastle United leaving João Pedro one-on-one with the player?
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
You are asking for that kind of stuff to happen. And unfortunately, Malik Chau has made a small error in its cost Newcastle United. There's no front on Malik Chau. Players slip every single game.
00:09:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just at the wrong moment for him. But you have to question why Newcastle, while 2-1 up, are leaving players one-on-one Even from a set-piece, you should have a man over in the defensive area when you're leading a game. Schoolboy stuff in Newcastle messed it up. um But Chelsea did have three chances.
Pressure and Tense Finish
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
one Only one of them was clear-cut. Two were scored, and Neto forced a great save from Ramsdale with the third one. Newcastle in that second half were vulnerable every single time Chelsea went forward.
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then at 2-2, three changes were made. Johan Wisser, Harvey Barnes and Antony Alanga came on and replaced the original front three. To be honest, it did feel like Newcastle needed more a more defensive change about 10 minutes earlier just to try and sure things up.
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But at the same time, Newcastle have so many defensive injuries. The only thing you're potentially thinking is bringing on maybe a Joe Linton who, again, doesn't seem to be fit at all, not enough to play.
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Eddie Howe said he would only bring him on for defensive corners or something like that. If that's the only reason he's even there, don't bother having him on the bench. um Realistically, you would have liked to have seen a more defensive substitution. I might have even took Anthony Gordon coming off for Joe Willock and moving Jacob Ramsey out to the left-hand side.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just to sure things up a little bit, but then also make the changes with Wisser and Alanga so you keep that threat on the counter-attack. Unfortunately... It didn't come when it maybe should have. Hindsight is a lovely thing, let's remember. um But I was thinking we needed changes about five minutes before the goal. um Then Newcastle still had our chances after that. um Harvey Barnes is played through by Johan Wisser. Those two seem to connect really quite well.
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Hopefully that's something we see in the future. Whissa played him through and Rhys James put in a fantastic challenge to deny Harvey Barnes. um And then Barnes has another chance. Alanga puts it through, i believe, the legs of Cougarere. A cross comes in.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Barnes is unmarked at the far post, volleys it wide. He has to score. it's ah it's It's not the easiest chance of the game, but it's one of those where we scored a more difficult chance in in the the second goal. and Unless it was a tap-in like the first, it didn't really seem like it was going to come for Newcastle. Barnes should have scored.
00:12:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unfortunately, he didn't. um It's just one of those. It's the way the cookie crumbles. We didn't take our chances. They did. And once again, Newcastle have beaten a team on XG and not won the game. um But the final product just wasn't there in the end. Newcastle knocked and knocked on the door. Much the better team in the fit last 15 minutes, but the final product wasn't there.
00:12:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then you also had issue at the end of the game. Chelsea could have had a red card in the final moments. it's a Rhys James pulls Harvey Barnes back. It's a denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity to a degree. I think Robert Sanchez is probably too close.
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
for Harvey Barnes to actually score. and But Barnes might get there first. It'd probably be a collision, but let's be honest, Sanchez is probably smothering the ball. um So it wasn't... I can see why it wasn't given, but VAR were calling it a small tug.
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rather than the the denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity, it's more about the contact. And once again, the contact was probably was sufficient enough to make sure Harvey Barnes didn't get there. So...
Post-Match Reflections and Standings Impact
00:13:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
If the contact is sufficient enough to stop the player from getting there, it's sufficient enough to really be a foul. um But you you can't say the referee costs the game when you go in 2-0 up and you don't win the game.
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a shame because it's more points dropped for Newcastle again after a really incredible first half performance. A really poor one in the second half. um And Howe said it half time. He didn't want to disclose what he'd said. ah It can't have been keep it up because the intensity in the second half, the athleticism wasn't there at all. um I'd say it wasn't there at all. It dropped from about giving 100% to giving 80%. And it's a result that at the start of the game, i think I would have took a 2-2 draw just given how things were.
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But a 2-0 up half-time. It's another one where it feels pretty unforgivable. um It will be forgivable in about 24 hours time, but an hour after the game, it it doesn't feel it at all. It's an all too familiar feeling for me and many and probably you this season.
00:14:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Newcastle will get an apology from PGM All for Christmas. But that wasn't really on the the list I sent to San Mariner to draw that feels like a defeat. um Yeah, that's all from me on the Daily Newcastle. A great game, but as a whole, ultimately, we're going to go into Christmas with a bit of a sour taste in our mouths. We are going to be in the bottom half. It's pretty much confirmed. um Before the three o'clock kickoffs, we're eleventh um The only way we could stay in the top half would be if Sunderland beat Brighton. And I pray to God that doesn't happen. That might do, considering the games are starting off five minutes after I'm saying this. But yeah, Newcastle, best we can be is 10th.
00:15:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And that's if everything went our way. So it's ah it's a bit more of a difficult one. It's 13 points dropped from winning positions in the Premier League going into Christmas and 20 points dropped from winning positions in all competitions. You have to look at it and go, those 13 points dropped, even if, well, if you didn't drop any of them, you'd be level with Arsenal.
00:16:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's be honest. But if you didn't drop four of them. we'd be fifth. um So it's it it is a really sour, sour feeling. And in the Champions League, obviously, if we didn't drop the extra eight or seven, I can't remember off the top my head, you'd be in the top eight as well. So it's one of those missed opportunities, but fine, fine margins are the difference. you know it's It's one of those where You have to realise we're nearly there.
00:16:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're just not there right now. um And hopefully, 2026 starts better than 2025 has finished. Although, I guess I can't say that with Man Utd and Burnley on the horizon. A minimum of four points required from those two games, really.
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's see if Newcastle can pull it off. So, 2-2. two two I would have took it at the start, not really feeling it right now, but a great first half, slightly worse than the second, feels like a defeat, but we'll keep smiling through it and on to Man United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for now, I'll see you later.