CHELSEA overcame a tough Newcastle side at Stamford Bridge with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Timo Werner.
The German hadn’t scored since November in the league but tapped home to nab his fifth Premier League goal of the season.
- RESULT: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle
- Chelsea XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount, Alonso, Abraham, Werner
- Newcastle XI: Darlow, Krafth, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis, Hayden, Shelvey, Willock, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Gayle
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
THAT’S ALL FOR TONIGHT
Thomas Tuchel’s Blues rain on West Ham’s parade, knocking the Hammers off 4th spot.
As for Newcastle, it’s going to be a hard fought end to the season – with Bruce’s men sat seven points above 18th place Fulham, but the Cottagers have a game in hand.
That’s all from me, goodnight!
TUCHEL SPEAKS
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel gave his assessment to Sky Sports after the game: “I liked the first half. We played with courage and a lot of purpose in the box.
“We had a lot of shots and managed to keep them away from our box. I liked that a lot.
“Our decision-making in the box can be more deadly, more precise, more decisive.
“The second half, we gave away shots, lost duels, suddenly there were corners against us.
“We played too many balls back. We did not keep the advantage to put the game into the opponent’s half.
“Our counter attacks were also not clinical enough to score a third goal and finish the game.”
Credit: Getty Images
ABOUT TIMO
THOMAS TUCHEL has only been in charge for Chelsea 20 days so he is still in the honeymoon stage with Roman Abramovich.
But already, the new man at Stamford Bridge has helped the club leapfrog Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton, Spurs, West Ham and Liverpool to claim fourth place in the Premier League.
Tuchel has even got Timo Werner scoring again after 100 days and 1000 minutes without a goal.
And maybe even more impressively, Tuchel has been able to stick Kepa back in goal for a League game without it turning ito a complete and utter disaster.
So, as starts go, it has been a decent one for Tuchel. A fifth successive win in all competitions was certainly never in doubt last night once substitute Olivier Giroud and Werner struck in the first half.
Read More Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0: Match Report
TIMO SPEAKS
Goal-scorer Timo Werner spoke to Sky Sports after the game: “The first half was really good from us.
“We played a lot of very good football. I’m happy that I scored finally!
“There’s still a long way to go for the rest of the season, but if we keep going like this, I think it will be a good end for us.
“As a striker you always want to score. But at the end it’s a team sport, and if we win it is good.
“If I help my team with assists, by winning penalties, and now scoring, I am happy and very glad I scored today.
“My team brought me a lot of situations when I could score.
“It is really important for us to reach the Champions League, to reach for the top four, but look for next year as well.”
HIGH-FLYING BLUES
Professional performance indeed.
FULL-TIME STATS
Chelsea brushed Newcastle aside tonight – dominating possession for the full 90.
The Blues had more touches in the opposition penalty area, more shots target, and completed more passes than Newcastle.
FT: CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
Chelsea climb into the top four thanks to goals from Giroud and Werner, leapfrogging Liverpool and West Ham.
Newcastle didn’t really give the Blues a run for their money, and as a consequence, they stay in 17th.
They remain seven points ahead of 18th place Fulham, BUT……… Scott Parker’s side have a game in hand.
PEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE GOES AT STAMFORD BRIDGE!
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
90+2. Kante commits a foul on Lewis on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area.
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
90. Three minutes to be added on at the end of the second half, Newcastle have simply ran out of time to stage a comeback!
Chelsea will move into 4th place in the Premier League, leapfrogging Liverpool and West Ham.
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
87. Carroll throws his weight about in typical Carroll fashion and concedes a free-kick in a promising area.
Not long left to go.
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
85. Shelvey picks out Almiron inside the Chelsea penalty are with a quick free-kick.
The forward tries to get a shot off, but it deflects off a Blues defender and behind for a Magpies corner.
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
83. Chelsea are holding onto the ball well inside the final ten minutes – will they score a third and put the game to bed?
Credit: Getty Images
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
81. CHANCE!
Carroll wins the flick-on, Lascelles plays a lovely back heel over the top of the Chelsea defence.
Almiron is the man to latch onto Lascelles pass, but he slashes his effort wide of the near post!
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
79. Carrol is on for Willock, one last roll of the dice from Steve Bruce.
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
78. SAVE!
Kante drives Chelsea forward through the middle of the pitch before playing the ball wide to James on the right-hand side.
James takes the ball into the penalty area and drives a low effort towards the near post, but Darlow saves with his feet!
Both substitutes nearly combine for Chelsea’s third.
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
76. James is on for Hudson-Odoi to see out the final 15 minutes or so – it’s been a good shift from the Chelsea youngster.
Credit: Getty Images
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
73. That’s more like it!
Fraser – who has just come on for Saint-Maximin – delivers a cross into the box from the left-hand side.
Willock times a late run into the box and rises highest to send a header goal-bound.
But Kepa does well to sprawl across his line and tip the ball wide!
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
72. Just under 20 minutes left in the second half, and Newcastle have barely troubled Kepa.
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
70. Werner gets in behind Newcastle’s backline and drives into the penalty area.
The German goes to ground after being pushed by Newcastle captain Lascelles.
No penalty is given, and it appears Newcastle have gotten away with that one!
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
69. Kante is on in place of Mount, who has put in a real shift tonight!
And for Newcastle, Fraser is being given his final instructions and he’ll be on shortly.
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
68. Chelsea spread play out wide to Alonso on the left-hand side, and the left-back floats a cross into the penalty area.
Giroud pulls off a bicycle kick, but his effort is easy for Darlow to save.
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
68. Kante is putting his Chelsea shirt on and he’ll be out on the pitch shortly.
TURBO TIMO
Timo Werner has been a constant threat for Chelsea tonight! The German has been driving the Blues forward at every given opportunity!
Credit: Getty Images
CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
64. Kovacic plays the ball wide to Hudson-Odoi and the youngster drives into the Newcastle penalty area.
The youngster drills a cross across the face of goal, but Newcastle clear the ball behind for a Blues corner.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
