NEWCASTLE took a trip down memory lane to ignite their season and dump last season’s beaten finalists Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup.
Having been out of sorts for much of the campaign so far, the Toon players rediscovered the energy, flair and goalscoring threat of recent years to lift spirits among a fanbase which was starting to doubt them.
This was the Newcastle who destroyed Chelsea 12 months ago and the previous season too, the red-hot hosts who had previously turned St James’ Park into a foreboding fortress, not the anaemic, goal-shy side of late.
Chelsea have been more pedigree than pantomime in recent weeks but this was a night they resorted to southern softies mode against opponents with the bit between their teeth.
To be fair to the visitors, they had carried the greater attacking threat in the opening 20 minutes but once they gifted Newcastle the lead, there was an inevitability about the outcome.
The two goals which separated the sides, scored in the 23rd and 26th minutes, were both messy, not that the celebrating Toon Army cared a hoot about that.
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Renato Veiga was tackled by Joelinton just outside his own area, the ball was worked to Alexander Isak who swept home for his second goal of the week.
Three minutes later, the Swede turned provider, his cross glancing off the head of Joe Willock before Axel Disasi sliced into his own net.
Sandro Tonali went close as Chelsea looked like buckling before regaining their composure in the minutes leading up to half-time.
Christopher Nkunku would have cut the deficit on 50 minutes only for Lloyd Kelly to throw himself at the striker’s feet as he shaped to shoot. As courageous as it was vital.
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The pace rarely let up and Enzo Maresca’s decision to throw on in-form Noni Madueke before the hour mark showed Chelsea had not given up.
He had a penalty appeal turned down and Nkunku miskicked in front of goal.
But with Newcastle’s players defending as if their lives depended on it, a Blues’ comeback, for all their territory, never really looked on.
Incredibly, both sides had missed gilt-edged chances to break the deadlock inside two minutes.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was the first culprit, shooting tamely straight at Nick Pope after being set up by Nkunku.
Joelinton’s miss was even worse, hitting the outside of the upright from just six yards out after Isak had found him unmarked at the far post.
Eddie Howe admitted this week he still carried the mental scars from last season’s League Cup KO defeat at Stamford Bridge .
The visitors were moments away from booking a semi-final place only for Mykhailo Mudryk to equalise and Chelsea win the subsequent penalty shoot-out.
Penalties looked a long-shot once the Toon had established their ascendancy
Chelsea did continue to test the Magpies with Renato Veiga’s goalbound shot cannoning off Sandro Tonali for a corner.
Then Joao Felix displayed deft footwork to create a shooting chance for himself, firing just over the bar from the edge of the area.
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But it was Newcastle who had the killer instinct leaving Chelsea with an uphill task at the break.
Sean Longstaff had a 74th minute goal ruled out for offside but while they would have loved a third, Newcastle rarely looked like needing it.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
