NEVER mind the Blaydon Races…you can swap that most famous of Toon chants for the Hayden aces after this.
And a game that was heading for the instantly forgettable category, suddenly switched to the ultimate smash and grab raid.
Isaac Hayden’s late header gave Newcastle a dramatic win against ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The midfielder’s glanced nod evaded Kepa and gave Steve Bruce’s men all three pointsCredit: PA:Press Association
St James’ Park erupted when the 93rd minute winner went inCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Kepa couldn’t do anything to protect the point at the deathCredit: Reuters
All thanks to Isaac Hayden, the most unlikely of match winners – to provide Steve Bruce with the most unlikely of match wins.
For nearly 94 minutes we had sat and suffered a tortuous, tepid evening when there was barely a hint of a goal.
But with 52,000 getting ready to head for the exit, Allan Saint-Maximin hung up one more hopeful cross in the Chelsea box.
And there was central midfielder Hayden, rising highest to head down and past keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to send St James’s Park wild.
His last goal came nearly a year ago against Wolves in the FA Cup.
He may go as long again before he gets the next. But not one of the Toon fans will think anything but good things of him, after his heroics here.
For Bruce, the first victory over Chelsea opposite number Frank Lampard in 18 of their Premier League meetings when he has been a manager.
For Chelsea, the ultimate pulling down of pants, after a game they dominated possession wise, but rarely looked like getting the breakthrough.
And all that after Newcastle had lost another man to injury – their eighth now sidelined – after Jetro Willems damaged a knee inside ten minutes.
For so long, to be fair, he looked like being the lucky one by ducking out of this early. Entertainment wise it was awful.
Joelinton thundered a header off the bar in the first-halfCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Jetro Willems was stretchered off injured before the breakCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The left-back went down holding his kneeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Steve Bruce was animated on the touchlineCredit: Reuters
Chances, if you could call them that, were few and far between. Coming close to making the most of them even rarer.
Like the moment Mason Mount jinked into the box, but chose to take an extra touch rather than shooting and in the end produced nothing of any danger.
In fact for all Chelsea dominated, it was actually Newcastle who came closest to bursting the dam.
And when that opening arose, boy it certainly left a few Chelsea hearts in mouths, after the most magical of crosses from Federico Fernandez out on the right.
Joelinton hung in the air for what seemed an eternity and powered his header past keeper Kepa – and agonisingly back off the crossbar as well.
Yet if it was inviting crosses and delicious deliveries you were after, there was only one place to look – to Chelsea’s right wing back Reece James.
The youngster signed a fresh five-year contract only last week. It is easy to see why they were so keen to tie him down.
Stamford Bridge fans have been raving about this kid for years already. They reckon he is a sure-fire England full back of the future.
Injured Andy Carroll watched on from the standsCredit: Reuters
Frank Lampard cut a frustrated figure for most of the afternoonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Plenty of them even insist his crossing ability is on a par with David Beckham. Anyone who witnessed them at St James’ Park would find it hard to disagree.
Time and again he curled in balls from the right which almost came with the accompanying instruction “please dispatch into back of the net.”
Too often, though, the ball arrived and no-one had taken the gamble and gone. Too often they were smothered by keeper Martin Dubravka – or flew across to the other flank.
James actually limped out of it 15 minutes from time, failing to shrug off the effects of a challenge with Ciaran Clark.
With him he took a sizeable chunk of the Chelsea potency.
For a while they enjoyed just as much dominance in the second period, only occasionally did they cause any serious moments of panic in the opposition back line.
One moment that did came when Mount broke clear and fed Willian, who stepped further left into more space, but dragged his shot right and a foot or so wide.
And then Abraham went even closer when Cesar Azpilacueta nodded into the box, and the England striker acrobatically got there just ahead of Dubravka.
Yet the keeper got enough of it to take any real place off, and Matt Ritchie had plenty of time to gather himself before hooking clear.
It was Abraham’s last act of the evening before he was hooked. Hardly having roared out a genuine case as to why he should carry the Harry Kane banner if he fails to make the Euros.
So when he left, surely any chance – however slim – of a goal went with him? Not a bit of it.
Hayden made sure of that. Not the answer to England’s prayers, obviously. But he certainly answered plenty of Geordie ones.
The two managers shared a warm handshake before the gameCredit: PA:Press Association
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
