NEWCASTLE, England — Newcastle continued their remarkable early-season form with a deserved 1-0 win over Chelsea at St James’ Park. Joe Willock got the only goal of a game which ended with players and coaches from both sides pushing and shoving on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area.
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Eddie Howe’s side did an impromptu lap of honour after the final whistle and will re-start the Premier League season in third following a start to the campaign that has seen them lose just once. Chelsea, meanwhile, head into the World Cup break on the back of a dismal run of four defeats from their last five games in all competitions.
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Rapid reaction
1. World Cup break comes at the wrong time for Newcastle, right time for Chelsea
Eddie Howe and Graham Potter will have very different feelings whenever they glance at the table over the next six weeks. Newcastle are up to third, just two points behind champions Manchester City, and have ensured they will be in the Premier League’s top four at Christmas for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have now lost three consecutive Premier League games for just the second time this century and will be outside the top four at Christmas for just the third time in the last 21 years. Newcastle have won five league games in a row and Howe would be forgiven for thinking that the World Cup has come at the wrong time. He can only hope that the impressive momentum his team have built up is still there when domestic football resumes after the World Cup.
