Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has named two Chelsea players who gave them the biggest problems in their 2-1 defeat yesterday.
Toon went down against Chelsea in a game that was actually pretty close but was won by the better side on the day, even if I am biased!
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I think Chelsea edged it despite there not being barely anything between the two sides in terms of control (possession). Chelsea certainly created more chances on goal though and played the better football.
Newcastle were in the game but really, they played right into Chelsea’s hands by being very open to counter attacks – Chelsea’s strength. It was a counter attack that led to Chelsea’s first goal scored by Nicolas Jackson.
Cole Palmer collected the ball deep and sent an insane world class pass up to Pedro Neto, who had all the time and space in the world to square it to Jackson, who also had all the time and space in the world to neatly slot it home to put Chelsea ahead.
Howe says Palmer and Jackson caused them problems
Speaking after the game, as relayed by Hayters TV, Howe said:
“[Cole] Palmer has got that ability to whatever space he has to be able to wriggle out of tight end situations and of course if he has too much space, he will kill you the other way, so we didn’t do with him particularly well in the opening period of the game. [Nicolas] Jackson as well gave us problems but I thought we began to get a grip the longer the game went on.”
Both Jackson and Palmer were superb in this game, and Jackson collecting the ball deep with his back to goal and then turning at pace, literally got the Toon defenders every single time. Palmer was just Palmer all game, – insanely good.
