Chelsea went into the contest at St. James' Park having conceded just three goals in the Premier League this season – and two of those were penalties converted by Liverpool's Mo Salah and Southampton's James Ward-Prowse.
It became apparent early on that Newcastle were unlikely to cause the Blues any problems. The Magpies' game plan was to sit deep and try to frustrate Chelsea.
There was very little in the way of attacking adventure from the home side, who largely hit aimless long passes towards Callum Wilson when they did reclaim possession.
As a result, the back three of Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger were untroubled. Edouard Mendy, meanwhile, in the Blues' goal was a virtual spectator.
The Senegal international had just one save to make across the 90 minutes; Javier Manquillo dragged an 84th-minute effort straight into the arms of Chelsea's goalkeeper.
Newcastle were put out of their misery by the full-time whistle. It was at that point Tuchel marched onto the pitch to congratulate his players on a job well done.
For more than a decade, Chelsea supporters dreamt of just one academy graduate following in the footsteps of John Terry and becoming an established part of the first team. They could never have envisaged that a handful would do so.
Yet that is the situation the Blues now find themselves in. Week after week, the club's own are producing big moments and crucial goals. Yesterday at St James' Park, it was the turn of Reece James.
It was the 21-year-old's rifled half volley in the second period that broke Newcastle's resistance. He followed that with another soon after with a right-footed strike from the edge of the box that gave Magpies goalkeeper Karl Darlow no chance.
The brace took James to four goals in the Premier League this season. He is Chelsea's top scorer in the competition, and from right wing-back.
0 Comments