Who can stop Chelsea’s undefeated run in the Premier League? Will it be Newcastle United at home? Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 11:45pm AEDT
Chelsea sit on top of the table with eleven wins and three draws, having just smashed Spurs 3-0 during their mid week fixture. At the same time Newcastle were held to a 1-1 draw at Burnley.
Newcastle has won their last three matches at home and their form line is right up there with Chelsea. They will take some heart from the fact that they have beaten Chelsea in their last two meetings at St James Park.
Chelsea should welcome back striker Diego Costa from suspension into their star studded line up. What a luxury this is. Didier Drogba scored midweek filling in for Costa and it doesn’t seem to matter which one is in the starting line up, they will cause havoc.
Fabregas and Hazard are their architects in mid field but their attack is generated right through their line up, back to the right and left backs in Ivanovic and Azpilicueta who have both been in great form. Hazard has scored four goals in three appearances against Newcastle.
Newcastle, after a slow start to the season have strengthened their defence with Janmaart and Dummett, the stand outs. They will miss Goalie Tim Krul who is out for some weeks, injured.
Cisse, up front, scored mid week against Burnley and they will hope he can do it again on Saturday.
Chelsea have a Champions League game on Wednesday night at home to Sporting Lisbon, but having already qualified this will not affect their trip to Newcastle as they can probably rest players in the Champions League.
Jose Mourinho has put together a squad destined to take out the League after falling short last season. Alan Pardew has restored Newcastle United to the top end of the league after a slow start and early season losses to Southampton and Stoke.
Mourinho won’t be in any mood to drop points on the road for the second weekend in a row and I feel Newcastle’s defence has been hit hard by the injury to Krul and could fall back to early season form.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Chelsea.
Will Chelsea continue on their winning ways or will the home stadium give Newcastle the drive to cause the upset of the season?
Join The Roar Saturday at 11.45pm for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Match review Newcastle United 2 vs Chelsea 1 Chelsea have been beaten for the first time this season despite having 66% possession. Newcastle were down to 10 men when Taylor was sent off for second yellow but held on in a absorbing finish Newcastle had to change keepers at the half as Elliott was injured and young Alnwicak was terrific under pressure. Game went to script early as Newcastle soaked up pressure and was turned on its head by the coming on of Cisse who scored both goals in the second half. Collocini was terrific in defence for the magpies. Colbeck was fantastic in midfield. So it remains to be seen whether the other clubs can take advantage and make up points on Chelsea over the rest of the weekend.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Newcastle United 2 vs Chelsea 1 Its over
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Newcastle United 2 vs Chelsea 1
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
90'Newcastle United 2 vs Chelsea 1 6 extra mins...absorbing stuff Newcastle holding on with young keeper and ten men.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
82'Newcastle United 2vs Chelsea 1 GOAL CHELSEA DROGBA from S.Taylor's free kick. Game on.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
80' Red Card Newcastle S.Taylor second yellow stupid challenge.Newcastle ten men and two up. Sub Newcastle Ameobi off Williamson comes on to shore up defence
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
looks like Chelsea aren't going to emulate the invincibles. but there is still time!
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
78' GOAL Newcastle Cisse again 7 in games this year for him. Hazard hit the post at 1 end Newcstle broke Colbeck to Sissoko to Cisse INCREDIBLE
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
73'Newcastle United 1 vs Chelsea 0 Yellow card Newcastle Tiote hand ball
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
70'Newcastle United 1 vs Chelsea 0 Newcastle working hard to defend lead.Play mainly in their half as Chelsea press for equaliser
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
66'Newcastle United 1 vs Chelsea 0 SUB Chelsea double change on Drogba and Luis off Oscar and Azilpilicueta Mourinho goes for two up front, game on!
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
63' Newcastle United 1 vs Chelsea 0 Yellow Card Schullre Chelsea.,the game has changed,Chelsea have to chase for the first time this season.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
60'Newcastle United 1 vs Chelsea 0 SUB Chelsea Schulle on Oscar off Mourinho trys a sub move like Pardew did.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
56' GOAL CISSE SCORES That's why he came on! Newcastle United 1 vs Chelsea 0
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
55' Newcastle United 0 vs Chelsea 0 Good game now Newcastle asking questions Yelow Card S.Taylor Newcastle pulled down Wilian
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
50' Newcastle United 0 vs Chelsea 0 Just feel Chelsea trying to be too pretty. Need to get down and dirty! SUBSTITUTION Newcastle Ciisse on Cabella Off Surprise early sub
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Newcastle United 0 vs Chelsea 0 47' Yellow Card Sissoko Newcastle
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
After spending the majority of the opening 20 minutes on the back foot, Newcastle slowly but surely grew into the game, and by the end of the half they looked the most likely to score but Chelsea arn't the league leaders for no reason and will want to crank it up straight away in the second half, here we go. Changes Newcastle change keepers Eliott inj on comes Alnwick
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Newcastle United 0 vs Chelsea 0 Half Time Chelsea most of the chances,classy passing but no results. Game going as predicted and Newcastle will be better in the second half so stay tuned we could still get that upset.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
45' Newcastle United 0 vs Chelsea 0 1 extra min