The race for Champions League qualification has taken another twist after Newcastle United climbed into third place with a critical, if edgy, victory over Chelsea’s 10 men.
Sandro Tonali opened the scoring inside the first two minutes, meeting Jacob Murphy’s low cross as the hosts swarmed forward, and they might have added more as Chelsea were too often left chasing shadows through the early stages.
The visitors’ frustration boiled over just after the half-hour mark as Nicolas Jackson leapt in aerial challenge with Sven Botman and left the defender bloodied. The Senegalese was initially booked, but a VAR intervention saw that card upgraded to a red.
Yet the anticipated second-half procession did not materialise as Chelsea’s depleted number steeled themselves and made life uncomfortable for Newcastle after the interval. Nick Pope did brilliantly to save from Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez and Reece James guided a late header over the bar, before Bruno Guimaraes’ deflected shot into the top corner provoked an outpouring of local relief.
Chris Waugh and Simon Johnson dissect the key talking points from a nervy St James’ Park.
Did the revamped Newcastle formation click?
If social media goes into meltdown in response to a Newcastle starting XI, then the lesson learned this season is that it probably means the team will deliver an outstanding performance.
For only the second time across 2024-25, Eddie Howe started with a back three (something he may have done more often had Botman not missed most of the campaign with knee injuries). The only other occasion? The Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg victory over Arsenal. Both times, there were fears such moves were negative; in reality, they proved the opposite.
Admittedly, Howe’s team was partly enforced by Joe Willock and Kieran Trippier’s respective thigh and calf problems. That allowed the head coach to hand Botman his first start since February and elevate Anthony Gordon back into the XI for the first time since his dismissal against Brighton in early March.
Lining up in a nominal 3-4-3 system, with Harvey Barnes and Gordon either side of Alexander Isak, and Tino Livramento and Jacob Murphy deployed as wing-backs, Newcastle smothered Chelsea from kick-off — urged on by a raucous, expectant Newcastle crowd.
Wor Flags’ pre-match display urged Newcastle to “Get into them”, a motto they have embraced for big occasions throughout this season, and they certainly did. Gordon sprinted to close down Robert Sanchez almost every time the Chelsea goalkeeper was in possession, while Tonali prowled, eating up ground and harrying his opposition midfielders.
Tonali celebrates catching Chelsea cold (George Wood/Getty Images)
Newcastle’s second-minute opener came after Tonali and Guimaraes swarmed on Romeo Lavia on the edge of Chelsea’s box, won possession high, spread play to Jacob Murphy on the right, and then both midfielders advanced into the box. It was the Italian who finished and it was a prime example of Newcastle’s game plan in action.
Howe always insists he sets out to win every match and, even when he names three centre-backs, Newcastle’s approach is evidence of that. This was anything but negative football.
Chris Waugh
What was Nicolas Jackson thinking?
An apology from Jackson will not be enough after his idiotic red card ended his Premier League season prematurely.
Chelsea were already 1-0 down and struggling to make an impression against Newcastle United with 11 men when Jackson decided to take his frustration out on Botman. There was no defence for his behaviour as he took a look at Botman before planting his forearm into the defender’s face.
CHELSEA DOWN TO 10 MEN
Nicolas Jackson is shown a red card for his foul on Sven Botman 🟥
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2025
Referee John Brooks initially showed a yellow card, but once VAR Darren England recommended he watch the incident again on the monitor it was always going to be upgraded to a red.
Enzo Maresca did not even look at Jackson as the Senegal international walked off the pitch and down the tunnel. Who can blame him? It not only made Chelsea’s chances of staging a comeback in this match slimmer, but has also severely weakened the team for their final two league games against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.
Jackson leaps into his challenge (TNT Sports)
Jackson will automatically receive a three-game ban for violent conduct and so will have to watch the must-win fixtures from the stands.
There is a section of Chelsea’s support who do not think Jackson has what it takes to be the main man to lead the line. The doubters will have only increased in number after what transpired here and will hope the club succeed in finding a new centre-forward in the summer.
For now, Maresca will have to make do with Christopher Nkunku or the returning Marc Guiu — neither was in the matchday squad at St James’ Park — or contemplate filling in with Cole Palmer or Pedro Neto as a false No 9 for the foreseeable.
Simon Johnson
What gives Newcastle the edge in Champions League pursuit?
Newcastle are now tantalisingly close to securing a return to the Champions League for 2025-26. A solitary victory from their final two games would ensure it, barring a highly improbable goal-difference swing.
For those who held understandable pre-match nerves, then their anxieties should have been soothed by the impressive statistics that Newcastle hold against so-called ‘Big Six’ sides at St James’ Park this season. Their record before the game stood at played seven in all competitions, with five wins and two draws.
Now make that eight matches unbeaten, with six victories, including a second over Chelsea following the 2-0 Carabao Cup last-16 triumph in November. Just as they proved at Wembley in March in the cup final, Newcastle have become a big-game outfit — rising to the test in pressurised matches, and especially so on Tyneside.
Tonali celebrates his early goal (George Wood/Getty Images)
This was also their fourth clean sheet in those eight matches, with Chelsea and Arsenal leaving the north east twice each without scoring. Newcastle may have failed to turn their numerical advantage into second-half dominance against Chelsea, instead largely losing their way after the break, but they did still find a way to see the game through and added a second through Guimaraes in stoppage time.
On a day when the result itself was everything — Newcastle knew a win, anyway or anyhow, would keep their top-five fate firmly within their own hands — Howe’s team got the job done, just as they have done all season against the Premier League’s elite.
Even a testing trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, who has seemingly allowed Newcastle and Howe to get inside his head, should hold no fear given they have triumphed in north London already in the cup.
The confidence, belief and momentum are with Newcastle. An already historic campaign is so close to becoming a truly memorable one.
Chris Waugh
Why did it take so long for Chelsea to stir?
It is no excuse for losing, but Maresca must be rueing the 12pm kick-off time for this huge fixture.
To be fair to Chelsea, they were at a disadvantage. Even though nine of the starting XI did not feature against Djurgarden on Thursday night, eight were named on the bench just in case there was some kind of problem seeing off the Swedes in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League semi-final. Preparation time was limited and, of course, they also had to travel up on the Saturday due to the length of journey.
There was an option for it to kick off at 7pm and, while you suspect that would have made the home fans even louder — the atmosphere for the early kick off probably benefited from Newcastle offering every supporter a free drink before kick off — it surely would have helped the visitors.
Gordon battles Palmer for possession (George Wood/Getty Images)
Newcastle still took full advantage of Chelsea’s sloppiness in the first half. The game may have started earlier than usual but, given what was at stake, Maresca’s men should have been prepared for an early onslaught.
And their very creditable display with a man down in the second half just highlighted what a difference in attitude can make.
Chelsea outplayed the hosts for long periods and the atmosphere at St James’ Park became a lot more anxious. But for fine saves by Pope from Cucurella and Fernandez in particular, they could have earned a priceless point. As it was, a first league defeat since mid-March has them on edge.
Simon Johnson
What did Howe and Maresca say?
We will bring you the managers’ thoughts once they have concluded their post-match press conferences.
The managers greet each other prior to kick off (Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)
What next for Newcastle?
Sunday, May 18: Arsenal (Away), Premier League, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET
What next for Chelsea?
Friday, May 16: Manchester United (Home), Premier League, 8.15pm UK, 3.15pm ET
(Top photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)