Newcastle showed they have the appetite for a scrap in the bottom half of the table as Isaac Hayden’s dramatic injury-time header earned a vital win against a dominant Chelsea.
Frank Lampard’s side were on top for most of the game but had little to show for it as Tammy Abraham skewed wide from an acute angle and N’Golo Kante’s shot was well saved by Martin Dubravka.
Prior to the winner, it was the hosts who came closest to scoring as Joelinton headed against the bar after Federico Fernandez’s cross after 22 minutes.
But Steve Bruce’s side showed their steel by keeping Chelsea at arm’s length with a resolute defensive display.
And when Hayden headed in Allan Saint-Maximin’s cross past Kepa Arrizabalaga, it sent St James’s Park into raptures as they moved seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Their only worry was an injury to Jetro Willems, who was carried off in the first half.
For Chelsea, it was another frustrating day during a mixed season under Lampard, who took over in the summer.
It was a first defeat since Boxing Day but they will rue another missed chance to improve their top-four claims after also drawing at Brighton earlier this month.
The Blues remain five points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United, who face Liverpool on Sunday.
But the lack of firepower up front may sharpen Lampard’s intentions to recruit a striker during the transfer window after being linked with the likes of RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner.
Newcastle fortunate after string of bad luck
Bruce said prior to the game that he was happy with his squad and would only bring players in during the transfer window if they would improve on his current crop.
And they showed their defensive quality by holding out against a Chelsea side who had 70% possession during the game and created the vast majority of the chances in freezing conditions on Tyneside.
If there was a touch of fortune to the result, Bruce will not care.
His side has been struck by a succession of injuries this season, and he will be delighted that the returning Saint-Maximin created the goal which lifts his side to 12th place in the table.
The result also earned a fourth game unbeaten for the first time this season, albeit with two of those games coming against Rochdale in the FA Cup.
Despite all of Chelsea’s endeavour, it was Newcastle that created the game’s other best chance when Joelinton crashed a header against the crossbar.
With the £40m summer singing breaking a 20-game goal drought by scoring against Rochdale, Saint-Maximin offering trickery on the wing after a hamstring injury and Miguel Almiron scoring in three of the last four games, Bruce may feel his luck is turning.
The cheer that greeted the final whistle underlined how elated and surprised the home crowd were as the hosts earned their first Premier League win since December 21.
Frustrated Lampard rues poor finishing
Chelsea came into the match unbeaten since Boxing Day but it was another game where Lampard’s young side showed their inexperience in front of goal.
Abraham, who has excelled in his first season at Chelsea with 15 goals, was wasteful at times, but there were also missed chances for Mason Mount, who headed over, plus Willian and Emerson, who could not find the target.
Despite their links with a striker during the transfer window and the potential departure of Olivier Giroud to Inter Milan, Lampard has said nothing is “imminent”.
But he showed his frustration on the touchlines as his side failed to take advantage, much as they did in a 1-1 draw at Brighton earlier this month.
Lampard’s faith in youth has drawn praise this season, and while home losses to Bournemouth and Southampton have been countered by away wins against Tottenham and Arsenal, this result will offer the new Chelsea boss plenty of food for thought.
His strict adherence to playing one lone striker may also be something he will consider in games where teams sit behind the ball and try to break as Newcastle did so successfully.
Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will officially flag-off its presidential campaign for the 2023 elections in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Monday. It was gathered that all arrangements have been concluded and party bigwigs, including the Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, have arrived in Uyo, the State capital.
2. President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday, October 10, 2022, attend the investiture ceremony of Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno as President of the Transitional Team in Republic of Chad for two years. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, announced this in a statement issued on Sunday.
3. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to release the revised edition of its campaign council list this week in a bid to bring to an end the crisis engulfing the party and delaying the kick-off of its campaign. This is as the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the party has sough the financial support of its National Working Committee (NWC) for its candidate, Bola Tinubu.
4. Residents of Amutenyi village in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State were plunged into mourning weekend when the lifeless bodies of five family members were found in an apartment in the Obollo-Afor community. The State police command has commenced an investigation to unravel the mystery behind the unnatural deaths.
5. Two suspected internet fraudsters, otherwise known as Yahoo boys, have confessed to the police how they kidnapped a 40-year-old man and killed him for a money-making ritual. Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspects told the police that the victim Abdullahi Azeez, was dismembered after they took his life.
6. Former Deputy Governor to the immediate past Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, Yetunde Onanuga, has joined the incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun’s camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State. Onanuga was said to have also pledged her support for the second-term ambition of the Abiodun administration.
7. The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has notified healthcare providers and the public of the death of 66 children in the Gambia following the use of four substandard cough syrups as reported by WHO in September 2022. According to the agency, the four products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
8. Eleven persons died, while six others sustained injuries in two separate accidents in Plateau and Niger States, over the weekend. In Jos, eight persons lost their lives and two others got injured in a road crash involving a Toyota Hiace bus and a Honda Pilot SUV along Lamingo road in Jos, Plateau State.
9. The Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Support Group for the North-East, Tijani Tumsah yesterday, has said that the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the autonomy to decide which events he will attend. Tumsah who said this while speaking on a TV political show, lamented attacks on Tinubu for being absent in some political functions recently.
10. Police operatives from the Kwara State command on Sunday said they arrested three suspects who allegedly robbed and raped some female students of the Kwara State University, Malete, in the Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State. The suspects are Ridwan Abdulfatai (20); Ibrahim Akorede (25) and Aliyu Apalado (25), all from the Oke Fomo area, Ilorin.
Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the game as Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points by beating Athletic Bilbao.
The France international scored his 17th goal of the season when he diverted home Luka Modric’s wayward shot five minutes before half-time.
The visitors pressed late on but were unable to find an equaliser and remain eighth, without a win in six games.
Victory extended Real’s advantage over defending champions Atletico Madrid.
And Carlo Ancelotti’s side were dominant for long periods, having 62% possession and 17 shots on goal.
They made the breakthrough when Benzema turned home from 10 yards for his 12th league goal of the season after Modric skewed a shot into his path when Unai Simon parried Marco Asensio’s effort.
Benzema has now scored 35 goals in 46 games in all competitions for Real in 2021, equalling his best goalscoring tally in a single calendar year for the club in 2019.
Mikel Vesga was twice denied by good Real blocks, while Yeray and Oier Zarraga both failed to hit the target with late efforts.
Vinicius Junior scored a stunning late winner as Real Madrid came from behind to beat Sevilla at the Bernabeu and move four points clear at the top of La Liga.
Rafa Mir headed the visitors into an early lead before Karim Benzema levelled with a tap-in.
Vinicius completed Real’s comeback when he cut inside and found the top corner with a brilliant right-footed shot.
It was Real’s sixth win in a row in all competitions.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were stung into action when Mir planted a header past Thibaut Courtois in the 12th minute.
The hosts hit back through Benzema, who was left with an easy finish after Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou could only push Eder Militao’s long-range effort onto the post.
After Vinicius’ goal, Courtois made a vital stoppage-time save to keep out Thomas Delaney’s header.
Real are now four points clear of rivals Atletico Madrid, who thumped Cadiz 4-1 earlier on Sunday with Thomas Lemar, Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa and Matheus Cunha on target for Diego Simeone’s side, and also Real Sociedad.
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