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Newcastle have last laugh after Chelsea's Saudi taunt as £491.1m truth told - 5 things

Newcastle United players celebrate after the goals against Chelsea
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Newcastle United have booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals following a 2-0 win against Chelsea at St James' Park.

Alexander Isak opened the scoring for the hosts midway through the first half before an own goal from Axel Disasi doubled Newcastle's advantage just a few minutes later.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

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Newcastle press stuns Chelsea

This was more like the Newcastle we know. In the first half, in particular. The high-pressing hosts got the crowd in the game from the get-go - Anthony Gordon set the tone by snapping into a tackle and letting Benoit Badiashile know he was there just seconds after kick-off - and Chelsea looked a little ruffled. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen even put a goal kick out of play a few minutes later.

Eddie Howe clenched his right fist and punched the palm of his left hand, urging Newcastle to get tight, and the intensity with which the Magpies hunted Chelsea down eventually paid off midway through the first half. Benoit Badiashile was far too casual with his pass to Renato Veiga on the edge of the Chelsea area and Joelinton knocked the Chelsea defensive midfielder to the floor. The ball came to the influential Sandro Tonali, who immediately knocked it into the path of Isak inside the box. The Sweden international made no mistake and swept the ball home.

Newcastle were not done yet. Isak's celebration told you as much as he whipped Geordies into a frenzy by waving his arms up and down.

Remarkably, just three minutes later, Newcastle were 2-0 up. This time, Isak turned provider after Lewis Hall took a quick free-kick and played the ball down the left channel to Newcastle's record signing.

Newcastle United players celebrate the hosts' second goal
Newcastle United players celebrate the hosts' second goal

Isak scooped the ball into the box - aided by a deflection from Christopher Nkunku, after the Chelsea striker turned his back - and Joe Willock flicked it on. Axel Disasi looked to have things covered as the Chelsea defender dashed to clear, but the Frenchman got himself in a right mess and put the ball through his own net.

Alexander Isak's perfect response

Alexander Isak had done the hard part on Sunday. After winning a footrace with Wesley Fofana, and fairly nudging the Chelsea defender to the turf, Isak rounded goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. The angle was tight, but Isak had a glorious opportunity to play in the unmarked Joelinton to make it 2-2 late on, but the Sweden international took a touch into traffic and the chance passed Newcastle by.

You suspect Isak, who was also dispossessed in the build-up to Chelsea's winner at Stamford Bridge, was keen to make amends a few days on and it did not take the striker long to pick out Joelinton. In fact, there were two minutes on the clock when Isak's teasing cross found Joelinton at the back post - but the unmarked Brazilian could only hit the post on the volley.

Isak looked in the mood and this was the perfect response from the Newcastle striker. Not only did Isak open the scoring - the 25-year-old helped set up Newcastle's crucial second goal.

Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team's first goal
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team's first goal

Defence stands up to £491.1m of talent

You suspect Newcastle's defenders will have been a little relieved not to see Nicolas Jackson, Pedro Neto and, particularly, Cole Palmer lining up from the off at St James', after the problems the trio caused on Sunday. However, Chelsea have such depth that Enzo Maresca was still able to call upon Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku, a goalscorer Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell knew well from his time at RB Leipzig.

If Newcastle made 11 changes, the Magpies would have been dramatically weakened but Chelsea were able to field a side who could end up costing a whopping £491.1m in transfer fees. The one free agent in the side? Tosin Adarabioyo, who turned down Newcastle to join Chelsea last summer.

These were hardly your typical reserves and this was a side still packed with quality. Renato Veiga sent an early warning shot with a first-time effort from the edge of the box in the eighth minute, but Sandro Tonali made a vital block at 0-0. Even when Newcastle were 2-0 up, the Magpies continued to defend resolutely, whether it was Lloyd Kelly getting in the way of Joao Felix's shot from close range or Sean Longstaff nipping in to cut out Axel Disasi's cross from inside the box.

Newcastle United's English head coach Eddie Howe watches the players from the touchline
Newcastle United's English head coach Eddie Howe watches the players from the touchline

Newcastle continued to hold firm after the break when this game became an attack versus defence exercise at times. Kelly again put his body on the line to block Nkunku's shot just after the restart. Lewis Hall did likewise to deny Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall a few minutes later. Fabian Schar, meanwhile, made a crucial intervention to pick Nkunku's pocket inside the area and Joelinton slid in to get in the way of Cucurella's shot late on. This was a well-earned clean sheet.

Geordies have last laugh after Chelsea fans' taunts

Just a few days had passed since Newcastle suffered a painful defeat at the hands of Chelsea, but this was a different game. In so many ways.

It was a different competition; a completely changed Chelsea XI; and, most significantly, Newcastle were at home, which changed the dynamic of this tie. How Newcastle players needed a shot in the arm, after Howe's team slipped to 12th place, following five league games without a win, and how the Magpies needed Geordies at their febrile best to test the mettle of this Chelsea side, who are the youngest team in Premier League history. "We will play with another player," Bruno Guimaraes predicted.

The Newcastle captain was right Confident Chelsea fans may have taunted 'Is this a library?' and 'no noise from the Saudi boys' in the early stages, but Newcastle players fed off the energy of the crowd. Never was that more apparent than after Newcastle took the lead.

It was the first goal Newcastle had scored inside the opening half-an-hour at St James' this season and Chelsea looked a little dazed. Just a few minutes later, Chelsea were 2-0 down as St James' rocked.

Newcastle United's William Osula joins the celebrations
Newcastle United's William Osula joins the celebrations

Chelsea came back in the second half but when the crowd were needed to carry Newcastle over the line, they were there with chants of 'Eddie Howe's black and white army!', 'We love Newcastle, we do!', 'Sandro, olé, olé, olé!' and, of course, 'Tell me ma, me ma!'

One or two welcome selection dilemmas before Arsenal visit

It was a selection call that showed just how important this game was to Newcastle. A scan had confirmed Anthony Gordon's groin injury was not serious, but Eddie Howe still had to weigh up whether to start the England international on Wednesday night to 'make sure we don't do any further damage to him'.

However, you suspect there was no chance of Gordon sitting this one out. After all, it was just last week that the forward declared: "We need to win a trophy."

Howe, who was 'desperate' to progress, ultimately made four further changes as Lloyd Kelly, Emil Krafth, Sean Longstaff and the impressive Joe Willock also came into the side ahead of the visit of Arsenal on Saturday. There was also a tweaking of roles for one or two of those who kept their places from the weekend.

Joelinton, for instance, moved out to the left, where the Brazilian has played against similar opponents over the years, while Sandro Tonali filled in centrally in a three-man midfield after Bruno Guimaraes was not risked from the off. Interestingly, when Bruno replaced Willock midway through the second half, Tonali continued to operate through the middle while Joelinton, who swapped flanks with Gordon, defended diligently almost as a wing-back at times late on.

Kelly, meanwhile, ultimately moved over to left-back after Dan Burn came on but this was a fine showing from the summer signing, who got a rare opportunity to start in his favoured position at centre-back. Unlike the previous round's win against Wimbledon, Howe may actually have one or two welcome selection dilemmas going into the next league game.