Up in the posh seats, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali could have been forgiven for thinking that everything is going to be just fine. This was not the moment for Chelsea’s co-owners to worry about their spending coming back to bite them in the form of punishment for breaches of the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability regulations.
The accountancy can wait. There is nothing to gain from thinking about number-crunching when Cole Palmer plays this well. Sometimes the best course of action is simply to sit back and ponder the potential of Chelsea’s chaos generator, Nicolas Jackson, who brought this pulsating 3-2 triumph over Newcastle to life with his 12th goal of the season.
It was an impudent flick from Jackson to set the ball rolling, although his was not the best effort of a helter-skelter game. That honour unquestionably went to Mykhailo Mudryk after the £89m winger came off the bench and clinched the points with a magnificent solo effort that had Mauricio Pochettino, who has been under so much pressure, jumping for joy.
Newcastle, who missed an opportunity to go seventh after another careless away display, could only marvel at Mudryk’s dribbling. It has not been easy for the Ukrainian since his move from Shakhtar Donetsk, but this was a timely reminder of his explosive talent. Perhaps Roberto De Zerbi was on to something when he tipped Mudryk for the Ballon d’Or one day. And perhaps Chelsea, for all the doubts hanging over a recruitment model that has them in 11th place, are not quite as broken as they have appeared at times this season.
“We are all agreed that the fans are right to complain,” said Pochettino, whose side still have hope of qualifying for Europe. “But we are right to not give up. It was great to see the players fighting, performing.”
Both sides could point to injuries as a reason for their inconsistent form. The medical bulletins have rarely been positive for Pochettino, whose latest adjustment owed to Levi Colwill and Ben Chilwell joining a packed treatment room, although sympathy has been in short supply. Supporters were close to running out of patience during last week’s draw with Brentford.
Yet Boehly and Eghbali had to be impressed with the way that Chelsea dealt with Newcastle. Marc Cucurella, starting at left-back for the first time since December, fought. Malo Gusto was quick to engage Anthony Gordon and Chelsea soon found holes in a Newcastle defence that has conceded the joint most goals away from home this season.
The opening goal left Eddie Howe bemused. Palmer’s fine pass started the move but Newcastle’s defending was poor. Sven Botman cleared Gusto’s cross to Palmer, whose shot was going wide before Jackson diverted it past Martin Dubravka.
“Things went wrong with the goals we conceded,” Howe said, although he rejected suggestions that his tactics need attention. “I don’t think my message to the players necessarily has to change. I don’t think there was anything wrong with our method. Our priority now is the FA Cup.”
Chelsea cruised for a while. Palmer, keen to impress in front of Gareth Southgate, fizzed with ideas. Enzo Fernández and Conor Gallagher were snappy in midfield. Jackson drew another save from Dubravka and Newcastle’s concern grew when Gordon limped off with a knee injury three days before Southgate names his England squad.
Yet Chelsea keep making the same mistake. They cannot stay focused for 90 minutes and were pegged back when Fernández played an ambitious pass, Gusto miscontrolled and Trevoh Chalobah stepped out of defence. Bruno Guimarães took control and found Alexander Isak, who bent a beautiful shot past Djordje Petrovic.
The equaliser led to a frantic spell that featured Jackson having a goal disallowed, Dubravka denying Raheem Sterling and Joe Willock almost putting Newcastle ahead The game was open, both defences unconvincing, and Petrovic saved well from Miguel Almirón after half-time.
Chelsea responded, Palmer teasing Dan Burn, Sterling shooting wide. Newcastle were forced back and they were behind when Palmer crept into space, took a pass from Fernández and beat Dubravka from 20 yards.
Moisés Caicedo, increasingly dominant in midfield, had started the move by linking with Fernández. Chelsea’s intensity smothered Newcastle. They should have pulled clear when Jackson released Sterling, only to ignore Palmer. Pochettino howled when Sterling’s shot was cleared off the line. Burn spurned a chance to make Chelsea pay.
Chelsea’s game management was put to the test. Axel Disasi made an important challenge on Willock. Tino Livramento’s shot was blocked but Newcastle’s momentum fizzled out when Jackson broke in the 76th minute. He found Gallagher and Mudryk took over. His quick feet and balance took him past Fabian Schär, beyond Dubravka and allowed him to squeeze the ball over the line.
The only negative for Chelsea was Jacob Murphy setting up a nervy finish with a stunning goal of his own. Pochettino still saw room for improvement.
