Stamford Bridged! Chelsea 2-2 Newcastle.

toonsy

Taylor's last gasp celebrations.
Newcastle snatched a point at the death against Chelsea this afternoon to take a well deserved draw away from the home of the former champions.

Steven Taylor scored his second headed goal in two games deep into stoppage time to upset the odds and leave Newcastle with a very real chance of finishing in the top ten when the season draws to a close next week. To do that we’ll have to beat West Brom next week at St James’ Park, but that is for us to talk about later. Right now I’ll stick to this game.

The bookies had Chelsea as overwhelming favourites to take three points from the match. Even the most optimistic NUFC fan will have been hard pushed to see us taking anything from the match given our rather long injury list. Still this is football, and there is always hope I guess.

That hope took a huge dent just two minutes into the match though when Branislav Ivanovic turned a Fernando Torres flick-on into the back of the net to give the home side the lead. When that goal when in I must admit I feared the worst and felt that we could have ended up on the end of a thumping.

However, this makeshift Newcastle side regained their composure and managed to get a foothold in the game. In fact they even levelled the scores on 10 minutes when Jonas Gutierrez deflected a rather wild and wayward Ryan Taylor free kick goalwards beyond a wrong-footed Petr Cech. 1-1.

Things settled down after that aside from the odd spikey challenge. If anything it was Newcastle who just shaded it and arguably had the better chances through Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi. Shane Ferguson was impressive, as was Jonas Gutierrez who was employed in a central midfield attacking role. Being fair to everyone though, it was a team effort that ensured the two sides went in at half-time all square.

It was Chelsea who created the bulk of the chances in the second half. Ashley Cole had a header deflected wide whilst Ramires flashed a 25-yard shot a foot wide of the goal. Newcastle had their own chances though, with Jonas Gutierrez having a couple of efforts comfortably saved by Cech.

This prompted a recall of the big guns for Chelsea as Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and Michael Essien all entered the fray from the bench, but whilst the introduction of three of Chelsea’s stars did improve their performance the away side held firm and looked calm, collected and, most importantly, committed.

That was until the 83rd minute when Jose Enrique lashed out at a Chelsea player and conceded a free-kick on the right-wing. Frank Lampard duly delivered the ball on the head of Alex who headed the ball home to give the home side the lead. Tim Krul, who had been having a good game, was to blame for the goal as he tried to claim the cross but ended up flapping at it instead. You could see by his reaction that he knew he done wrong so as long as he learns from it he’ll be fine.

It could have easily been game over at that point, but to their credit Newcastle tried to get an equaliser. Kazenga Lua Lua crossed into the box only for Ryan Taylor to see his volley deflected wide. Shortly after that, the other Taylor did get the equaliser when he nodded Nile Ranger’s header back across goal into the back of the net with virtually the last kick of the game.

Today was full of positives for me. Shane Ferguson was exceptional and showed more glimpses of his talent before he withdrew with injury. Steven Taylor showed glimpses of what could be if he keeps his head screwed on, Joey Barton, Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez were all outstanding and we even got to see some good touches from Sammy Ameobi and Kazenga Lua Lua after they were brought on.

The biggest positive for me today though was the way that Newcastle played. At times we played some fantastic stuff and defended solidly. All of that was born out of hard work and commitment. These lads may not be the household names of the past, but today they gave their all. That is all we can ever ask.

Howay the lads!

Chelsea: Petr Cech, Branislav Ivanovic ,Alex, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Ramires, Frank Lampard, Josh McEachran, Yossi Benayoun, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres.

Subs: Ross Turnbull, David Luiz, Essien, Didier Drogba, John Obi Mikel, Florent Malouda, Paulo Ferreira.

Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez, Ryan Taylor, Joey Barton, Shane Ferguson, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands.

Subs: Ole Soderberg, James Tavernier, Alan Smith, Kazenga LuaLua, Sammy Ameobi, Shefki Kuqi, Nile Ranger.

Referee: Lee Mason.

Attendance: 41,739.

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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94 thoughts on “Stamford Bridged! Chelsea 2-2 Newcastle.”

  3. What a shame we didnt have two decent forwards on the pitch, they are pathetic and Danny Simpson, what is wrong with him at the moment, his positional play is off the map and his touch is shocking.
    These 3 in particular have been passengers in the team of late, would rather see the kids have a go instead of watching these so called 1st teamers going through the motions.

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  5. Ok, to be a bit more specific: brilliant work from Saylor and Fergie. But NO weak performances that I saw. Raylor played pretty well, even if his ‘legendary’ dead ball skills still seem a distant memory. Shola drew plenty of compliments from my non-toon company in the room.

    I wonder when the last time was that two brothers played up front for a prem team? NIce to see, and Sammy looked pretty tidy.

    Very, very pleased. Particularly good to see Taylor reminding us why he used to be one of the prem’s top-scoring defenders.

    HWTL! :mrgreen:

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  7. Disagree, Bobby; thought both strikers made real nuisances of themselves against one of the best defences in Europe. Finishing wasn’t great, but they were as much to do with grinding out that point as anyone.

    Simpson… ok, not his best, but I think you’re being harsh.

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  8. Good write up.

    I wasn’t all that impressed with lualua but he’s only just back after a long time out so I’ll go easy on him. Collo was outstanding for me, kept torres in his pocket which isn’t that hard but I had worried we would prove to be the team he found his shooting boots again so very pleased. Krul did well but I really think he could do with swapping with Forster for next season and going on loan and playing week in week out. Forster will be above him for me.

    I was a disapointed but not suprised with shola, decent back up but we need 2 starting strikers

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  10. Whumpie – our strikers aren’t good enough – simple!

    Don’t let a couple of wins against the bottom 3/4 teams convince you otherwise.

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  11. Whumpie, yes they are a nuicance but they also need to be a goal threat, Shola spends more time huffing and puffing around the pitch when hes not falling down and Lovenkrands just goes missing, we can agree to disagree but if they are our front two next season we are tom ducked!

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  13. Outstanding performance from the lads really. Simpson perhaps had a couple of lapses and allowed people to cut inside, but he didn’t cost us anything. He had some tidy tackles and remember he was up against Ashley Cole half the time-probably the best left back in the world? Yet he still came good.

    I actually thought Shola did better than loven, and both of them showed the work ethic they had against Man U. We resorted to pumping the ball up to Shola to relieve pressure, but at the end of the day he had Terry/Alex/Ivanovic on his back and even when he won a header there was nobody to collect, still rate his performance over Loven who went completely missing in the second half again.

    Fergie and Jonas had outstanding performances, and thought Ranger should have been brought on earlier for loven as he caused some problems with his pace, good touches from Sammy.

    Colo/Staylor/Enrique all solid which was great to see, mistake from Krul but these things happen.

    Raylor helped in both goals and did well in the centre.

    Finally Barton who put in some brilliant last ditch tackles to save us numerous times and showed real drive and spirit. He didn’t let the occasion get to his head as he has done a few times when without the guidance of Nolan, and he was quality, just top class today.

    Links in with my final point-when Lampard scythed Joey down I noticed how the commentators were all “Oh and theres some obvious frustration from Lampard there, you can understand why its getting to him.” Just imagine if Barton had done that to Lampard? No doubt the cry would go out “Lock him up, enemy of football, dirtiest player going.” Double standards.

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  15. Aye bobby, thought he was lucky to stay on as well, might not have lasted if he hadn’t been subbed. How are Chelsea top of the fair play league honestly? Cut down plenty of our lads. Shame Jonas wasn’t on for the full 90 as I was hoping we’d get him to run at Terry/Ivanovich a bit more.

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  16. Where did Liverpool that that number 9 from?

    He’s like a **** Ameobi! 😆

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  17. ( Jonas Gutierrez deflected a rather wild and wayward Ryan Taylor free kick goalwards beyond a wrong-footed Petr Cech. 1-1.) I suggest you watch it again 😉 but apart from that I thing you summed it up well

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  21. Taylor seemed at times today to have learned a little from Collo – was touching and passing the ball. But he showed his usual throw himself on the floor in a last gasp look at me salvo.

    One swallow doesn’t make a summer and all that – he would have to fundamentally change his game to be consistent

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  23. Raffo
    What exactly has Forster done to convince you he is better than Krul. I accept he has broken the record for the number of clean sheets but for me that just emphasises how uncompetitive the spl is.

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  25. Toonsy I am convinced from the 3 or 4 times I watched it that it was heading into Cech’s left side of the net but I would say that Cech would have had it

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  26. Toby – I don’t think he is neccessarily better, but as I think harper will be no1 next season I think it would do krul good to get a full season playing as no1 somewhere on loan. Forsters had rave reviews and will be an able no2 to harper, but I think harper has got 1 season left and we would do well to ensure krul is as well prepared as Forster has been.

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  28. Great write up sy.

    I totally agree with “All of that was born out of hard work and commitment. These lads may not be the household names of the past, but today they gave their all. That is all we can ever ask.”

    They never give up, a previous mercenary team would’ve gotten beat 4 or 5-0 today and blamed injuries, these lads struggled on and fought.
    Brilliant 😀

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  29. Raffo
    Understand where you are coming from.

    i just think we have to put up with the rare mistake and go with Krul

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  33. Raffo-agree with you there, its the only way to make sure they both get the same experienced and chances they deserve. Seen a couple of Celtic matches and Forster has looked good, but again its the flaming SPL so you can only judge him really on the derbies. Loan out Krul to a championship side or something, unless a team coming up would fancy him on loan and bring forster back here, and allow Harps to stay no.1 for next season

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  34. What would you do with Forster then? Do we think harps may go into coaching this summer and allow those 2 to take us forward? I wouldn’t be against it, but i don’t want to risk losing either young keeper to keep harps happy for 1 more season

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  41. The Zog pretty much saving Wigan on his own, as he has done all season 😕

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  45. Five teams split by one point.

    I think Blackpool and Birmingham could be in big big danger of going down

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  46. Raffo-Forster will be watched intently by our coaching staff alongside Harper, if Harper proves the sharper then he’s given the starting role, if not then Forster gets his shot. If Harps gets injured/suspended likewise Forster gets a run in. Obviously Forster also gets all the cup matches to impress as well. If Harper gets seriously injured again then thats probably it for him, and we can attempt to keep them both. Even if Harps does retire it will be hard to keep them both I think-Forster has stated he wants first team football and probably doesn’t want to follow in Harps footsteps for being a no.2 for 15 odd years. Similarly Krul, expected to be the next dutch international is going to want first team…would love to hang on to the both of them but its going to be tough..

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  47. Wudnt take c cole after that miss!!

    Agreed, what chance a French front 3 next season with nzogbia hba and a n other

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  48. Stuart @ 35 – It sounds really good, but I’ll be away with the fairies as I’ve got an early start tomorrow so won’t be able to watch it 😥

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  49. Would love the brummies/blackburn to go down, along with wigan so we could poach the zog? 😀

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  51. Krul and Forster aren’t kids anymore.
    Cannot see anyway we can have all three at st james next season.
    Tough decision for somebody.

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  53. toonsy
    Posted May 15, 2011 at 6:02 PM
    Stuart @ 35 – It sounds really good, but I’ll be away with the fairies as I’ve got an early start tomorrow so won’t be able to watch it

    Good lad, you cannot be tired driving all the old biddies to the shops.

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  55. It is incredible. Wigan, Blackpool and Birmingham are on 39 points and are separated by two goals, while Wolves and Blackburn are on 40 points, but Rovers have a much better goal difference.

    WEST HAM ARE RELEGATED

    🙄

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  59. batty – Brum definately down I reckon. They aren’t going to beat Spurs I wouldn’t have thought.

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  66. We should go for Ba from the hammers ,they will have to sell players after their relegation and that lad has proved in a poor team he is premiership class . Thought Sammy Ameobi covered more ground in his first game than his brother has all season 😀 the lad looked good.

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  67. I’d live brum and Wigan, I’d rather Blackburn did but goal diff will prove key. I hope Blackpool stay up though whatever happens.

    I have to say that I hope we can keep krul and Forster happy. Does it show loyalty or lack of ambition to be no2 for 16 years?

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  69. nope batty , ive told u wen i recieve 15k in my hand then i will send it !! tbh i wud never let it go for all the muny in the world !!!

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  71. forster
    same back four as today
    barton
    nolan
    tiote
    gutierez
    ben arfa
    new striker

    sound gud 2 me if we can keep players 4 next season

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