It’s the start of a testing week for the Toon, who must respond to last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Brighton and start finding the net after scoring just once from open play in just under seven hours of football.
First up is a tricky trip to Chelsea, who have top-four hopes of their own and could move five points clear of us with a win. It’s early days, but this next week feels important for the player’s confidence, our trophy hopes and to settle any fears that we’ve gone stale after a poor summer.
A good result at Stamford Bridge and we’d head into Wednesday’s cup tie at St James’ Park with fresh hope. It’s been a patchy start to the season – a few of our big players haven’t really got going, we’re still searching for consistency, identity and goals, while Eddie Howe’s subs and lack of plan B was criticised last weekend. Pressure could mount if we don’t respond against Chelsea, but it also has the potential to be a turning point in our season and platform to build on if we rise to the occasion.
Howe’s pre-match comments
Team news
Callum Wilson (back/hamstring) has suffered a setback and will miss our next three games; another reminder that we just can’t rely on our No.9 and didn’t do enough to strengthen our attack over the summer.
Kieran Trippier remains out, along with Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, although we’ll have Lewis Miley back again, giving Howe another option in midfield.
For Chelsea, Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana are available again after serving one-match bans for their 2-1 defeat at Liverpool last Sunday.
Predicted XI: Pope – Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall – Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Some wonder if Howe will bring Sean Longstaff into the midfield, where he have plenty of other options now Willock and Miley are also fit again and pushing for starts.
However, it’s that third place in our front three that may be one to watch on Sunday. On paper, you’d go for Barnes, Isak and Gordon, but Howe clearly has reservations about moving Gordon away from his favoured position to fit Barnes in down the left.
For that reason, I wouldn’t be surprised if he sticks with Murphy or even looks at Miggy if he’s performed well in training this week.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-2 Newcastle
Stopping Cole Palmer will be a big challenge, but Chelsea have only won on of their four home games so far this season, following a 2-0 defeat to Man City with draws against Palace and Nottingham Forest, along with a 4-2 win over Brighton.
If we can continue to create chances and capitalise on them if and when they come, there’s no reason we can’t score a few goals and come away with a big result. However, if we continue to spurn big openings and go missing for parts of the game – as we have in several of our matches so far this season – then I’d expect us to be punished.
Fine margins have cost us in our last few league games. Hopefully we come out on the right side of that this weekend!
HWTL.
Optimistic there in suggesting a draw 😉
Nufc have had the chance to get the Stamford bridge monkey off their back in the last two seasons and blown it.
Wonder if howe’ll try to man mark palmer as he’s done with others this season. I dont see him starting Barnes, isak, Gordon as he seems to like Murphy and joelinton to drop deep on their respective sides.
Feels like they’ll look to contain and counter.
Not sure nufc are good enough for that but If so let’s hope Gordon and isak have their boots on right this week
Jonesy(Quote)
Not one bit hopeful about getting a result in this one.
kimtoon(Quote)
Another word on Howe. He’s probably going to have field pretty much the same team twice against two different Chelsea teams this week.
His subs earlier in the season were impactful but his last two games have seen pretty weird subs. Needs to get that back on track against Chelsea x2
Jonesy(Quote)
Not expecting much tbh. Chelsea away has always been a tricky one for us. And meeting them twice in three or four days is awful. I think I’d rather progress in the cup if possible. Ideally win both, second option a draw down there and a win in the cup. Most likely, we lose both. 🤷🏻♂️.
Let’s see, but we absolutely need to find out how to score again!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Should have focused on selling trips and Wilson .. both regular crocks .. we don’t need guei now as burns is better ., a big mistake by howe and glad Mitchell did not pay the money .,, we need a striker and winger asap .. Chris wood looks good 🥴
Mike(Quote)
Yeah, Woody is having a moment right now for sure.
kimtoon(Quote)
Gordon is not even on the bench? Surprised at that. Hope he’s not injured. Hopefully staying fit for the cup game. Look at that Chelsea side and their bench. Wow! So much expensive talent.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
VAR offside, can almost hear the disappointment in commentators voice.
kimtoon(Quote)
No sponsor on Chelsea’s shirts again? Odd
Gilly Toon(Quote)
V lucky with the offside as burn was slow and has been done twice really high. Jackson isn’t that good but burn him easy options
That’s a straight red for preventing goal scoring chance
Jonesy(Quote)
******* hell. Well that will not be ruled out. Where was our defence
Gilly Toon(Quote)
It looks like there’s someone shining laser lights at Pope. I can see the lights on the pitch …
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Fkin hell schar this time. if they are going to persist with trying to get tight so high they simply have to get there. They’re in bits here.
Jonesy(Quote)
Gettt innnnnnn Isak
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Tino was brilliant for that goal
Jonesy(Quote)
Not sure how nufc are level coz they were awful in the first 25. It was notable that Chelsea started reacting around then so nufc got in their head maybe.??
Burn/ schar still getting turned too high and mf is anonymous
They did well to get back in it but need to be better to get a result
Jonesy(Quote)
Yes need to be much more effective in the second half. Surprised it’s just 1-1 at half time. Tonali is absent and needs to be much more assertive. Livramento and Hall are our best players at the moment I think.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Fkin hell how easy was that 😡😡😡😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
So much was 5h1t about that goal from isak to schar to pope. Just awful
Jonesy(Quote)
Too easy for Chelsea.
kimtoon(Quote)
Not impressed with Bruno either. Rubbish today
Gilly Toon(Quote)
And here comes yet another £100million + player for Chelsea 😳😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Crazy mate isn’t it .
kimtoon(Quote)
*** Isak
kimtoon(Quote)
Jesus … how was that not buried? Awful
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We are going to regret those misses by Isak … once again. 😡😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Oh dear
kimtoon(Quote)
Never a penalty 🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Bit of a let off there.
kimtoon(Quote)
Looks like Man u gonna lose
kimtoon(Quote)
😡😡🤬🤬😡😡🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Down in 12th place, grim.
kimtoon(Quote)
Table is ugly and doubt it’ll look better after next week
Jonesy(Quote)
Well i didn’t expect much but Sheesh they didn’t help themselves today.
Thought Chelsea were aggressive in the press and unsettled nufc all game.
Can point to a ref who missed some big calls early but a bigger problem was porous defending and isak was wasteful ( again).
Howe was always going to try the mf 3 but I’m just not seeing it being effective
Defensively burn and schar have been ok but Chelsea showed how to unsettle them today and I think if I was a CF, every shot would be low to popes right side as he looks to be feeling that shoulder pop from last year.
So plenty to think on for improvements as well as the obvious RW /CF
Hall and Livramento the pick for me today altho both had iffy moments too
Jonesy(Quote)