NEWCASTLE (3-4-3):
7 Pope: Made a crucial second-half save as he tipped Fernandez’s goal-bound effort over the crossbar
7 Schar: Looked comfortable as part of the initial back three and helped Newcastle see things out late on
7 Botman: Only lasted 55 minutes, but was hugely impressive on his return to the side – Howe faces a selection poser when he reverts to a back four
9 BURN: Did a superb man-marking job on Palmer in the first half, then threw his body in front of everything in the second
7 Murphy: Set up Tonali’s goal from wing-back, but was struggling against Cucurella before Howe changed formation
8 Tonali: Timed his run perfectly to open the scoring and was a big factor in Newcastle’s first-half dominance
7 Guimaraes: Was a big part of Newcastle’s early intensity, but could have showed more composure after the break
7 Livramento: Wasn’t fazed by the switch to left wing-back and did a good job against Neto for most of the game
6 Barnes: Made some purposeful forward breaks, but his touch let him down on more than one occasion
6 Isak: Remains some way short of his best – another game where things didn’t really click for him
7 Gordon: Made a difference on his return to the starting side – was bright and direct before making way midway through the second half
Subs:
6 Miley (for Botman, 55): Wasn’t really able to change the flow of the game in the second half
7 Krafth (for Gordon, 64): Newcastle needed him to negate the growing threat posed by Cucurella
Longstaff (for Guimaraes, 90+4)
Wilson (for Isak, 90+4)
(not used): Dubravka (gk), Ruddy (gk), Lascelles, Neave, Osula.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1):
Sanchez 6; Caicedo 5, Chalobah 5 (Sancho 74), Colwill 5, CUCURELLA 7; Lavia 6 (Gusto 74), Fernandez 6; Neto 5, Palmer 6, Madueke 4 (James 46, 6); Jackson 2.
Subs (not used): Jorgensen (gk), Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Acheampong.
Man Of The Match: DAN BURN – Started off as a man marker on Palmer, and finished as Newcastle’s rock-solid last line of defence.
