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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 14:51:57 GMT
Will Chelsea become the third side to hit 3 wins out of their first three games, with Watford becoming the second earlier and sitting pretty in 2nd spot after Liverpool? Benitez has explained that Jonjo Shelvey is injured and he doesn't make the match squad - a potential big miss for Toon. Hazard starts for the visitors with new signing Kovacic coming in for Ross Barkley. It's a fixture that has been lucrative for Toon over the years - last 5, W4 D1.
Newcastle (5-4-1) Dubravka; Yedlin, Fernandez, Schar, Clark, Dummett; Ritchie, Ki, Diame, Murphy; Rondon.
Substitutes: Darlow, Sterry, Atsu, Longstaff, Muto, Perez, Joselu.
CFC (4-3-3) Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, David Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Morata, Hazard.
Substitutes: Caballero, Zappacosta, Christensen, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Giroud, Willian.
Newcastle 11/2
CFC 3/5
Draw 3/1
Preamble by Rob Smyth :
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 15:01:31 GMT
The players emerge, with the usual scary music from The Omen blaring out over the PA system. It's meant to put the sh*ts up the opposition but it didn't work against Tottenham (proper 'ard nuts, they are) so maybe Toon should consider Gazza's 'Fog On The Tyne' next time - that'll unnerve the hardest of 'ard nuts.
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 15:03:29 GMT
Less than a minute in and Hazard goes down under a challenge from Ritchie. He looks in some pain, clutching his leg, but up he gets. I give him an hour if that.
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 15:10:17 GMT
Fernandez has a crack from outside the box on '6. He gets the better of Pedro and drills it low and hard but it's a comfortable save for Arribal Arrizalli Arrizalol Kepa.
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 15:14:12 GMT
Morata goes down easily in the box on '12 under the challenge of Schar, but the ref is deeply unimpressed and gives nothing.
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 15:23:10 GMT
'20 gone and Newcastle utilizing their back four (or is it five?) system well, with men dropping in and out of it, filling in for each other when need be, and generally keeping Chelsea at bay. Their will surely come a time when they are prepared to launch a serious surge up field.
Wait, Hazard is down again on '21. Diame went toe to toe without malice and Hazard has come out worse. He gets the spray treatment and is once again up on his feet.
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 15:31:33 GMT
It's subdued. I can hardly hear the crowd.
Hazard dribbles it just outside the area on '24. He fires a right-footer but it is well wide. Odds for the draw have come in nearly a point from 3 to 11/5. Yes, a draw is not looking unlikely at this stage, with Toon soaking up the CFC attacks while being very cautious when deciding when is the right time to go forward.
Oh but look what happens when they do counter on '27. Rondon tries an effort and most of the Toon players are outside their own half. It's a smash-and-grab situation as Chelsea seize control and stream forward. The black and white shirts scamper back but Morata is away. He's near the area but his shot is foiled by one of the home players who stayed back.
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 15:39:42 GMT
Ooh the cross is floated in by Fernandez on '34. It curls toward the probing head of Rondon. He connects well from 8 yards out but his header goes just wide of the post.
Now Hazard weaves through the home defence and it ends up with Pedro but he can only fire it straight at the keeper. I don't know, 3 goals at Watford, three already at Fulham, and none here. You'd have put your house on this one going Both Teams To Score, over and above the other two EPL fixtures today, wouldn't you. Nothing doing so far.
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 15:53:31 GMT
'46, Hazard in the box, he takes a lifetime with the ball, surrounded by Toon players. Time stands still as he keeps possession. Finally he makes the pass to Pedro who is maybe not expecting it and fires it but it ricochets off Morata's ass and the assault comes to nothing.
And with that it's half time. I am hearing the latest odds :
Newcastle 6/1
CFC 4/5
Draw 15/8
FIRST GOAL
Newc 10/3
CFC 8/13
No first goal 3/1
BOTH TEAMS TO POT
Yes 11/4 (Gah)
No 1/4
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 16:11:55 GMT
Azpelicueta surely! No, it's driven too low from 12 yards out and the Newcastle keeper gets down well for it. A real chance there on '49.
What's going on here? Newcastle are playing mega-defensively to the point of tedium. And there's no encouragement from what are ordinarily one of the loudest sets of supporters going. I hear only the Chelsea contingent. Rafa is playing it ultra safe here. Yes, a point is a point but what about the admission fee?
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 16:21:18 GMT
Morata on '60 at last assumes the role once taken by the departed Diego Costa as he squares up to not one but two Newcastle players following an iffy challenge that floors Azpelicueta. The lad's growing some bollix at last.
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Post by MrFurious on Aug 26, 2018 16:23:19 GMT
Willian on to win the game
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 16:24:44 GMT
Giroud on for Morata on '66. Morata's been alright, not bad at all, but unlocking this Newcastle barricade is proving to be a proper bark.
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 16:28:43 GMT
OUCH, Rob :
A bit harsh, that. Morata's received, quite rightly, his fair share of bollixings from me in the past, but he's been up for it today. Or maybe Newcastle's utter unwillingness to open up has just made him look good.
Willian on.
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 16:32:22 GMT
RUDIGER! It's surely there! No, it cracks off the Toon bar from what, 25, 30 yards!
Hang on it's a CFC penalty on'74.
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 16:37:03 GMT
Alonso went down on '75 in the box under a clumsy but not over zealous challenge by Schar. The ref pointed to the spot without ado. The Toon players are up in arms. Let me look at the replay. Ooh it does seem a tad harsh on Schar. Alonso seemed to get entangled of his own accord.
But Hazard steps up and shoots to Dubravka's right and it sizzles into the back of the net. Several home players are still hassling the ref. But it's to no avail. Nothing-one amid controversy here.
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Post by DrKrippen on Aug 26, 2018 16:37:32 GMT
Was that a penalty? Defender got ball first no?
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Post by mangekyoalleluia on Aug 26, 2018 16:38:33 GMT
Chelsea look pretty shit, dont they?
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 16:38:37 GMT
Was that a penalty? Defender got ball first no? I have to agree. |
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Post by staggerstag on Aug 26, 2018 16:43:43 GMT
1-1 late on here. The ball floated towards the CFC goal and Giroud should have picked it up but instead looked like he couldn't make up his mind between handling it and chesting it. Yedlin took advantage and collected while Giroud fell inexplicably to the ground clutching his face Neymar-style. Yedlin crossed it in and Joselu head-powered it home.
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