Abraham shines with goal as Blues top table with 2-0 win at Newcastle

By Paul Lagan

Newcastle Utd 0 v Chelsea 2

Tammy Abraham put in a man of the match performance as the Blues went top of the Premier League for the first time since September 2018 as the striker notched up the second goal in a 2-0 win away win at Newcastle United.

The ex-Pimlico Academy pupil was a constant thorn in the side of the Newcastle rearguard and his patience and desire reaped it’s rewards as he smashed home his goal after excellent set-up play by Timo Werner.

This was a comprehensive performance by the west Londoners who dominated the game from the first whistle, and in truth could have won by more.

Abraham, 23, said: “It was fantastic result. it’s never easy to come here and get a result.

We defended well but we came out all guns blazing.

“These games can be tricky when we are 1-0 up, searching for a second. But we kept on going.

I had to get myself forward and moved to get the ball between the goalkeeper and the post.

“We are top of the league and that’s where we want to be.”

The Blues almost scored on five minutes when Timo Werner’s goal-bound low, left footer forced Darlow into a finger-tip diving save to his left, to force the ball away for. Corner.

Darlow was again on the right spot when Hakim Ziyech sent across a fantastic cross which Tammy Abraham powerfully headed towards goal, but the stopper manager to flick the ball away for another corner.

But two minutes later, Mason Mount right, byline cross was met by Frederico Fernandez, who under a challenge from Ben Chilwell, knocked the ball into his own net at the prt post to put the Londoners ahead.

Quite how Werner missed scoring on 30 minutes is anybodies guess s as swift play be the Blues saw Abraham tap the ball to the German, who only had Darlow to beat but he somehow screwed the ball wide of goal.

Despite dominating possession, the Blues still looked uncomfortable when the home side had the occasional foray going forward.

There was no change of personnel by head coach Frank Lampard at half-time.

Werner was again culpable on 53 minutes when he dispossessed a Newcastle player, raced into the penalty area. But rather than having a shot he elected to pass to in-running Ziyech but the ball was intercepted. It was a golden chance to double the west Londoners’ lead.

Zouma had a powerful header inch wide from a Mount corner a minute later as the Blues reasserted their superiority all over the pitch.

But again, Newcastle will rue their occasional effort, Joelinton saw a good chance to equalise inch over Mendy’s crossbar on 61 minutes.

But a deserved second goal came on 61 minutes when Werner picked up the ball deep in his own half and set off at sped, he cut through the Newcastle midfield and defence before slotting the ball to his right where Abraham took one touch before, crashing the ball home off the post to score.

Newcastle’s best woofer of the game came on 72 minutes when Longstaff let fly with a rasper of a 25-yarder that had beaten Mendy but not his crossbar as the ball crashed against the woodwork.

Werner thought he had scored after rounding Darlow, but was adjudged to have been offside.

It was his last effort of the match as Lampard decided to replace him for bring Callum Hudson-Odoi with 14 minutes left of the clock.

Mount scuffed a fine effort two minutes later sending his shot wide of goal from eight yards out.

With Rennes in the Champions League on Tuesday, Lampard opted to replace Chilwell with Emerson on 82 minutes.

He was quickly followed by Olivier Giroud who replaced Ziyech.

Teams: Chelsea, Mendy, James, Rudiger, Zouma, Chilwell

Kante, Kovacic, Mount, Werner, Abraham Ziyech

Subs: Kepa, Christensen, Jorginho, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Azpilicueta, Emerson

Newcastle: Darlow, Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis, Murphy, Hayden, S Longstaff, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton

Subs: Schaefer, Carroll, Shelvey, Hendrick, Kraft, Almirante, Gillespie,