London, March 12, 2024, The Europe Today: In a crucial Monday night clash, Chelsea managed to alleviate some of the mounting pressure on coach Mauricio Pochettino with a hard-fought 3-2 home victory over fellow mid-table side Newcastle United in the Premier League.
The Blues’ Senegal striker, Nicolas Jackson, opened the scoring in the sixth minute by deflecting a Cole Palmer shot past Newcastle’s goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. However, the hosts allowed an equalizer in the 43rd minute when Alexander Isak curled a shot beyond Chelsea’s goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Undeterred, Chelsea regained the lead in the 57th minute as Cole Palmer, the standout performer for the Blues this season, scored from outside the box. Substitute Mykhailo Mudryk extended the lead to 3-1 in the 76th minute, showcasing skillful footwork to dance through Newcastle’s defense and slot the ball home. A late effort by Jacob Murphy in the 90th minute gave Newcastle hope, but Chelsea held on for the win.
The victory positioned Chelsea in 11th place, just a point behind Newcastle but with a game in hand. Another three points in the upcoming fixture could propel Chelsea to eighth place and within reach of qualifying for the Europa League or the Europa Conference League.
Both Chelsea and Newcastle have faced challenges meeting the expectations of their deep-pocketed owners this season. The win comes as a relief for Pochettino, whose coaching position had faced scrutiny. Chelsea’s only remaining hope for silverware lies in the FA Cup, with a crucial last-eight tie against Leicester City at home on Sunday.
Pochettino, speaking after the match, expressed gratitude to the fans and emphasized the team’s continuous efforts to build something different. “We are building something different, and we need to accept it. Today the fans were good; we need to keep moving and being strong,” he stated.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, frustrated with his team’s defensive lapses, acknowledged the need to address such issues. “You can’t concede goals like that, home or away, and expect to win the game, simple as that,” Howe said. Both teams now shift their focus to the upcoming FA Cup quarter-finals, with Chelsea facing Leicester City and Newcastle taking on Manchester City.
