“Couldn’t get near” – Alan Shearer names Chelsea player who changed the game against Newcastle | OneFootball

Premier League legend Alan Shearer believes Reece James changed the game as Chelsea came from behind to rescue a draw against Newcastle.

The game finished 2-2 at St James’ Park, with Chelsea recovering from an awful first half performance which saw them two goals down thanks to a brace from Nick Woltemade.

However, Chelsea came out a different team in the second half and James reduced the deficit with a brilliant free kick, before Joao Pedro equalised.

Alan Shearer praises Reece James performance

Enzo Maresca opted to once again play his captain in midfield where he partnered Moises Caicedo, but the Chelsea midfield got over run far to often in the first half.

Whatever was said at half time worked, and Shearer believes James’ free kick was the changing point in the game.

James scored a brilliant free kick to start the fightback against Newcastle. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

“If you ever need evidence of goals changing games, that’s exactly what happened to Chelsea following Reece James’ free-kick,” he told the Premier League website.

“It just flipped. Newcastle couldn’t get near that Chelsea team [after James’ goal].

“Chelsea moved it a lot quicker, they had more width, their wingers got into the game and started asking questions, they didn’t do that in the first half.”

Maresca praised James for his performance, and he’s arguably playing some of the best football of his career currently.

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Whilst Maresca will be pleased with the second half performance, it wasn’t all good news after the Italian picked up a booking.

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That means the Chelsea boss will serve a touchline ban for the game against Aston Villa next weekend, his second ban this season, after also sitting in the stands against Nottingham Forest.

It’s likely Willy Caballero will be on the touchline, and hopefully Maresca’s absence doesn’t impact the performance too much.