Chelsea 0-1 Newcastle: Blues' top-four hopes dented as Anthony Gordon decides cagey affair | OneFootball

Blues lose crucial ground in race to qualify for next season’s Champions League

Chelsea's difficult week continued as Anthony Gordon's goal earned Newcastle a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge to deal a huge blow to their top-four ambitions.

This was a chance to climb to third for Liam Rosenior's side, but despite dominating possession and digging out countless half-chances, they never really looked like planting their flag here in the race for the Champions League.

Chelsea trail Aston Villa and Manchester United by three points having played a game more, and this may yet transpire to be the weekend when the race for Europe turned against them.

They were complacent about Newcastle's threat, as evidenced by the ease with which Tino Livramento's pass in the 18th minute split their defence, the path left for Joe Willock to march unimpeded through the middle, and finally the nonchalance with which Gordon was able to tap home the winner.

Chelsea began enterprisingly enough. Wesley Fofana headed onto the roof of the net from a corner then Reece James celebrated his new six-year contract with a shot fired into the Shed End upper tier.

Cole Palmer guided one wide from Malo Gusto's reverse ball inside before being knocked to the turf by his own player, a venomous effort from Enzo Fernandez that appeared goal-bound.

It was the same old story at home of chances coming and going. Newcastle then showed them how it was done with their first attack.

James was caught out by the directness of Livramento's pass and the smart running of Willock. The midfielder streaked clear of the Chelsea skipper, drew Robert Sanchez from his goal and knocked the ball to Gordon who rolled it impudently over his toe then walked it into an empty net.

Rumblings of discontent are never long in sounding when Chelsea go behind at home this season and supporters were soon breaking into fitful, exasperated bursts over every blocked shot or cross that failed to find a Chelsea player.

There was little to reassure them in the first half. Their team were having all of the ball but doing nothing impactful with it, while Newcastle remained a threat on the break, Willock bringing a necessary tip-over from Sanchez at his near post. At the other end, Aaron Ramsdale comfortably beat away a shot from Palmer.

Jacob Ramsey's shot deflected off Trevoh Chalobah and required a readjustment from Sanchez to save before boos erupted from near the dugout at half-time.

Chelsea's goalkeepers have been in the spotlight this week. Sanchez was back in for the injured Filip Jorgensen and almost wrote the latest chapter in a series of calamities with a pass that Fofana struggled to control, a fine last-ditch tackle by the defender saving the day and his keeper.

Liam Delap leaned back and fired hopelessly over the bar from six yards. Chalobah then headed wide under pressure from Ramsdale.

James came within inches with a late free-kick and Joao Pedro's header landed on the roof of the goal, but this would not be Chelsea's day.