Chelsea relieved some of the tension surrounding coach Mauricio Pochettino with a 3-2 victory at home against Newcastle United in the Premier League on Monday. Cole Palmer, who has been outstanding for the Blues this season, played a pivotal role by creating one goal and netting another.
In the presence of England manager Gareth Southgate, the 21-year-old Palmer showcased his prowess in midfield for the London side, dictating play with his skillful performance.
With his 11th goal of the season, he etched his name among the select few Chelsea players to score in five consecutive league matches, marking a significant achievement. Notably, Chelsea has maintained an undefeated record in home league games during the month of March since 2001.
In the sixth minute, Chelsea’s Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson deflected a shot from Palmer into the net, beating goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Despite Newcastle’s response, equalizing in the 43rd minute through Alexander Isak’s curling strike past the dive of Djordje Petrovic, Chelsea’s early advantage set the tone for the match.
Motivated by their supporters, who had expressed dissatisfaction towards Pochettino and the club’s U.S. owners during a 2-2 draw against Brentford nine days ago, Chelsea regained their lead in the 57th minute. Palmer, their leading scorer this season, found the net from outside the box, much to the delight of the fans.
In the 76th minute, substitute Mykhailo Mudryk extended Chelsea’s lead to 3-1. The Ukrainian skillfully maneuvered past Newcastle’s defense, evaded Dubravka, and calmly slotted the ball into the net. Although Jacob Murphy’s powerful strike in the 90th minute provided Newcastle with a glimmer of hope, Chelsea managed to secure the victory.
The outcome narrowed the gap between Newcastle, positioned 10th, and Chelsea, ranked 11th, to just one point. Unfortunately for the visitors, their woes increased when they were dealt a blow with the injury of their in-form winger Anthony Gordon, who was forced off the field 10 minutes before half-time.
Neither club has managed to meet the expectations set by their wealthy owners, placing both Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and Chelsea’s Mauricio Pochettino under intense scrutiny.
However, on Monday, it was Pochettino who found some respite as Chelsea’s home supporters departed Stamford Bridge chanting the chorus of Bob Marley’s song, “Don’t worry about a thing.” This display of support suggests that most fans are willing to remain patient with Pochettino as he endeavors to develop a cohesive team from his talented yet youthful squad.