The day ended well for Chelsea. They controlled the second half against Newcastle and, with Manchester City conceding an equaliser against Everton, took a two-point lead at the top of the table. The memories of a difficult first half, though, will not quickly be forgotten.
Newcastle had had five shots on target before Chelsea managed their first, which was the Oscar effort that game them the lead three minutes before the break.
They never looked back from then, but the insipid nature of the first 45 minutes raises questions about whether fatigue may undermine them in the run-in.
First the positives: Chelsea’s goal was the result of extremely smart thinking from Willian, taking a corner quickly to Branislav Ivanovic, who crossed low for Oscar, who had been appalling until then, to score.
From then on, Chelsea controlled the game. They doubled the lead through Diego Costa, a fine finish after fine interplay between Eden Hazard and Oscar, and could by the end have had a goal or two more.
But the first half raised doubts. Tottenham had upset Chelsea on New Year’s Day and, indeed, a month before that, by running at their back four, and Newcastle did similarly.
Twice Remy Cabella drew good saves from Petr Cech – playing instead of Thibaut Courtois, who has a broken thumb – while Moussa Sissoko hit the post.
So why, over the past month, has that vulnerability emerged? Chelsea’s back four isn’t the quickest and logically will be suspect against pace, but the issue is that it isn’t getting the cover it had been, perhaps the result of fatigue in midfield, particularly in the legs of Nemanja Matic.
Jose Mourinho has barely rotated this season – 10 of his squad have played 16 or more league games this season – as though the plan was to have the title as good as wrapped up by Christmas, allowing him to rest players to focus on the latter stages of the Champions League.
Even with City dropping points at Everton, that looks a vain hope now.
“It’s very difficult to reach the level everybody wants to see week in week out, especially in this country because we play so many matches especially at this time of year,” said Steve Holland, Chelsea’s assistant first-team coach. The players have taken a real battering.
“The second half better than the first half, Our performance level over the course of 31 matches has been very, very consistent. In the first half we dropped below that and Jose was very clear how he wanted them to improve and the players did that.
“In the second half was much more like the Chelsea we’re used to seeing. He wanted the team to press further up the pitch, to be mentally more aggressive and assertive and to play at a quicker tempo and so sustain attacks in the opponent’s half.”
Holland was speaking because Mourinho has decided not to conduct press conferences while he faces a Football Association charge over his comments about a supposed campaign against his side.
Another refereeing decision went against his side in the second half, Fabricio Coloccini getting away with a handball in the box: the ball was drilled into him from close range by Diego Costa, but his arm was raised.
“It would be nice today not to talk about referees,” said Holland. “You could make an argue for that being a penalty kick but I’d rather talk about the improved performance in the second half.”
John Carver, Newcastle’s assistant, has still won only three of 11 games in management in England, but he was pleased with his side’s effort and the way they stuck to a game plan. Remi Garde remains the favourite to take over.
Chelsea march on, but they look nowhere near as relentless as they did earlier in the season. A ninth home win out of nine has restored their lead, but the problems have come away from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea v Newcastle United report card
Man of the match Remy Cabella – Sparkled in the first half, working hard, beating his man regularly and offered Newcastle hope that they might get something form the game.
Chelsea 7/10 – Good enough in the end to win comfortably, but were second best for much of the first half.
Newcastle 6/10 – Threatened an upset before half-time but faded after the break, unable to break out of their own half often enough.
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