Newcastle's match at Aston Villa postponed due to Covid-19 cases

NEWCASTLE PLAYER RATINGS: Karl Darlow – 7. Darlow has been one of Newcastle’s best performers so far this season and was key to keeping the scoreline respectable. Produced a fine early save on Werner before another cracker to deny Abraham and was quick off his line to claim crosses. AFP

Javier Manquillo – 6. Found himself playing as a defensive right-back instead of a wing-back as Chelsea’s waves of attack kept him pinned in his own half for much of the match. AFP

Federico Fernández – 5. Got his feet all wrong to bundle the ball in for the opening goal and found it tough going against Werner. AFP

Jamaal Lascelles – 6. Stood up well to Chelsea pressure and produced a lunging interception to break up a dangerous attack. That contribution led to an injury, though, and he was replaced at half-time. AFP

Ciaran Clark – 6. Played his role in repelling Chelsea’s attacks when Newcastle sat deep. Decent game for the Irishman. EPA

Jamal Lewis – 6. Like Manquillo, was forced to defend for most of the 90 minutes but was able to get forward for Newcastle’s occasional attack. Getty Images

Jacob Murphy – 5. A tough day for the winger who struggled to make much of an impact during a match that saw his side limited to less than 30 per cent possession. EPA

Isaac Hayden – 6. Booked for a rash challenge on Kovacic and blazed an effort over the bar, although he was deemed offside. Reuters

Sean Longstaff – 6. Came inches away from a goal of the season contender but his long ranger effort clattered off the crossbar. Beyond that, his contribution was minimal. AP

Allan Saint-Maximin – 6. Looked Newcastle’s most likely player to haul his team back into the game with his trickery and direct running but nothing quite came off the for the Frenchman. Replaced on 73 minutes. PA

Joelinton – 5. Starved of service and never looked like troubling the Chelsea goal. He will certainly have easier days but his lack of goals should be a worry. EPA

SUBS: Fabian Schar (45’) – 7. Came on to replace the injured Lascelles and slotted well into the backline. AFP

Almiron (65’) – 5. In the news for the wrong reasons this week after a hostile exchange between his agent and Steve Bruce, the Paraguayan couldn’t take his chance off the bench to create more positive headlines. AFP

Andy Carroll (74’) – 6. Had a half-chance when played through but his glaring lack of pace was exposed. Won a couple of headers as standard. Getty Images

CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 7. Another match in a Chelsea shirt, another clean sheet for the new signing. Didn’t have to make any spectacular saves but used his anticipation to clear up loose balls and commanded his area well. PA

Reece James – 8. Every game his influence just seems to grow. Solid in defence and a constant presence going forward, James was unfortunate not to get his name on the assists column with a couple of whipping low crosses. AFP

Ben Chilwell – 7. A quiet game from the England left-back but still got himself into attacking positions, most notably to apply the pressure to force the own goal, and handled his defensive duties comfortably. Getty Images

Kurt Zouma – 7. The Frenchman has formed a formidable partnership with Thiago Silva this season, and even in the Brazilian’s absence he maintained his authority. Absolutely dominant in the air and never looked troubled. Reuters

Antonio Rudiger – 8. Demoted to back-up since Silva’s arrival, Rudiger took his chance to impress with a superb display. The German was commanding at the heart of Chelsea’s defence – tracking runs, producing blocks, and providing an assured presence. Reuters

N’Golo Kante – 8. Back in his preferred role at the base of the midfield, Kante was the best midfielder on the pitch, breaking up play and driving the ball forward. His positional sense is just so good and he was always in control. Reuters

Mateo Kovacic – 6. A more subdued display from the Croatian midfielder who is so often the driving force of this Chelsea team. Played his part in ensuring his team dominated possession. AP

Mason Mount – 7. Should have done better with his finish in the second half after a lovely turn to create the chance. But an overall good performance from the England international. Reuters

Hakim Ziyech – 7. A rare outing without a goal or assist and started the game with a few wayward passes, but as the game went on the Moroccan’s influence grew. Drifted across the attack, always looked to be on the ball, and played probing passes. Not a vintage Ziyech display but his quality was evident. PA

Timo Werner – 7. May have fluffed a handful of chances but made amends with a driving run and assist to create Chelsea’s second goal. Caused all sorts of problems for the Newcastle defence, who would have been relieved the German didn’t have his shooting boots on at St James’ Park. AFP

Tammy Abraham – 8. Took his goal with cool composure and a great finish but even his goal aside, had a very good game. He led the line with authority by winning headers and creating space for his teammates and was frequently in the box. AP

SUBS: Callum Hudson-Odoi (76’) – 6. Looked lively during his cameo and was in the mood to cause some problems with his dribbling and movement. Ran out of time to make a tangible impact. Getty Images

Emerson (82’) – N/A Reuters

Olivier Giroud (87’) – N/A EPA

Newcastle United's match at Aston Villa on Friday has been postponed due to a number of Newcastle players and staff testing positive for Covid-19.

Newcastle lodged a request with the Premier League to postpone the fixture at Villa Park, which has been approved.

"The Premier League Board agreed, as a consequence, that the club are unable to train and adequately and safely prepare for their match on Friday," the league said.

Aston Villa said it "fully supports" the Premier League's decision to postpone the match.

"Everybody at Aston Villa wishes a speedy recovery to all those affected by the virus," added the club.

The Magpies closed their training ground on Monday and Tuesday and had already cancelled training on Sunday after four players and a member of the backroom staff tested positive for the virus last week.

A new date and time for the game will be confirmed in the future.

Bruce was already without five first team players for last Friday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. Another round of testing is due to take place on Wednesday.

Newcastle players such as Allan Saint-Maximin, Andy Carroll, Jamaal Lascelles, Ryan Fraser and Isaac Hayden did not play at Palace but the club has not confirmed if they were injured or self-isolating after testing positive.

In a statement, Newcastle said: "Several Newcastle United players and staff members are now self-isolating at home after returning positive test results in recent days and the club's training centre site has been temporarily closed in order to contain the spread of the virus."

No Premier League match had previously been called off since football resumed after a three-month stoppage between March and June.

Neither side are involved in European football, meaning there is plenty of space in the calendar for the match to be rescheduled despite a shortened season.

The city of Newcastle will enter the most severe tier-three restriction band when the latest national lockdown in England ends on Wednesday.

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Crystal Palace v Newcastle ratings

CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Vicente Guaita - 6: Spaniard had dealt easily with Newcastle's powder-puff finishing but was then exposed late on and had no chance with goals. AP

Nathaniel Clyne - 7: On back foot early on and ball played behind him down right to Joelinton almost provided Newcastle with early goal. Improved as match went on. EPA

Scott Dann - 4: Poor night for the captain. Distribution was sloppy and one awful ball out of defence straight to Joelinton on brink of half-time should have been punished but Brazilian wasted chance. Foul on Longstaff with 12 minutes to go handed dangerous free-kick to Newcastle that Ritchie wasted. Skinned by Joelinton before Brazilian scuffed home second goal. Getty

Gary Cahill - 7: Vital early block to deny Wilson chance at near post. Half-chance with header just after break. Deflected Joelinton shot into net for second Newcastle goal. EPA

Patrick Van Aanholt - 6: One dreadful free-kick when well-placed on edge of box on hour mark. Fine cross from left handed Benteke chance but should have done better with ball into box late on with Batshuayi waiting. AFP

Andros Townsend - 5: Disappointing match for the former Newcastle winger who failed to offer any attacking threat. Reuters

Cheikhou Kouyate - 6: Back in preferred midfield role and produced solid performance. One scuffed finish wide with half-chance in second half. Getty

James McArthur - 7: Usual work ethic from the Scottish midfielder, plenty of tasty challenges and a couple of surging runs forward. Getty

Jeffrey Schlupp - 7: Palace’s biggest attacking threat with Wilfried Zaha out. Held off Fernandez but saw shot well saved by Darlow in opening 45 minutes and headed chance wide with half-time whistle closing. A menace throughout. Getty

Eberechi Eze - 6: Forced save out of Darlow with team’s first shot on target after 24 minutes but Palace needed more from the former QPR man. Getty

Jordan Ayew - 4: Non-existent as attacking threat in first half. Handed half-chance by Schlupp just after break but could only push a shot well wide. Reuters

SUBS: Christian Benteke (On for Ayew 66’) 7: Instantly offered Palace more penetration up front and excellent downward header saved by Darlow. AFP

Jairo Riedewald (On for Townsend 67’) 7: One superb tackle stopped dangerous Newcastle counter-attack. AP

Michy Batshuayi (On for McArthur 82’) N/A: Could have given Palace lead had Van Aanholt not over-hit cross. Getty

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Karl Darlow - 7: Premier League’s busiest goalkeeper had quiet start to match but then was called into action and produced several important stops. PA

Javier Manquillo - 7: Perfect cross from right in second half handed Wilson chance that striker headed just wide. Usual reliable show defensively and going forwards from the Spaniard. AP

Ciaran Clark - 8: Former Aston Villa defender was assured presence back in team, playing the ball out well from the back and making quality interceptions. Man of the match.

Federico Fernandez - 7: Booked in first 20 minutes for body check on Schlupp and then outpaced by same player just before half hour and was relieved to see Darlow come to rescue. But called on to make some important challenges including once magnificent block to deny Benteke in last 10 minutes. Reuters

Jamal Lewis - 6: Left-back produced assured performance. Nice turn and shot just before break but effort with weaker right foot didn’t trouble Guaita. Getty

Jonjo Shelvey- 7: Welcomed back from injury and captain on night with Jamaal Lascelles out. Always the man to drive team forward, sprayed ball around in trademark style. Almost scored with late free-kick. Reuters

Sean Longstaff - 6: A couple of raking cross-field balls to switch the play from the Geordie midfielder. Booked for sliding challenge as Schlupp with Palace man baring in on penalty area. PA

Jeff Hendrick - 5: No faulting his positioning or workrate in midfield but offered nothing going forward or in possession to the extent you forgot he was playing at times. Getty

Miguel Almiron - 5: The pacey Paraguayan was again a disappointment for Newcastle and is struggling to find his role in manager Steve Bruce’s line-up. PA

Joelinton - 7: Numerous chances in first half but either blazed high and wide or hit tamely straight at Guaita. Missed header in second period after great cross from Ritchie. But did cause Palace problems throughout and supplied ball for Wilson’s winner. Lucky to see another scuffed shot deflected into net by Cahill. PA

Callum Wilson - 7: Newcastle would have been frustrated that chances kept falling to Wilson’s partner up front rather than the former Bournemouth man. Saw header float just wide in second half and then produced calm finish when put through by Joelinton. An out and out goalscorer. AP

SUBS: Matt Ritchie (On for Almiron 68’) 7: Offered Newcastle some much needed width as soon as he came on. One great cross that Joelinton failed to capitalise on. Poor free-kick hit straight at keeper when well placed on edge of box. Fabian Schar (Joelinton 90+3') N/A. Getty