Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0: Tonali’s early goal and Jackson’s stupid red card put Toon in pole position for Champions League

NEWCASTLE UNITED are on the verge of securing Champions League football after a bruising victory over ten-man Chelsea.

Sandro Tonali got them off to a dream start with the opener after just 112 seconds before Nicolas Jackson‘s red card looked to have gift-wrapped them the three points.

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Newcastle moved up to third in the Premier League table after beating Chelsea at St. James’ Park[/caption]

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Sandro Tonali gave Newcastle an early lead inside two minutes[/caption]

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Nicolas Jackson was sent off for a dangerous elbow on Sven Botman[/caption]

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Chelsea were forced to play with ten men for more than an hour[/caption]

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Bruno Guimaraes’ deflected strike made the game safe in the 90th minute[/caption]

The Blues striker decked Sven Botman with a forearm in a moment of madness that left his side a man down for over an hour.

But Enzo Marseca’s side showed great spirit before they were eventually downed at the death by Bruno Guimaraes to leave them fighting for a top five finish.

Toon made two changes from last week’s draw at Brighton as Howe sprung a surprise and reverted from his trusted 4-3-3 to wing-backs.

Centre-half Botman came in for his first Prem start since January after his knee issues while Anthony Gordon was also back in the XI after two months of suspensions, injury and sitting patiently on the bench.

And the England winger was at the forefront of the Magpies’ rapid start with the deadlock broken inside two minutes

It all began with a quickfire break from a Chelsea corner that sent Gordon charging down the left.

He went down in the box under a challenge from Moises Caicedo but that failed to stop the Toon tide.

Tonali won back possession, fed it right to Guimaraes before the Brazilian slipped in Jacob Murphy to fire a low cross for the Italian to turn in at the back post.

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The Toon Army, buoyed by a free pint on the club pre-match, went wild – as did injured Joelinton decked out in a retro Newcastle shirt in stands alongside them.

Chelsea were on the back foot, especially £115m Caicedo. 

The decision to deploy one of the best ball-winning midfielders at right-back again was backfiring big time.

The Ecuadorian was being left too exposed and it was clear Howe had told his men to go for the jugular.

They continued to look dangerous with each attack, penning the Blues back, as Harvey Barnes had an attempt blocked and Guimaraes hit one over.

Newcastle’s top scorer Alexander Isak, aiming to bag for a fourth-straight league goal against Chelsea, fluffed his first chance.

Dan Burn headed the ball back across from Tonali’s cross but the striker miskicked his shot into the ground.

Cole Palmer, who ended his 18-game goal drought last weekend, had one blocked and another deflected behind as Chelsea eventually began to enjoy some possession, though every pass was jeered viciously by the locals.

Caicedo, who was about to be booked for clattering Gordon, then smashed a long-ranger wide from distance only for that slowly building confidence to be blown to smithereens by Jackson’s recklessness.

The Senegal forward was only initially shown a yellow for absolutely clattering Botman as the pair went up for a header.

Unfortunately for hot-head Jackson, who had not been given a sniff, VAR recommended referee John Brooks take a second look.

And after watching it again on the screen and seeing how the Blues man firstly glanced at Botman before connecting his elbow on the Dutchman’s jaw, he was given his marching orders.

That not only left his team-mates right up against it but also means his domestic season is over.

Newcastle had the bit between their teeth as Barnes had a shot blocked but the Blues held on until the break, where a swarm of them angrily confronted Brooks after the whistle.

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Cole Palmer cut a frustrated figure at St James’ Park[/caption]

Half-time allowed Maresca into a reshuffle as Reece James replaced Noni Madueke and went up against Gordon while Caicedo went central.

Gordon wanted a penalty after a nudge from James was deemed to be shoulder-to-shoulder and after that it was game on as Chelsea looked a totally different proposition.

Even though they were still struggling to find a way past Newcastle‘s defensive wall, you could feel the nerves jangling as the visitors began to enjoy a lot more of the ball.

And finally, just after the hour mark, they found a way through and got their chance.

Palmer spotted Marc Cucurella open on the left of the penalty area and lifted it out to him.

The Spanish left-back took a touch before pulling the trigger with a powerful low drive that was heading straight for the far corner only for Nick Pope to brilliantly get down and parry away.

Howe, feeling the momentum switch, introduced Emil Krafth and reverted to his trusty 4-3-3 in an attempt to swing it as Guimaraes soon lashed a bouncing chance over.

Levi Colwill produced a fantastic last-ditch tackle to stop Barnes going through before Maresca brought on Jadon Sancho and Malo Gusto and went for it with a change to 3-3-3.

You could cut the tension with a knife as Palmer blazed one and Pope tipped over from Enzo Fernandez.

Newcastle were out on their feet as the Chelsea charge continued and they had a glorious chance to level with two minutes to go but James could only head over.

And, cruelly, the Blues were made to pay as Guimaraes tried his luck from the edge of the area and his strike took a wicked deflection and looped beyond Robert Sanchez.