Chelsea increase gap over Arsenal with slim win against Newcastle
Re-live the action from Stamford Bridge
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Your support makes all the difference.Willian's sublime strike earned Chelsea a 2-1 victory over spirited Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.
Pedro's ninth-minute lob saw the Magpies trailing, but Ciaran Clark headed in a deserved equaliser before half-time.
The Blues had plenty of chances, but only prevailed when Willian curled in a decisive second, following another assist by Eden Hazard, who was again deployed as Chelsea's 'false nine'.
Goalscoring remains an issue for Chelsea, who faced the prospect of a third top-flight home game without scoring for the first time since November 1993, but finished the day with a six-point advantage over fifth-placed Arsenal.
Re-live the action in the blog below:
18 mins: Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle
Azpilicueta sends the ball down the right and Kante makes a forward run and wins a throw in. Newcastle defend the throw well but Chelsea reclaim possession.
21 mins: Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle
Solid bit of possession from Newcastle, they string a few passes together before looking for Atsu up front with a long ball. Atsu is caught offside and Chelsea have it back.
24 mins: Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle
Chelsea free kick. Pedro sends Azipilicueta on the overlap and Ritchie brings him down getting a yellow for his efforts. Willian puts the free kick into the box and David Luiz wins the header but puts the ball over the bar.
27 mins: Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle
Newcastle win a corner and play it short. They try to run the ball into the box but get denied by Chelsea's defensive line.
30 mins: Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle
Atsu and Rondon combine up top for Newcastle, first Rondon gives the ball to Atsu before Atsu returns the favour sending him into space. Rondon shoots with his weaker left-foot but Azpilicueta makes the block.
33 mins: Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle
Chelsea try to probe Newcastle for any gaps in their defence but the North East side have the holes plugged. Pedro tries to switch the play and puts the ball out.
36 mins: Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle
The long ball comes forward and Rondon beats David Luiz in the air and flicks it on to Perez who runs the ball into the box, looks up and shoots sending it wide of goal.
39 mins: Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle - Clark
Atsu wins a corner for Newcastle. Ritchie delivers and wins a second corner. He delivers a second time and Clark jumps, meets it and guides it into the bottom left corner, great header!
42 mins: Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle
Pedro sends Willian in on goal. Dubravka is quick off his line, stays big and makes the save by cutting off the angle.
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