Chelsea increase gap over Arsenal with slim win against Newcastle

Re-live the action from Stamford Bridge

Sarri bemoans VAR after Spurs' win over Chelsea

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:

Key Points

• Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pedro, Hazard, Willian.

• Newcastle: Dubravka, Yedlin, Lejeune, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie, Perez, Longstaff, Hayden, Atsu, Rondon

[12 January 2019 18:36 · Michael Jones]

SECOND HALF: Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle

Newcastle restart the match but Chelsea win it quickly, Hazard runs it forward gives it to Kante who sends it wide to Pedro. Pedro brings it inside and shoots but Dubravka makes a great save. 

[12 January 2019 18:37 · Michael Jones]

48 mins: Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle

Newcastle get half a chance now as Ritchie puts the ball into the box aiming for Atsu. Atsu leaps but the ball skims the top of his head.

[12 January 2019 18:40 · Michael Jones]

51 mins: Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle

Newcastle win a free kick in Chelsea's area. They play it short and switch it to the right, Lascelles heads the ball into the box but Chelsea get it clear. The whole movement though speaks to the growing confidence of the visitors, Chelsea look a little rocked. 

[12 January 2019 18:43 · Michael Jones]

54 mins: Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle

Willian wins a corner for Chelsea but Rondon deals with it. A second corner comes in and Dubravka spills it but Rudiger makes a foul and Newcastle can regroup. 

[12 January 2019 18:45 · Michael Jones]

57 mins: Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle - Willian

Hazard holds the ball up well and feeds it to Willian on the left side of the box. Willian cuts back insdie and puts the ball onto his right foot before taking a curling shot to the far corner. 

[12 January 2019 18:50 · Michael Jones]

60 mins: Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle

Perez makes a good run towards the box before he plays a give and go with Rondon. As he enters the box Perez goes down and the ref waves away the penalty shout. 

[12 January 2019 18:51 · Michael Jones]

63 mins: Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle

Jorginho tussles with Rondon and gets a yellow card. 

Barkley comes on for Kovacic. 

[12 January 2019 18:53 · Michael Jones]

66 mins: Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle

Chelsea play a long ball up to Willian, David Luiz with the pass, Dubravka comes flying off his line and he's never going to beat Willian to the ball. For his part Willian tries to chip the ball over Newcastle's goalkeeper but Dubravka gets enough of a hand onto the shot and Chelsea are denied. 

[12 January 2019 18:56 · Michael Jones]

68 mins: Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle

Lascelles is forced into the advertising boards after defending against Hazard and he's cut open his right leg. The physios wipe it, clean it and stitch it and Lascelles will carry on. 

[12 January 2019 19:01 · Michael Jones]

72 mins: Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle

Chelsea win a free kick about 25 yards from goal. David Luiz takes the shot and sends it well over the bar.