Newcastle 0-3 Chelsea: Player ratings as Blues extend their lead at the top
A clinical second-half display from league leaders Chelsea saw them claim a comprehensive 3-0 win over winless Newcastle United at St James' Park on Saturday.
Two goals from Reece James and a penalty from Jorginho - all in 16 blistering second-half minutes - killed off the home side.
Newcastle started the same team which claimed a point at Crystal Palace and from the off they showed little attacking intention as they recorded just one shot on target all game.
Chelsea were frustrated in the opening 45 minutes, and none more so than Hakim Ziyech, who could and should have opened the scoring on more than one occasion.
The breakthrough came on 64 minutes as Callum Hudson-Odoi's cross was cleared as far as James in the box, and he was given the time and space to cut back onto his left foot and fire home.
James' and Chelsea's second came ten minutes later as nice work from substitutes Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek teed up the wing-back to smash home past Karl Darlow.
The third came via the penalty spot after Kai Havertz was felled in the box by Darlow and the brilliant Jorginho made no mistake to seal the win and take Chelsea three points clear at the top, while Newcastle drop to 19th.
Here's how both sets of players rated on the day...
NEWCASTLE UNITED PLAYER RATINGS
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Karl Darlow (GK) - 5/10 - Was not tested too much in the game but when called upon he could not get near the Chelsea goals.
Ciaran Clark (CB) - 5/10 - Not too much wrong, but after good opening struggled with Havertz as the game went on.
Jamaal Lascelles (CB) - 5/10 - Pick of Newcastle defenders with some good clearances, but was overrun. Booked.
Emil Krafth (CB) - 4/10 - Struggled in the second half, and was regularly caught out.
2. Wing-backs & midfielders
Javier Manquillo (RWB) - 4/10 - Offered a few good runs in first half but struggled to contain Hudson-Odoi in the second.
Sean Longstaff (CM) - 4/10 -Anonymous for most of the game, and could not get near Jorginho.
Isaac Hayden (CM) - 3/10 - Lucky to stay on pitch after bad foul on Andreas Christensen and showed very little in defence or attack.
Ryan Fraser (CM) - 4/10 - Struggled in an unusual position and never got into the game.
Matt Ritchie (LWB) - 3/10 - Could not cope with James and was given a torrid time.
3. Forwards
Allan Saint-Maximin (CF) - 4/10 - Looked to make things happen in the first half, but ultimately could not get into the game.
Callum Wilson (ST) - 4/10 - Showed some effort, but against a top-class Chelsea defence was limited to scraps to feed on.
4. Substitutes
Miguel Almiron - 2/10 - A couple of runs, but barely saw the ball.
Joe Willock - 2/10 - Be lucky if he touched the ball more than a handful of times.
Jonjo Shelvey - N/A
CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS
5. Goalkeeper & defenders
Edouard Mendy (GK) - 7/10 - Did not have a proper save to make all day, but did his job.
Antonio Rudiger (CB) - 7/10 - Solid, never troubled and made some nice breaks forward in the second half.
Thiago Silva (CB) - 7/10 - Did absolutely nothing wrong, but had very little to do.
Andreas Christensen (CB) - 7/10 - Had some defending to do early on but dealt well with Callum Wilson. Very solid and classy on the ball.
6. Wing-backs & midfielders
Reece James (RWB) - 9/10 - Outstanding from the England man, with two clinical finishes - Newcastle could not pick him up.
Jorginho (CM) - 8/10 - Simply sublime ran the game from start to finish, the dominant player in the game and rounded off a majestic display with a penalty.
N'Golo Kante (CM) - 6/10 - Not his best game and tried to get forward, wasn't quite going his way.
Ben Chilwell (LWB) - 7/10 - Got forward well and was a constant menace to Newcastle.
7. Forwards
Hakim Ziyech (RF) - 6/10 - Was involved heavily but he looks short of confidence. Had a goal disallowed and could have scored another three.
Kai Havertz (CF) - 7/10 - Played the lone role well in Romelu Lukaku's absence. He was always available and they played off him well in the second half.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (LF) - 8/10 - Very good second half and was the main creator for the opening goal. Got better as game went on.
8. Substitutes
Ross Barkley - (6/10) - Looked very bright when he came on and was heavily involved in the second goal.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - (6/10) - Some nice touches and filled in well, upped the pace when he came on.
Saul - N/A