FT: Newcastle United 2 – 2 Chelsea

But even more damaging for morale at the north east club was Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat to second-tier Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup, which was greeted by a chorus of boos from the Toon Army.

Goals either side of halftime from Ayoze Perez and Georginio Wijnaldum looked set to earn Newcastle a first league victory of the season but they could not resist Chelsea’s late surge.

Yet Chelsea roared back to claim a point, Ramires and Willian getting the goals.

He added: “I think that we must be braver and must play free”. The fans are rightly frustrated and Saturday could turn nervy within 10 minutes at St James’ Park. “(We were) so close to a great win, and then you think at 2-2 with five minutes to go you could still lose it as the momentum had swung”, he told Sky Sports.

Recent fortunes suggest a comfortable Chelsea win, but Newcastle have won their last three Premier League home games against the Blues.

Mourinho said the game had been saved by the introduction of Ramires and Willian as substitutes.

Back Chelsea to win at 4/6 as a base investment; however, the fact that 6 of these sides’ last 8 matches have been won to nil indicates that backing an away win to nil is a tempting bet at 15/8. “That was more like it”. “I am sure they will support us at the next game”.

“That’s the benchmark. We’ve shown the standard in terms of attitude”.

His opposite number, Jose Mourinho, criticised his players after making a sluggish start.

STEVE McClaren has revealed he is not about to change his approach to transforming Newcastle United despite a bad start to the season. “The midfield was pressing more and we were more dynamic and we had an intensity Newcastle couldn’t cope with”.

Sign up at bet365 today, you will get a up to £200 welcome bonus + £50 on your first bet from a mobile, when using exclusive bet365bonus code: MAXBONUS. The second half was really good. That responsibility rests on him, as does the responsibility to stop picking players who aren’t performing. In every aspect of the game we were bad. “Obviously the team is hurt but as I was saying although I don’t play, score goals, and tackle, my communication on the pitch is positive for the team, so I prefer to be quiet”.