CHELSEA lost a home game in March for the first time since the year I was born, 2001, as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Newcastle.
Liam Rosenior wants to see a perfect 90 minutes from his side.
A perfect 20 minutes would be a start, as it took just 18 for the Blues to be behind in this one, thanks to Anthony Gordon.
That was about all the drama in a fairly monotonous first half, after which Chelsea were booed off by their fans.
Rosenior looked to change things in the second by bringing on Liam Delap, who blasted a half-chance over the bar in the second 45.
Caicedo was hooked and smacked the seat in anger after 60 minutes, as the Blues looked for a way back into the game that they weren’t able to find.
This is how SunSport Chelsea reporter Lloyd Canfield rated the players…
ROBERT SANCHEZ – 6
Came back into the side with Jorgensen sidelined by a groin injury after his horror show against PSG.
Aside from the opening goal, for which there wasn’t much be could do, it was a pretty strong performance from the keeper in terms of coming for crosses and shot-stopping, particularly to deny Gordon a second from range.
It was a good enough showing that he should be trusted against PSG on Tuesday.
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MALO GUSTO – 4
Took the fourth most touches of any Chelsea player in the first half before he was hooked for Liam Delap at half-time.
Had plenty of the ball, but failed to do much with it, completing just one of his five crosses attempted in 45 minutes.
TREVOH CHALOBAH – 3
There will be question marks over his positioning as well as Reece James for the opening goal, with the Chelsea number 23 nowhere near the centre of defence as Willock burst through it.
He seemed to be hardly involved, to be honest, in the game at all, apart from that positional error at the start, with his passing from the back probably the highlight.
Chalobah headed a chance wide in the 78th minute, but wasn’t able to effect the game much going forward as he has a few times this season.
WESLEY FOFANA – 3
Picked up a yellow card midway through the first half, and his performance went from bad to worse before half-time.
Looked to be daydreaming as Gordon ghosted past him for the opening goal, and his poor touch pretty much baited Caicedo into picking up a yellow too.
Improved somewhat in the second half, competing well in aerial duels against Gordon, but it was far from his best showing in blue.
MARC CUCURELLA – 5
Really aggressive in terms of winning the ball back on the left-hand side of Chelsea’s defence, and battled well throughout the game.
Similarly to Reece James, though, on the other side, he wasn’t really able to impact the game in the way we have seen him do going forward at times.
MOISES CAICEDO – 4
One thing you don’t see often at Stamford Bridge is Moises Caicedo being substituted, but that was perhaps to do with the fact that he is one yellow card away from a two-match suspension.
The Ecuadorian midfielder has not been his best of late, and couldn’t seem to get things going in midfield.
Chelsea had no control in the middle of the park, usually something he has mastery over at his finest.
REECE JAMES – 4
After signing a new six-year deal with the Blues yesterday, it was he who wasn’t able to catch Joe Willock, who was ready to run through the Chelsea defence at any given moment for the Newcastle opener.
Moved to right-back in the second half, where he looked more comfortable and wasn’t really challenged much by Barnes, but also couldn’t create what Chelsea needed going forwards.
His stoppage time free-kick off the post would’ve made his day a whole lot better and rescued a point, but it wasn’t his day.
COLE PALMER – 5
Looked sharp early on and had a good chance to open the scoring, which he spurned just wide.
It was a performance typical of Palmer this season: some flashy moments, but a lack of end product when it mattered – that bit of end product is the fine line between an average display and a world-class player.
Chelsea need him firing right now if they are going to be playing Champions League football next season.
ENZO FERNANDEZ – 4
Usually, Enzo Fernandez is the man in the middle who lights up Stamford Bridge when they need him most.
At his best, he is satellite-like in midfield and able to pick a pass to anyone blue on the pitch – but this evening was far from his best.
His touch looked off the pace, and he and Chelsea struggled to find any sort of link between midfield and the strikers.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 4
With Pedro Neto suspended for his antics against Arsenal at the start of the month, the introduction of Alejandro Garnacho was one of just two changes by Rosenior from the game against PSG.
As it was his first start since the win over Wrexham in which he impressed, Rosenior and Chelsea fans were hoping he could kick on in this one, but he didn’t.
Lots of direct running but no result when it was needed.
JOAO PEDRO – 4
Chelsea’s golden boy of late, Joao Pedro struggled to get into this game with the physicality of the Newcastle backline.
Struggled for service in the first half, and things didn’t improve massively for him in the second when Liam Delap came on.
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LIAM DELAP (MALO GUSTO, 45) – 4
Battled well physically, which Chelsea weren’t really getting from Joao Pedro and needed, but his end product let him down again.
Had a good chance inside the box on his left foot towards the end, but he leaned back and blasted it into the crowd. Typically.
ROMEO LAVIA (MOISES CAICEDO, 61) – 5
Rotated the ball nicely for the Blues and wasn’t a noticeable downgrade on Caicedo at all, which is perhaps a compliment, but he couldn’t do much in terms of getting them going and scoring a goal.
JORREL HATO (WESLEY FOFANA, 81) – 5
Hardly had time to make an impact.
