There was a comment on my Facebook after the game about McEachran being a ‘keeper’ and that’s a sentiment I definitely agree with, unfortunately we can’t say the same about Turnball eh?
I probably shouldn’t write reviews so soon after games, well not when we lose anyway, because what I want to do is take the positives out of it – and there were positives – I’m just not sure how positive I can be when I’m so gutted for the lads.
Plenty of changes to the starting line-up, with an unrecognisable starting XI for us with the exception of Nicolas Anelka, Paulo Ferreira and the surprise inclusion of John Terry for a run-out after his injury. We still had a good start though, with Kakuta setting up Van Aanholt for the opener in the 6th minute. Unfortunately, Kakuta’s finishing wasn’t as crisp from 6 yards out minutes later although his somersault over Taylor’s offending feet a couple of minutes after was a little more impressive – or at least the fact he managed to get up and walk away was.
On the whole we looked pretty comfortable and almost had a second goal to cement our dominance in the 25th minute, with Zhirkov putting in a cross Krul had to claw from under his crossbar before Anelka could get near it. And we wished we had 2 minutes later when, completely against the run of play – a bloody equaliser went in. Van Aanholt managed to go from hero to villain with some really slack defending to let Ranger in.
Then, the inexperience shone through a bit, with our players visibly rattled with the goal and more rattled still when Bruma gives away a free-kick on the edge of the area and Taylor duly dispatched it into the top left hand corner of our net just after the half hour. Newcastle pretty much dominated the rest of the half and could have had a third but we managed to go into the break just the one goal behind.
Back out for the second and half and Alex had come on for John Terry and Kalou for Kakuta. Neither of those were huge shocks going on first half performances although Newcastle’s 3rd going in just 3 minutes after the break was a little more unexpected. Lovely curled shot from Ameobi but he really shouldn’t be scoring from the edge of the box to be honest. Shocking defending, shocking keeping and an uphill battle.
It didn’t really get a lot better when Kalou marked the first of our night’s casualties, going down with a thigh injury. And whilst obviously we don’t want to see first team players going off on stretchers, it did allow us top get another look at 17 year old Josh McEachran – and for me, this young lad is well worth a look. Almost immediately, he’s into his stride with a lovely little drop of the shoulder and a shot from the edge of the area. Easy catch for Krul but a really positive start from McEachran anyway.
Unfortunately, there was more woe to come for us as the lively McEachran fed a ball out to Yossi Benayoun only for such a lovely pass to be rewarded with the sight of Benayoun pulling up with what looked to be hamstring trouble. So, 3-1 down and down to ten men for the last half hour or so – smashing!
Fair play to our lads though, they didn’t let a little thing like going down to ten men worry them unduly as Alex rattled Krul’s post within minutes. And whilst Alex was unlucky not to score from that, luck was with us at the other end when Sturridge, careless in possession almost gifted Lovenkrands a fourth that would have put the game completely beyond us – fortunately Lovenkrands declined the charity on offer, with an embarrassing shot wide.
Then came our excitement for the night, with Van Aanholt turning provider for Anelka to get us back to 3-2 and suddenly it was us with the bit between our teeth again as Anelka showed the newcomers how to do it. McEachran almost provided Sturridge with a third, feeding a very clever pass through to the striker after some lovely work in midfield. But whilst Sturridge was ruled offside, better luck was to come our way with Williamson judged to have brought down Alex in the box for a penalty. So, with five minutes of normal time to play, Anelka stepped up to the spot, leveling it at 3-apiece.
Edge of our seats? I should bloody say so, especially when Ferreira hit the post with a volley minutes later – but sadly sinking in our seats with one minute of normal time remaining as we fell foul of the dreaded combination of a set-piece, Ameobi and Turnball’s goalkeeping.
Arghhhhhhhhh, 4-3 down with six minutes of injury time to play and McEachran wasn’t ready to lay down, with another superb run, skipping past challenges and firing an effort just wide. Wasn’t quite enough and we went out 4-3 but a fight back from 3-1 down, with ten men for most of the second half – and ten men not accustomed to playing for the first team never mind against a Premier League side currently sitting sixth in the table – well, it ain’t all bad.
Ancelotti made major changes and it didn’t quite come off but they gave it a bloody good go and I’ll settle for that.
TEAMS
CHELSEA: Turnbull, Ferreira, Terry (Alex, 45), Bruma, Van Aanholt, Ramires, Benayoun, Zhirkov, Kakuta (Kalou, 45, McEachran 56), Anelka, Sturridge.
Unused Subs: Cech, Clifford, Mellis, Chalobah.
NEWCASTLE: Krul, Ryan Taylor (Tiote, 63), Campbell, Coloccini (Williamson, 63), Ferguson (Barton, 90+3), Ranger, Gutierrez, Vuckic, Smith, Ameobi, Lovenkrands.
Unused Subs: Soderberg, Nolan, Carroll, Ben Arfa.
GOALS
CHELSEA: Van Aanholt 6, Anelka 69, 85 (pen)
NEWCASTLE: Ranger 27, Taylor 32, Ameobi 48, 89
Blue is the colour
