Howe angered as Newcastle lose two goal lead in Chelsea draw

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe cut a frustrated figure after his side were denied what he felt was a clear second half penalty in a dramatic Premier League draw with Chelsea at St James’ Park.

The Magpies looked set for a much needed victory after storming into a two goal lead before the break, only for Chelsea to mount a second half comeback and leave Tyneside with a point following a controversial refereeing call that left Howe furious.

Newcastle’s grievance centred on the 53rd minute when Trevoh Chalobah challenged Anthony Gordon inside the penalty area. Referee Andy Madley waved play on and VAR Peter Bankes chose not to intervene, a decision that proved pivotal as Chelsea soon found their rhythm.

The result mattered for both sides. Newcastle were desperate for a response after a poor derby defeat to Sunderland, while Chelsea were looking to maintain momentum in a competitive top half battle. A win would have eased pressure on Howe and underlined Newcastle’s early season credentials.

The atmosphere reflected that urgency. Newcastle started with intensity, pressing high and forcing Chelsea into early mistakes. Gordon was central to everything good in the opening stages, constantly driving at the Chelsea back line and pulling defenders out of shape.

The breakthrough arrived inside 20 minutes. Nick Woltemade reacted quickest after Robert Sánchez blocked Gordon’s initial effort, turning the rebound home from close range. Moments later, the same combination struck again as Gordon’s cross found Woltemade, who finished calmly to put Newcastle firmly in control.

Chelsea struggled to cope in the first half, but the contest shifted immediately after the restart. Reece James curled a precise free kick into the corner in the 49th minute, injecting belief into the visitors and silencing the home crowd.

Just four minutes later came the key incident. Gordon went down under Chalobah’s challenge, prompting loud appeals from the stands and Newcastle players. The decision not to award a penalty left the hosts stunned and changed the momentum of the match.

Chelsea grew stronger as Newcastle lost their grip. João Pedro punished a slip from Malick Thiaw in the 66th minute, finishing clinically to bring the scores level and cap a much improved second half display from Enzo Maresca’s side.

The final stages were tense. Chelsea pushed for a winner and created several clear chances, while Newcastle threatened sporadically on the break, most notably through Harvey Barnes. Neither side found a decisive moment as the match drifted to a draw.

For Newcastle, the feeling was one of opportunity lost. Howe believed his team had produced their best first half performance of the season and felt the penalty decision robbed them of a deserved win. Chelsea, meanwhile, showed resilience and character to recover from a difficult opening 45 minutes.

The draw leaves Newcastle searching for consistency as they prepare for another demanding fixture list, while Chelsea will take confidence from their response and continue to build under Maresca after a week of positive results.