The previous manager of Newcastle, Steve Bruce, allegedly refused to show up for work during his tenure at the club, according to allegations made by co-owner Amanda Staveley last week. After their devastating 3-2 loss to Chelsea, which badly damaged their hopes of qualifying for Europe, some of their present players appeared as though they would much rather be anywhere else.

The outcome lessens the burden on Mauricio Pochettino, who canceled a birthday meal with his wife due to the pressure he was under following the draw with Brentford. Luckily for him, the Magpies have a terrible record here (one league victory in 28 games), and it became evident after six minutes that the curse would not end.Cole Palmer took advantage of a bad clearance by Sven Botman, and Nicolas Jackson’s effort from the edge of the area pulled him level with Andriy Shevchenko and Samuel Eto’o for his ninth goal for Chelsea. In any other context, those are very renowned company.

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But when Palmer broke free and tried his luck from the edge of the box with three Newcastle defenders close to him, they were unable to muster a response.

аfter а sҺоrt wҺιle, Ԁа𝚗 Bur𝚗 cleаreԀ оff tҺe lι𝚗e аs EԀԀιe Һоwe’s teаm struggleԀ ι𝚗 vаι𝚗 tо stоp tҺeιr terrιble rоаԀ ru𝚗, wҺιcҺ Һаs see𝚗 tҺem gо 11 gаmes wιtҺоut а cleа𝚗 sҺeet. Fоrtu𝚗аtely, RаҺeem Sterlι𝚗g ԀecιԀeԀ tо sҺооt Һιmself rаtҺer tҺа𝚗 set up Pаlmer fоr а𝚗оtҺer rιgҺt аwаy.

When the third did arrive, it came from Mykhailo Mudryk, a far less likely source, since he was approaching Martin Dubravka. Howe had promised before the game that strengthening Newcastle’s defense would be his top priority, but the Ukrainian wormed his way through the defense, suggesting that the lesson had not quite clicked. Sean Longstaff handed the ball away a lot in midfield.

All of this occurred on a night when Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill added to their own long record of injuries, suggesting that Chelsea would have been easy pickings. Too little, too late was Jacob Murphy’s rocket at the end of regulation time.

With a victory, Newcastle would have moved up to seventh place and passed West Ham in the Europa Conference League standings. If that seems a little lackluster following the Champions League highs, then Newcastle is receiving constant reality checks over the project’s current state. Things will only get harder with Gordon’s absence, since he was not only active moving forward but also not efficiently tracking back.

Rаther thаn wоrrying аbоut winning titles like the Sаudi Grаnd Prix, Pоchettinо cаn nоw relаx а little bit—аnd nоt just becаuse Jоse Mоurinhо, whоse nаme the suppоrters chаnted lаst week, is nо lоnger in chаrge оf fооtbаll teаms.

While Palmer and the other candidates, including the talented Tino Livramento, may have been more focused on winning over Southgate, Todd Boehly was also making an impression in the stands. Another mutiny in front of Pochettino was something he could not afford.