Newcastle beats Chelsea to edge closer to UCL
Newcastle United inched closer to UEFA Champions League qualification as it battled to a crucial 2-0 home win over Chelsea, which had Nicolas Jackson sent off.
The teams entered this mammoth clash at St James' Park level on 63 points in fourth and fifth respectively, only ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference after Unai Emery's men beat Bournemouth.
It was Eddie Howe's Magpies that took a huge step towards sealing a top-five spot, although they had to do things the hard way despite going ahead in the second minute.
Sandro Tonali scored that goal, meeting Jacob Murphy's pinpoint cross with a slightly scuffed finish that bounced up and over Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea's hopes took a further blow in the 35th minute, as Jackson threw a forearm into Sven Botman's head after taking his eye off a high ball. After a video assistant referee (VAR) review, the Blues striker was dismissed for violent conduct.
However, Chelsea improved massively after half-time and had multiple chances to equalise, with the first seeing Nick Pope keep out Marc Cucurella's low drive.
Pope brilliantly touched Enzo Fernandez's deflected strike over the top as Chelsea continued to press, and substitute Reece James should have levelled when he nodded Malo Gusto's cross off-target in the 88th minute.
But the home fans could breathe a sigh of relief in the 90th minute, as Bruno Guimaraes's 20-yard effort deflected off Gusto and looped beyond the stranded Sanchez.
The win takes Newcastle above Manchester City and into third on the Premier League table.
It is three points above Chelsea, which could end the weekend outside of the UEFA Champions League places.
