14th February, 2016
Photo: AP
Chelsea skipper John Terry is a doubt for Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 trip to Paris St-Germain after limping off in the 5-1 win over Newcastle.
Terry hurt himself on landing after an aerial challenge in the first half.
Chelsea say the 35-year-old may have a small muscular injury to his hamstring and will undergo a scan on Sunday.
But that was the only worry for the London club as they thrashed Newcastle, who now dropped into the relegation zone on goal difference after three goals in the first 17 minutes set Chelsea on their way to an easy win.
Diego Costa slid in the opener, a Rolando Aarons error let in Pedro to run clear and fire home, and Costa set up Willian to make it 3-0.
Pedro and Bertrand Traore added further goals in the second half, before Andros Townsend’s late consolation.
Chelsea’s interim manager Guus Hiddink remains unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions, and his side are now unbeaten in their past 10 Premier League games.
Newcastle have only scored seven goals on their travels this season, the worst record in the top four divisions in England, but it was their defence that let them down at Stamford Bridge.
Magpies boss Steve McClaren said in his pre-match TV interview that the first 20 minutes would be crucial to the outcome of the match. He was right, but not in the way he would have wanted.
By then, his side had suffered a complete collapse at the back which was summed up by Chelsea’s second goal.
That came from a Newcastle free-kick near the home side’s corner flag that was cleared to the halfway line before Aarons’ horrendous cross-field pass allowed Pedro to gallop clear.
McClaren’s side never looked capable of a second-half comeback as they slipped to a fifth successive away defeat.
After the break, Cesc Fabregas set up Pedro for his second and Bertrand Traore turned in Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross.
Andros Townsend’s trademark run and finish for his first goal since his £12m move from Tottenham reduced the damage at the end.
But Newcastle’s goal-difference still took a battering and at -22 it is now the worst in the top flight.
-Chelsea’s injury problems continue-
Chelsea’s own defensive problems were of a very different sort.
With Kurt Zouma out for the season, the last thing Hiddink needed before a busy fortnight was to see Terry limp off.
Terry appeared to fall awkwardly after a clash with Magpies striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and will have a scan to assess the severity of his hamstring injury.
Gary Cahill only returned to the starting line-up on Saturday because of Zouma’s serious knee injury, but could end up being a key figure at the back for his side in the next few weeks.