As we mentioned, there's no Costa, who serves the second of a three-match ban for, well, being Diego Costa really, but there's still plenty to look forward to. Chelsea hunt a third straight Premier League win. And Newcastle? Well, they would rip your hand off, run for 100 miles and then barricade themselves in a catacomb if you offered them a point. Suffice to say things haven't gone well for them yet this season. It has gone about as swimmingly as Eric Moussambani's 100m freestyle effort in the Sydney Olympics 15 years ago. Still, let's see if they can kick-start their campaign tonight.
Team news? Anyone? Go on then. But first, have a listen of what the lads at
Sports Mole HQ had to say on this one. Go on.
NEWCASTLE XI: Krul; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini (c), Mbabu; Sissoko, Anita, Colback, Wijnaldum; Perez, Mitrović
CHELSEA XI: Begovic; Ivanovic (c), Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Pedro, Oscar, Hazard; Remy
NEWCASTLE SUBS: Elliot, Williamson, Lascelles, Obertan, Thauvin, de Jong, Toney
CHELSEA SUBS: Blackman, Terry, Mikel,
Ramires,
Willian, Kenedy, Falcao
We'll start with Newcastle because, well, they need a bit of encouragement. Firstly, young left-back Kevin Mbabu displaces Massadio Haidara in defence. In midfield, Florian Thauvin drops to the bench in favour of Vurnon Anita, giving
Georginio Wijnaldum a more advanced role surely. Up front, Aleksandar Mitrovic returns from a three-game ban to lead the forward line alongside
Ayoze Perez.
On to Chelsea now and Loic Remy, who enjoyed a season-long loan spell here of course, replaces Costa to spearhead the Blues' attack in their only change from the win over Arsenal. Pedro, Oscar and Eden Hazard line up behind the Frenchman again, with Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic further back. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, Kurt Zouma retains his place ahead of John Terry as he partners Gary Cahill at centre-half, in front of Asmir Begovic who continues to deputise for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
Incidentally, we have an Oscar in the Chelsea first XI, and a Toney on the Newcastle bench. There's a good line here somewhere but I'm not witty enough to think of one.
Shall we have a quick look at the form? Newcastle fans you can look away for a moment because we'll be going through your side first.
So, with two points from 18 so far this season, and eliminated from the League Cup by Sheffield Wednesday, life as a Newcastle fan isn't exactly a barrel of laughs at the minute. They haven't won yet and, in truth, they haven't come close to one since the opening day. Their last league game was here last week when Premier League new boys Watford turned them over with a 2-1 win. There was more boos than Jack Grealish's drinks cabinet and, if we're being honest, we can probably expect more this evening.
Chelsea, on the other hand, look to have turned a corner. They've scored 10 times in their last three games, conceding just one, and it appears as if
Jose Mourinho's men are over their early-season slump, which resulted in three defeats. Oh, and victory here would see them move five points behind Manchester City. Suddenly, the title race is back on.
Costa isn't here but the kit man at 10 seconds brought his weapons anyway.
Incidentally, the 3pm kickoffs have finished. Fancy seeing how everybody did. I'm not into spoilers but Alexis Sanchez scored a hat-trick and Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-2. Sorry I can't help myself. But there's loads more. The Mountain is John Snow's mother. Okay we'll stop now. Click
HERE!
PREDICTION! I'm on a 3-1 Chelsea win this afternoon. Newcastle couldn't, could they? No. No surely not. That being said, it remains to be seen if Chelsea have genuinely turned this corner everybody is talking about. Anywho, time will tell.
Are incorrect football predictions punishable by death these days?
Move over Steve the Octopus, or John, whatever his name was because there's a new result-predicting animal in town - and this one can Tweet.
Looks like he knows something we don't.
Five minutes until showtime! Can Chelsea preserve their resurgence or will Newcastle pick up a first win? Only time will tell.
KICKOFF: And we're off at St James'! The Magpies get us underway and Newcastle just have nothing to lose. Let's hope for their sake they give a good account of themselves.
Chelsea will whip a free kick into the box now after Colback brings down Matic. We're about 30 yards from goal. Surely they're not going for goal, but would you like to tell Zouma he's not allowed? Me neither.
CLOSE! Yep, it's Zouma as he thumps just wide of Tim Krul's post. It was always swerving wide.
It hasn't been a bad start by Newcastle by any means. It's too early to make any assumptions over whether the points or staying or going back to London. You do worry about Newcastle's mentality, though.
One or two boos going around St James' Park when Loic Remy gets the ball. Seems a little harsh. Anywho, there's very little to note in this first 10 minutes or so. It's been rather drab, but McClaren will be loving it for as long as it's 0-0.
SHOT! It'd be harsh on Remy to call this a chance, as Ivanovic gets down well on the right before cutting back for the Frenchman, who tries to divert toward goal but it's wide.
Newcastle fans are booing already, but they're booing Chelsea thankfully as Hazard goes down injured. He's up on his feet now.
CLOSE! Better from Newcastle as Sissoko skews just wide of Begovic's goal. Moments earlier, Mitrovic sent a looping header over the bar. They look quite dangerous at times.
Good defending from Mbemba here as he uses his strength to hold off Remy, who looked to latch on to Hazard's clever back heel. Hazard looks sharp this afternoon. He's been a shadow of his former self for much of the season but he looks up for it this evening.
Mbabu, who looks a little like Khal Drogo if there were no gyms in Westeros, is a touch fortunate to avoid a yellow card for bundling over Pedro in a needless foul really. He might be a little too keen to impress on his debut.
We're 25 minutes deep and there's very, very, very little to choose between them. Chelsea will have to work hard to win; make no mistake about it. It's a free hit of sorts for the hosts, given that they're not expected to do much.
SHOT! Newcastle are winning in the shots department, I think, as Perez drills wide on his left foot. It was never testing Begovic.
CHANCES! Two big, big chances for the Magpies as Janmaat threads through Perez, whose first-time shot is a litte rushed and it's straight at Begovic. Chelsea don't clear and Perez then repays the favour by setting up the Dutchman, who tries to fire past Begovic at the near post but the ex-Stoke man is down to collect. Promising.
Looks like Obertan is going to have to come on because Colback is struggling. Sissoko could come in field to partner Anita in midfield. That's a blow for the hosts.
BOOKING: Colback is okay to continue, but now he's walking a disciplinary tightrope after fouling Remy.
Chelsea finding it really, really hard to break down this Newcastle defence. We're 36 minutes in and very much a case of so far so good for the Magpies who have been the better side.
SAVE! Fabregas has no interest in trying to break down Newcastle's back four this time as he drills a fine shot at goal from about 25 yards, but Krul beats it away.
GOAL! Newcastle United 1-0 Chelsea (Ayoze Perez)
Wow. Newcastle, to their credit, have been the better team and they're in the lead! Janmaat's hopeful ball is punted forward, and Perez capitalises on a lack of communication between Zouma and Ivanovic. His first touch is class, but his second one is even better as he volleys past Begovic via the post. Well done them.
Two minutes added on:
HALF TIME: Newcastle United 1-0 Chelsea
An excellent first half from Newcastle United yielded an excellent first goal as Perez volleyed beyond Asmir Begovic on 42 minutes, after a defensive mix-up between Zouma and Ivanovic, to give the Magpies a half-time lead. Deserved? Absolutely. They've looked disciplined, organised and it was obvious from the first minute that Chelsea would have to work hard to break them down. So far they haven't.
KICKOFF: What a big 45 minutes ahead for Newcastle. Can they hang on or even extend their lead? We can't rule it out.
What a brilliant save from Tim Krul as he denies Remy from point-blank range, but the flag was already up. Chelsea dominating the first few minutes of this half.
It's a massive compliment to Newcastle that Chelsea are forced to take shots from range. Fabregas has just gone for goal from outside the box it was blocked. So far so good.
SUB: This is a blow as Colback makes way for Obertan, who always looks like a robot or something, or is it just me? Anywho, yes, a big blow. Sissoko will come into midfield.
Pedro hasn't done a whole lot. He seems to drift in and out of Chelsea games since he has arrived. He's been quiet tonight, so has Hazard, Oscar, Fabregas and, well, pretty much every bloke in a blue shirt.
GOAL! Newcastle United 2-0 Chelsea (Georginio Wijnaldum)
Oh my word it's 2-0! Wijnaldum shrugs off Fabregas's half-hearted attempts at marking to nod home Perez's corner. Wow. Chelsea on the ropes.
SUBS: Jose and I are on the same wavelength as he throws Radamel Falcao and Willian into the mix for Nemanja Matic and Loic Remy. Can they inspire a comeback? Well they need to. They've got 27 minutes.
Zouma lucky to avoid a yellow card here as he tosses Mitrovic around like a rag doll. It's not happening for Chelsea and Zouma is as frustrated as anybody.
Oscar's heart isn't in it anyway. Mitrovic easily, and I do mean easily, snatches possession off him before shepherding the ball out for a goal kick.
BOOKING: Ivanovic goes into the book for kung-fu kicking Mitrovic in the solar plexus. I'm a doctor.
Kevin Mbabu has done so, so, so well tonight. Considering it's his debut, he's been phenomenal, keeping Pedro on a short leash, winning the ball from Eden Hazard like he was Micky Hazard. Top class from the left-back.
CLOSE! Oscar almost made me eat my words here as he curls just wide of Krul's goal. The Dutchman was never getting that.
SUB: One final throw of the dice by Mourinho, who brings Ramires on for Oscar. Is it enough? Well, we shall see.
In fairness to Hazard, he's been kicked off the park today and only won about two free kicks. Chelsea's coaching staff can't believe the decision which goes against him now; well, all of them except Mourinho, who smiles. He seems apathetic.
GOAL! Newcastle 2-1 Chelsea (Ramires)
Chelsea needed a bit of magic and this certainly qualifies. It's an absolute bullet by second-half sub Ramires, who latches on to Hazard's ball before thumping past Krul from outside the area. Take a bow pal. Newcastle fans looking visibly very, very, very nervous now. I saw one crying there a moment ago.
Oh my word take a bow Mr Mbemba. Hazard embarks on a truly brilliant run, skipping past blue and white shirts like they're not there and a goal looks imminent, but the big man throws himself in the line of fire to keep out his shot. That's the mentality needed.
CHANCE! Oh my word Pedro should be scoring here. The Spaniard races on to a long ball from Cahill. He's one on one with Krul, but he scoops under it and the ball flies into row-z. Big let-off.
SUB: Newcastle make their final sub as Mitrovic exits for Ivan Toney. Before he leaves, he tries to gee up the crowd and they're very responsive. Four minutes, plus stoppage time.
GOAL! Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea (Willian)
Heartbreak for Newcastle as Chelsea level up through Willian, whose free kick is intended as a cross but it flies into the back of the net.
Oh lord Chelsea have another free kick....
SAVE! Huge save from Krul as he beats away Ramires's close-range header. Newcastle have gone to pot in recent minutes. It would be so, so cruel if they lose this.
FOUR MINUTES ADDED: Can they hang on?
Mbabu has been superb defensively but absolutely useless going forward.
SUB: United make their last sub and McClaren is having kittens down there, telling Sissoko to come off slowly. He's replaced by De Jong I think.
Newcastle have a corner, which will please McClaren. De Jong is down injured too which, in a way, will please McClaren as well.
Newcastle trying to kill the game by wasting a bit of time. The fans want the whistle.
BOOKING: Pedro enters the book for a late foul on Mbuba and that should be that.
FULL TIME: Newcastle United 2-2 Chelsea
Well it's bitterly disappointing for Newcastle, who were 2-0 up after Wijnaldum added to Perez' first-half opener, but goals from Willian and Ramires snatched a point for the Premier League champions. There was applause from the home fans, who booed on Wednesday following their League Cup exit, but the noise is nothing compared to what would've happened had they won.
Still, plenty of positives. The question now - can they do it every week. We'll have to wait and see. That's all from us. Cheers for joining our live text commentary and we'll see you again.
