Once Reece James whipped in a 25-yard free-kick in the 49th minute — as exquisite as his execution was, the Newcastle wall and Aaron Ramsdale never seemed comfortable with their respective positioning — the home side’s frustratingly familiar fragilities resurfaced.

After leading 2-0 in the first half with two goals from Nick Woltemade, Newcastle United dropped points at St. James' Park to Chelsea, who managed to equalize in the second half.

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A breathless start saw Newcastle bully the Blues and race into a two-goal lead within 20 minutes, Nick Woltemade earning redemption for his decisive Tyne-Wear derby own goal by netting twice from close range. Chelsea were unable to produce a response of any description during a chastening first half.

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The Blues’ final match before Christmas is one of the most testing away trips of the league season, and they will again have Liam Delap and Estevao unavailable. Both could be ready for their next match against Aston Villa on December 27 but remain sidelined for Newcastle.

Eight places separate the teams heading into the weekend, but a gap of just six points highlights how congested the current standings are in the Premier League. One victory can make the world of difference, with Chelsea aiming to secure their top four spot heading into Christmas as Newcastle seek to enter the top half.