Newcastle United 4-1 Chelsea: Reece James sees red as Magpies run riot in superb second half

Keen to return to winning ways after falling to defeat against Bournemouth before the international break, Newcastle United welcomed Chelsea to St James’ Park on Saturday. Mauricio Pochettino’s side had found form before the recent break, comfortably toppling Tottenham Hotspur before holding Manchester City to an enthralling 4-4 draw.

NEW: Pope; Livramento, Schär, Lascelles, Trippier; Joelinton, Guimarães, Miley; Gordon, Isak, Almirón

CHE: Sánchez; Cucurella, Badiashile, Silva, James; Fernández, Ugochukwu; Sterling, Gallagher, Palmer; Jackson

A highly-anticipated clash on Tyneside saw Alexander Isak open the scoring after thirteen minutes, with the fit-again Swedish international threading an accurate finish past Robert Sánchez after receiving a sublime through ball from Lewis Miley.

But the away end would be celebrating just ten minutes later, as Raheem Sterling found the back of the net with a wonderfully orchestrated free-kick delivery after being felled on the edge of the box by Kieran Trippier.

It was on the hour mark that Jamaal Lascelles restored the Magpies’ lead, as he was left unmarked to head home from Anthony Gordon’s cross – and Joelinton pounced upon a rare mistake from Thiago Silva to extend the buffer just ninety seconds later.

Reece James was shown a second yellow card with a little over fifteen minutes remaining after fouling Gordon, and it was the ex-Everton forward that completed Newcastle’s goalscoring rout in the 83rd minute after a fantastic pass between the lines from Miguel Almirón.

Chelsea will look to avoid their sixth defeat of the Premier League season next weekend when they host Brighton, while Newcastle United travel to Paris Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes in midweek before hosting Manchester United.