Newcastle United have had a tough start to the season with the on-going pressures of defending their more than respectable 5th place finish in the English Premier League last May and earning a well-deserved place in the Europa League line up. However, these pressures have almost turned in to burdens, resulting in a run of disappointing statistics including only 7 home wins and consecutive away defeats unaided by the unfortunate run of injuries suffered by the club. This has ultimately forced Newcastle United in to 15th place in the Premier League table and caught up in the battle of beating the relegation nightmare.
However, Newcastle’s luck has changed drastically over their past two fixtures. The first fixture was played on the 21st January against Aston Villa, where they beat Aston Villa 2-1 and were awarded with their first away win of the season. The second against Chelsea, winning 3-2 after a highly anticipated game felt by both fans of the clubs. Both teams were desperate to prove themselves to managers and fans and both needed to win.

The Chelsea fixture was incredibly intense from start to finish, especially as it was Demba Ba’s first visit back to Newcastle United after the surprising exit to Chelsea in the January transfer window, creating most of the drama and hype. And more hype was to come with the controversial incident involving Fabricio Coloccini’s boot in Demba Ba’s face in a bad tackle that left Ba unable to carry on playing and, ultimately, being substituted. Ba’s return to Tyneside worsened as Newcastle scored, leaving them ahead just before half time by a goal from the unlikely Jonas Gutteriez; a promising start that Newcastle needed to secure a win.

The second half unfolded quite a different story, full of controversial tackles leading to a total of 5 yellow cards in the match and two excellent goals from Chelsea as Frank Lampard kicked the ball with ease to the middle of the goal, and Juan Mata smashed the ball in the top left corner; Chelsea now had their heads in the game and were heading for a secure win. But Newcastle United were not giving up, especially with the support from their loyal fans filling the home stadium with their roaring chants and songs of faith and pure love for their team.

The biggest impression made in the match was one of Newcastle’s 5 new signings, Moussa Sissoko, scoring 2 incredible goals in the second half to seal Newcastle’s triumphant and unexpected win and becoming the new hero on Tyneside. Newcastle’s win was definitely a well-deserved one; they fought until the final blow of the whistle and it has definitely given them an immense boost and the confidence they desperately need to climb that daunting Premier League table.