CHELSEA went top of the league as they eased past Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The Blues began with purpose, and took a deserved lead in the tenth minute when Mason Mount’s centre was turned into his own net by Federico Fernandez.
There were half-hearted appeals that the Argentine was fouled by Ben Chilwell, but VAR deemed the goal good.
Timo Werner then could have made it two, but inexplicably dragged the ball wide when one-on-one with Karl Darlow.
The German again squandered a golden chance in the 52nd minute, when he tried to square the ball to Hakim Ziyech, rather than shoot himself.
But he did produce a moment of magic 13 minutes later, when he raced half the length of the pitch before teeing up Tammy Abraham, whose finish was unerring.
Steve Bruce’s side threatened to get back in the game, when Sean Longstaff hammered a shot from range off the crossbar.
But the Blues saw the win out to, at least temporarily, leapfrog Southampton, Liverpool, Tottenham and Leicester.
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