Joao Pedro scores as Chelsea produce second-half comeback to draw at Newcastle

Joao Pedro denied Newcastle victory as Chelsea came from behind to snatch a 2-2 Premier League draw at St James’ Park.

Nick Woltemade’s double had the Magpies 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, but Eddie Howe’s men wilted amid a second-half fightback, fuelled by the pace and trickery of Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro, after Reece James’ curling free-kick reduced the deficit.

However, it was Pedro who ensured his side left with a deserved point when he fired home a 66th-minute equaliser to end a run of three successive league defeats for the Blues on Tyneside.

Newcastle needed just four minutes to get their noses in front when Sandro Tonali won possession in the middle of the field to allow Bruno Guimaraes to feed Jacob Murphy down the right, and although keeper Robert Sanchez did well to block Anthony Gordon’s attempt at the far post, Woltemade followed up to smash the rebound into the roof of the net.

Garnacho blazed high over as the Blues looked for a response, but they might have fallen further behind when Gordon controlled Lewis Miley’s cross and drilled in a rising attempt which Sanchez tipped over.

The Magpies’ midfield trio of Tonali, Guimaraes and Jacob Ramsey was dominating and with Woltemade and Guimaraes working hard to press the Chelsea defence, the hosts remained on top as they displayed an intensity they never managed in last weekend’s tame derby defeat at Sunderland.

They increased their lead with 20 minutes gone when Lewis Hall played a free-kick wide to Gordon, who cut inside Neto and crossed for Woltemade to toe-poke the ball past the stranded Sanchez, although the goal was only awarded after a lengthy VAR check for offside.

Fabian Schar tested Sanchez with a first-time volley from Hall’s floated