Magpies soar to inflict third straight loss on Chelsea

Joe Willock ensured Newcastle will head into the World Cup break sitting proudly in the top three after beating Chelsea to claim a fifth-successive Premier League victory.

The midfielder's sumptuous 67th-minute strike – his second goal in as many games – handed the Magpies a 1-0 win in front of a crowd of 52,264 at St James’ Park and left them nine points clear of the Blues, one of their rivals for a top-six finish, having played a game more.

A deserved victory took Eddie Howe’s side to 30 points for the campaign, a total they did not reach last season until 10 March.

By contrast Chelsea, who had seen England goalkeeper Nick Pope claw away Conor Gallagher’s goal-bound effort minutes earlier, headed home having suffered a third league defeat on the trot.

Armando Broja proved a real handful early on as he stretched the home defence with play switching quickly from end to end, but it was the home side who were first to threaten in earnest with 16 minutes gone when Willock tricked his way past Cesar Azpilicueta to cross to the far post.

Kalidou Koulibaly's header dropped to the in-form Miguel Almiron on the edge of the box, but the Paraguay international’s volley was just too high.

The home side were working hard to press their opponents in possession with a particular focus on goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with the ball at his feet, but neither side was able to match enterprise with the required quality to ignite a largely-scrappy encounter.

That might have changed when Jorginho, Mason Mount and Lewis Hall combined to find Broja, but his shot on the turn was fielded comfortably by Pope.

Chelsea’s focus on Magpies playmaker Bruno Guimaraes limited his influence on a congested midfield battle, although that created space in which