Sometimes in football, you don’t get what you deserve - and that was the case for Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge.
Eddie Howe’s side, on a nine game Premier League unbeaten run, played against European champions Chelsea with no fear.
They frustrated the life out of the hosts with an excellent disciplined display but that was cruelly undone on 89 minutes as Kai Havertz broke the deadlock.
The fixture wasn’t without its refeering controversy either, with Kai Havertz perhaps lucky not to see red for an elbow on Dan Burn.
Jacob Murphy was then denied a penalty midway through the second-half after going down under a challenge from Trevoh Chalobah.
Here, our writer Jordan Cronin dishes out his Newcastle player ratings from the 1-0 defeat in West London:
1. Martin Dubravka - 7
Didn’t have a save to make until the 76th-minute when he saved Havertz’s close-range header. Sadly, the second time around, Havertz broke the deadlock after latching onto Kovacic’s ball.
2. Javier Manquillo - 7
Replaced Emil Krafth in the starting XI. Got forward reasonably well and defended well.
3. Fabian Schar - 7
Again battled on through a groin problem. Might have opened the scoring for Newcastle had he connected better with Targett’s free-kick delivery on 86 minutes. Photo: Stu Forster
4. Jamaal Lascelles - 7
Played on the right side of a three-man defence with Schar left with the central duties. Showed good pace and headed away everything that came his way.