Three things we learned from Chelsea draw as Maresca team talk works wonders

Chelsea recovered from a horrendous first half to earn a 2-2 draw at Newcastle.

Having left St James’ Park empty-handed from their last four visits, the Blues would have feared the worst after Nick Woltemade scored twice in the first half, and missed chances to complete a remarkable hat-trick.

But Chelsea’s second-half display showed real guts, with their comeback started by captain Reece James and completed by Joao Pedro – who Newcastle had hoped to sign in the summer before the Blues showed their hand.

The first-half display from Chelsea was their worst half of football of the season, worse than when they went in for half-time 2-0 down at Leeds earlier this month.

Chelsea were this time a couple of goals down a mere 20 minutes into the game, and Maresca’s decision to consign Enzo Fernandez to the bench was not paying off. Reece James was not his usual physical presence in midfield, and Malo Gusto was given a torrid time of it at right-back by Anthony Gordon and others.

Nick Woltemade bullied Chelsea’s centre-backs in that first half and could have completed his hat-trick when he passed just wide of the post in the 45th minute having already netted twice.

Newcastle had a catalogue of chances. All Chelsea had was a complete inability to progress the ball out from defence and through midfield into the final third. It appeared as though the game was over before it had really begun.

Maresca’s half-time team talk must have worked, though. Chelsea came out for the second 45 with greater bite and an intensity that now matched Newcastle’s — something sorely lacking before the interval.

“I could see from the bench that the plan we prepared was the right one,” Maresca explained afterwards. “My message at half-time was to continue doing what we’re doing.”

James’s wonderful free-kick gave the Blues a lifeline, and it sparked them into life for their finest period of a bruising game.