'We're just getting knocked by ourselves'
- Published
Referee Andy Madley and the officials felt the full force of the crowd as they walked off the field to a soundtrack of deafening boos at full-time. But Newcastle United players and staff were ultimately left with a familiar "hollow" feeling in the words of Eddie Howe.
No other side have now dropped more points – 13 - from winning positions in the Premier League this season.
"Every time we're stepping forward, we're just getting knocked by ourselves," the Newcastle head coach said. "We have to try and end that trend."
This felt like a tale of two halves. Newcastle looked back to their aggressive selves in the first, and Nick Woltemade grabbed a second goal to give the hosts what should have been a commanding lead at half-time.
Yet Chelsea were far from out of it against a team that had failed to keep a clean sheet in the league since 5 October.
"We knew if we got one, the second one, for sure, was there," captain Reece James tellingly told TNT Sports.
James led the fightback with a sublime 25-yard free-kick just a few minutes into the second half. It was not just the momentum that shifted from that moment; so, too, did the mood inside the stadium.
It suddenly felt a little nervy. Was history about to repeat itself against another member of the established order?
Tottenham Hotspur were 2-1 down at St James' in the 94th minute earlier this month yet the visitors still got a point after a late equaliser. Arsenal were 1-0 down in the 83rd minute in September, but the league leaders still won the game 2-1.
Although Liverpool were level in the ninth minute of stoppage time, in August, the champions still managed to score a dramatic winner in a 3-2 victory.
Sure enough, Chelsea went on to level through Joao Pedro, who capitalised on a slip from defender Malick Thiaw.
By full-time, Howe was fielding familiar queries about game management and more dropped points.
"We have to accept that's what's happened this season and it's really hindered us and really cost us," he added.
