EPL

Potter laments poor attacking display after Chelsea slump to Newcastle defeat

By Sports Desk November 12, 2022

Graham Potter felt Chelsea lacked the quality to get themselves back in the game against Newcastle United.

Chelsea managed just two shots on target as Joe Willock's stunner earned Newcastle all three points in a 1-0 win at St James' Park on Saturday.

The closest Potter's side came was Conor Gallagher forcing a decent stop from Nick Pope, with their 17 goals in 14 Premier League this term their fewest at this stage of a season since 2015-16, when they went on to finish 10th.

Potter becomes the first Chelsea manager to lose three straight league matches since Jose Mourinho in 2015, and the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss was frustrated with his team's attacking display.

"There were too many errors," Potter told Sky Sports. "We had the quality to play through but lacked that last bit.

"Newcastle are very confident. We got back into it a bit second half with Conor's effort but then they scored. They put you under pressure with high intensity.

"We tried but in the end lacked the quality to get the goal we needed. We need to do more to come away to say we deserved anything."

Potter responded to Willock's goal by using his three remaining substitutions, bringing on Hakim Ziyech, Marc Cucurella and Kai Havertz.

Potter felt these changes were needed and that they did have a positive impact, even in defeat, adding: "We had to make the change in the second half as they were overrunning us.

"We needed an extra man in midfield. We responded quite well. As soon as we are 1-0 down it is about fresh legs.

"It was a tight game, [with] not many chances. This is a tough place to come. It is not nice for us. We are in a bad moment."

This string of losses has come in the final three league games before the Premier League pauses for the World Cup.

Potter will use the break to take stock of his opening months in the job, explaining: "There won't be many of us. A lot of the guys go away, but those that remain will work and go again.

"We have had a tough period and there have been a lot of positives but also some negatives. Sometimes you have to accept the struggles you have.

"It is about regrouping and starting again. It is the second half of the season and there is a long way to go."

Related items

  • Al Ahli 1-2 Al Hilal: Malcom saves league leaders' winning streak Al Ahli 1-2 Al Hilal: Malcom saves league leaders' winning streak

    Malcom’s stunning solo goal finished Al Hilal’s second-half comeback to earn a 2-1 win over Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on Monday.

    The forward started his run from inside his own half before slotting in the winner, after teeing up Aleksandr Mitrovic for the equaliser just after the interval.

    Feras Al Brikan had given Al Ahli the lead in the 30th minute, but the hosts could not hold onto it against the league leaders.

    Al Hilal continue their unbeaten league campaign to a 30th match, moving 12 points clear at the top of the table, while Al Ahli remain in third, now 22 points off the AFC Champions League spot.

    Data Debrief

    Malcom was one of Al Hilal's most influential players; as well as playing a hand in both goals, he had the joint-most shots (five), and the joint-most shots on target (two), and created two chances for his team.

    Al Ahli also struggled to cope with Mitrovic's threat, as the Serbian created an xG of 0.61 from his five shots, having 11 touches in the opposition box.

  • Ronaldo delivers another hat-trick as Al Nassr ease past Al Wedha Ronaldo delivers another hat-trick as Al Nassr ease past Al Wedha

    Cristiano Ronaldo crafted a decisive hat-trick as Al Nassr hammered Al Wedha 6-0 in Saturday's Saudi Pro League meeting.

    Portugal veteran Ronaldo found the net twice in the first 12 minutes at Al Awal Park before completing his treble after the interval.

    Sadio Mane teed up Ronaldo's third finish, as well as an 18th-minute strike from Otavio, who returned the favour for the Senegal international to score on the stroke of half-time.

    Mohammed Al Fatil added a late sixth as Al Nassr recorded their seventh straight league win since their March 7 loss against Al Raed, moving them back within nine points of leaders Al Hilal.

    Jorge Jesus's Al Hilal swept Al Tauwoon aside in a 3-0 away triumph on Friday for their fourth straight victory across all competitions.

    Talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium before Saud Abdulhamid and Saleh Alsherhi wrapped up a win that kept Al Hilal in charge of the title race.

    There was no such fortune for fifth-placed Al Ittihad as they fell to a third straight defeat in all competitions after a 3-1 loss away against Abha.

    Jota levelled after Grzegorz Krychowiak's 57th-minute penalty, only for Hassan Al-Ali and Fabian Noguera to power hosts Abha to a comfortable win.

  • Burnley boss Kompany demands never-say-die attitude as Premier League relegation looms Burnley boss Kompany demands never-say-die attitude as Premier League relegation looms

    Vincent Kompany refused to admit defeat as Burnley slipped closer to Premier League relegation after a 4-1 thrashing by Newcastle United at Turf Moor.

    The Clarets' heavy defeat, coupled with Nottingham Forest's 3-1 win over Sheffield United on Saturday, leaves Burnley five points adrift of safety with just two games remaining.

    Burnley's loss was their 22nd in the Premier League this season (W5 D9), only in 2009-10 (24) and 1975-76 (23) have the Clarets lost more times in a Football League campaign.

    Yet Kompany attempted to find the positives in the performance, suggesting there is still a chance his side take it to the final day against fellow relegation-battlers Forest.

    "In the end I am not beaten or defeated by it personally in terms of my attitude," said Kompany.

    "They are a good side with phenomenal attacking players, midfielders comfortable on the ball and aggressive in other situations.

    "We never let this game die, the result and score was done but we kept going, kept threatening and that is all I can ask my players to do.

    "For us, we have to look at that [next] Tottenham game as the final game of the season. If the opposition teams lose and we win, what are you going to write then? That's all it is.

    "If they lose and we win, all of a sudden we have a different discussion before the next game. If we get a bonus with a game against Forest, then that's our final, that's how we have to look at it."

    Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak – the latter who saw a second-half penalty saved, too – were all on target in a home humbling for Burnley.

    Dara O'Shea's late consolation goal mattered for little as this disappointing result was made more painful by Forest winning at Bramall Lane.

    Nuno Espirito Santo's 17th-placed side fell behind to Ben Brereton Diaz's penalty, only for Callum Hudson Odoi's brace and a second-half finish from Ryan Yates to save the day.

    Blades manager Chris Wilder was left aggrieved, though, as his already-relegated United wanted a free-kick for a foul on Brereton Diaz in the build-up to Yates' goal that made it 2-1.

    "I will let you put two and two together. I think it is a pretty easy, comfortable decision for everybody to make because of the situation," Wilder said, seemingly referencing Forest's recent problems with refereeing.

    "I will let you decide on that situation. I'm not going to get dragged into that debate, a foul is a foul, whether it is a push in any part of the pitch.

    “For me it is a foul, people tell me the game has moved on, you could say Ben needs to be stronger, but there is no need for him to go down like that, you can see he has two hands in his back.

    "They score from that opportunity, we go 2-1 down."

    Forest's top-flight safety could be secure before they face Chelsea next Saturday, with Burnley needing victory away against Tottenham to take their survival hopes to the final day.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.