Newcastle denied glory, but settle for 2-2 draw vs. Chelsea

Newcastle United were denied a first Barclays Premier League win, but gave Chelsea all it could handle in a 2-2 draw Saturday at St. James Park.

The Magpies got a goal in the first half on a brilliant individual settle and one-timed goal by Ayoze Perez. Georginio Wijnaldum doubled Newcastle's lead in the second half when he finished off a corner from Perez.

But with 22 minutes remaining and Newcastle defending for its life, Chelsea got a lifeline when substitute Ramires unleashed a long-distance rocket that left Tim Krul no chance.

Newcastle still had a chance to take all three, but Chelsea won a soft free kick and Willian whipped in a cross toward Ramires. He did not connect, but his presence put off Krul enough for the ball to go into the back of the net.

The match was 2-2 in the 88th minute, Chelsea was full of confidence and Newcastle now were forced to hang on.

It took a top-draw save by Krul to do that when he denied Ramires header after Moussa Sissoko gave away another poor free kick.

Newcastle won a corner late in injury time, but instead of playing it in the box, Perez and Gabriel Obertan worked it short twice to try and burn time.

In the end, it was just enough for Newcastle to garner its first point since its draw against Manchester United.

The losing streak has stopped, but the wait for a win goes and Manchester City awaits.

When the first words heard before a match begins is the commentator saying Newcastle on pace for its worst start since 1898, it underlines the desperation of the situation.

Newcastle gave a league debut to Kevin Mbabu at right back and he delivered a very good first half. And it was Mbabu who created the Magpies first chance on 12 minutes when he took the ball, cut right into the middle to create some space and took a long-distance shot. It was a very tame effort, but was still widely applauded by the fans at St. James Park because of his willingness to try it.

It signaled what Newcastle's effort and desire would be in the entirety of the first half.

Prior to Mbabu's shot on goal, Chelsea forward Loic Remy nearly put the visitors in front, not that he would've known much about it. His deflection off a fired in cross from Branislav Ivanovic nearly found the mark, causing many in attendance at SJP and watching around the world to lose their breath for a second.

But Newcastle kept driving forward with Moussa Sissoko and Perez trying their luck from long distance. Scissors' shot narrowly missed wide left and Perez's daisy cutter did not find the mark.

Newcastle looked to have got its breakthrough when a battling move by Jack Colback got the ball to Darryl Janmaat who teed up for Perez for a one-timer that was saved. The ball eventually returned to Janmaat, who also fired at Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic, but again the Blues keeper was up the challenge.

The Magpies smoke finally turned to fire in the 42nd minute. A spell of pressure by Newcastle eventually led to a throw in and long ball into the box by Vernon Anita to Perez. The spaniard had it all to do between two Chelsea defenders, but was able to settle and one-time his shot, which hit off the inside of the left post and cannoned in the net for his first goal of the season.

Newcastle doubled its advantage with Wijnaldum's goal, but were continually pushed back in its own end.

Again it was a brilliant shot by Ramires that gave Chelsea life. The Blues pushed on from there to get the equalizer.

The Magpies held on for a draw, but it has to feel like it was points dropped today. Still, if you told Steve McClaren and his team pre-match that Newcastle would break their goal drought and get a draw against the Champions, they would probably have taken it.