More pressure on Benitez as Chelsea lose

Newcastle 3 Chelsea 2

Chelsea were sent tumbling to defeat at St James’ Park by Moussa Sissoko’s last-gasp goal.

They hit back after Jonas Gutierrez’s opener, with Frank Lampard equalising five minutes into the second half and Juan Mata putting them ahead six minutes later.

But the outstanding Sissoko, making his home debut. levelled for Newcastle and scored again at the death to give them a dramatic victory.

The result will do nothing to ease the pressure on Rafael Benitez amid speculation over whether the Blues’ interim manager will last in the job until the end of the season.

And it was an unhappy return to Tyneside for Demba Ba.

The striker’s first game against the Magpies since his £7m move ended when he was forced off after taking a boot in the face from his former team-mate Fabricio Coloccini late in the first half.

The incident occurred as Ba almost put the European champions ahead.

He was sent through by Lampard and after his shot was saved by keeper Tim Krul, Ba headed the rebound narrowly wide and was accidentally hurt by Coloccini in the process.

Worse followed for Chelsea when their hesitant defending was punished by Gutierrez, who headed home David Santone’s cross four minutes before the interval.

Chelsea, with Fernando Torres on in Ba’s place, replied with a fine goal by Lampard.

The veteran midfielder went past Yohan Cabaye after collecting Ashley Cole’s pass and then sent a 25-yard effort beyond Krul, who was beaten again when Mata netted after being found by Torres.

But Newcastle were level on 68 minutes, Sissoko tapping in after Papiss Cisse’s shot had been parried by keeper Petr Cech.

And Sissoko had the final word, crashing in the winner after being set up by Santone.

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Mata, Bertrand, Ba (Torres 43).
Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Marin, Azpilicueta, Benayoun, Ake.

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