Blues boss 'disappointed' despite Newcastle EPL win

In front of watching England manager Gareth Southgate, the 21-year-old Palmer pulled the strings in midfield for the London club on Monday night (Tuesday AEDT) at Stamford Bridge.

His 11th goal this season made him the sixth Chelsea player to score in five consecutive league matches. The Blues have not lost a league game at home in the month of March since 2001.

The result cut the four-point gap between Newcastle in 10th and Chelsea in 11th to one point.

"It's a massive three points for us," Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino told Sky Sports.

"It was disappointing the way we conceded the goals, I think we need to be a bit more mature.

"This group of players are going to fight to give our fans the best things. They (the fans) need to trust in us and our performance."

Nicolas Jackson gave Chelsea the lead after six minutes when he diverted a shot from Palmer past Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Although they lost in-form winger Anthony Gordon to injury 10 minutes before halftime, the visitors fought back and eight minutes later got an equaliser when Alexander Isak found the net with a perfectly placed shot from 18 yards out.

Palmer's goal came 12 minutes into the second half, finding space just outside the Magpies' penalty area and firing home a low shot.

Substitute Mykhailo Mudryk made it 3-1 to Chelsea in the 76th, just five minutes after replacing Raheem Sterling.

Jacob Murphy got a goal back for Eddie Howe's side in the 90th but his rasping strike was not enough to stop Chelsea taking all three points and prevent Newcastle from recording their first home-and-away double over the Blues since the 1986-87 season.

"A frustrating one for us. I thought the goals we conceded were poor," Howe said.

"All three goals are similar in their characteristics and we didn't defend those situations well enough, and we are going to lose games if we don't do that."

With PA.

Australian Associated Press