Four points from Chelsea and Newcastle has to be viewed as a good return,  the performances have been good this week but three big games coming up over the next ten days against Burnley, Norwich and Watford which will probably have the final say in our destiny. Sunday’s marks:

 

Fabianski 6 – yet again no chance with either goal nor a requirement to pull off any worldies

 

Fredericks 7 – credit where it’s due, after some recent shaky performances this was solid and gave Newcastle little room down his wing

 

Diop 7 – some important headers away and distribution was better than of late

 

Ogbonna 6.5 – generally did well but got ball watching for the home side’s opener, as ever some well-timed tackles

 

Cresswell 6.5 – got forward more this match and despite some tests down his wing did reasonably well

 

Soucek 7 – got forward well in this game, becoming an increasingly important part of this team, a well taken goal and on another day may have had two

 

Rice 7.5 – another hard running all energy performance, always looking to get the ball forward, header against bar created our second

 

Lanzini 5.5 – never really got going, lost possession cheaply a number of times

 

Fornals 6 – did well to assist in opening goal and plenty of yards covered, but culpable for hanging back for the home side’s second half equaliser and playing them well onside

 

Bowen 6.5 – drifted in and out the match but decent delivery for opening goal, unlucky with shot late in first half, and well taken corners including the one for our second goal

 

Antonio 6 – cannot be blamed for looking a tad tired after Wednesday night’s efforts, took his goal ever so well

 

Subs:

Noble (for Lanzini, 57 mins) 6 –  a couple of time slowed down our movement going forward otherwise calmly kept things ticking over

Yarmolenko (for Fornals, 75 mins) 6.5 – worked hard up and down the right wing and unlucky with a sweet strike straight at the keeper

Written by : Jonathan Lee