Sky Sports notice a paradox as Chelsea improve without Jackson on the pitch | OneFootball

Chelsea are putting up a brave fight against Newcastle at St James’ Park, but with time ticking away it looks like it might be for nothing.

The home team scored early and Nicolas Jackson then picked up a red card, which looked to have sealed our fate. But as some of the commentators noticed, the Blues actually played better after the red.

Chelsea look stronger with ten in strange paradox

“It’s as if Jackson’s dismissal has harmed Newcastle more than Chelsea,” wrote Sky Sports’ Pete Gill.

“Newcastle surely wouldn’t have been as passive as this if they were playing against eleven rather than ten, but you can’t help but wonder what the scoreline would be if Chelsea had a centre-forward on the pitch to capitalise on all this possession and all these balls into the box.”

It’s something of a paradox then – Newcastle wouldn’t be so passive and wouldn’t be giving away so many chances if Chelsea had 11 players on the pitch. But Chelsea would be more likely to score the chances if they still had a striker.

Blues take back control without creating chances

Cole Palmer looks to the skies in frustration as Chelsea blow it against Newcastle. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

There’s no doubt that Chelsea improved after half time, when Enzo Maresca made some changes to his setup to make up for the lack of Jackson. It produced some better possession and control, without actually helping us threaten much:

“Got to commend Chelsea for the attempted fightback, they have stuck at it with a player less. But I can’t remember Nick Pope making a meaningful save? Maybe from the Cucurella strike – nothing clear cut, though,” Laura Hunter wrote for Sky.

We needed to play well from minute one, however. Not from minute 45. This one really, really hurts.