Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has pinpointed Chelsea captain Reece James as the decisive figure who transformed a thrilling Premier League encounter at St James' Park on Saturday.
Shearer's Verdict on the Game-Changing Moment
The match saw Newcastle seize control with two first-half goals from Nick Woltemade, putting the home side in a commanding position. The momentum shifted dramatically in the 66th minute, however, after James stepped up to score a stunning 25-yard free-kick.
"If you ever need evidence of goals changing games, that's exactly what happened to Chelsea following Reece James' free-kick," Shearer told the Premier League's official website. "It just flipped. Newcastle couldn't get near that Chelsea team [after James' goal]."
The iconic former striker elaborated, praising Chelsea's improved tempo and width. "Chelsea moved it a lot quicker, they had more width, their wingers got into the game and started asking questions. They didn't do that in the first half."
James Reflects on a Crucial Strike
James's spectacular set-piece was a landmark goal. It was the first direct free-kick scored against Newcastle in the Premier League since Raheem Sterling netted one for Chelsea at the same ground in November 2023.
Remarkably, the Chelsea skipper now has two league goals this season, equalling his combined total from the previous three campaigns. Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle, James expressed his delight at delivering when it mattered.
"To execute one when we needed to pull something out of the bag was a great feeling," James said. "It's a difficult place to come, many teams come here and the atmosphere gets the better of a lot of teams. It's important when you can't win, not to lose."
Manager Praise and Second-Half Resurgence
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca was full of praise for his captain's influential display. "[It was a] top performance," Maresca stated in his post-match press conference. "He played for an hour as a midfielder and for the last half an hour, he was a full-back. We are happy for him."
James himself analysed the match as "a game of two halves," acknowledging Newcastle's superiority before the break. "Second half we had to review it, change a few things, and we started the second half quick. It turned quickly," he explained.
The captain revealed the half-time team talk focused on greater demand and effort, specifically addressing the need to win more second balls. Joao Pedro's 66th-minute equaliser, following James' free-kick, secured a hard-earned point for the Blues in a pulsating contest.
