An impending battle against relegation was no doubt on Rafa Benitez and Newcastle United’s minds on Sunday as they lost 3-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Despite being at home, the Blues found enough space twice in the first-half to feed Michy Batshuayi via Eden Hazard and Pedro’s pacey build-up work.
Both times the Belgian striker buried the ball in the back of the net from the far-post, the second of which required a looping deflection off Jamaal Lascelles to beat Karl Darlow in the Magpies’ goal.
Newcastle failed to come out with any kind of a game plan in the second period and Chelsea sealed their place in Monday’s draw thanks to a curling Marcos Alonso free-kick in the 71st minute.