Anthony Gordon’s goal for Newcastle United secured points in the Premier League with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge to ensure the home team’s poor season ended in disappointment while the visitors finished fourth.
Newcastle will be looking to strengthen their squad for next season while Chelsea, who are stranded at the bottom of the table, will look to shrink the squad.
It took just nine minutes for Gordon to score, latching on to a cross from Allan Saint-Maximin in a shambles defence.
Chelsea, whose 12th-place finish with 44 points was their worst since 1994, equalized in the 27th minute when Kieran Trippier scored an own goal.
Newcastle dominated the first half and Chelsea, as so often this season, missed a lot of chances in the second half.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said his side were happy after the draw after being tired in the second half. They ended the season with 71 points.
“We are very happy not to lose if we can’t win. We are completely overwhelmed and maybe lacking on the bench,” said Howe.
Newcastle will be playing in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years and need to expand their squad for next season.
“We have to prove ourselves again and if we can add a player or two. We will have our eyes and ears all over the place,” said Howe. “The market will be very difficult.”
Chelsea will be looking to reduce the squad, their spending sprawled by an estimated £600 million ($757.26 million) by their new owners who bought the club last year.
Chelsea have played under three coaches this season after first Thomas Tuchel then Graham Potter were sacked.
Frank Lampard has one win in 11 games as caretaker coach and leaving with the club confirmed the appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino.
“I don’t like to lose and we lose too many,” said Lampard. “Standards have dropped. I can say that now because this is my last game.
“One of the biggest challenges is dealing with so many players, some of them don’t work hard enough. It’s challenging but also fun because of the feeling I have for the club.”
Lampard, who was applauded by the crowd as he walked onto the pitch, played for Chelsea for 13 years and was their record scorer. “I am connected to the club for life,” he said.
