NEWCASTLE UNITED find themselves back in the Premier League’s bottom three after they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.

Goals from Pedro and Willian sandwiched a header from Ciaran Clark as Newcastle extended their winless run to six games in all competitions – what were the main debating points from the game at Stamford Bridge?

ASHLEY RETURNS TO CENTRE-STAGE

Having returned from his festive holiday, Mike Ashley ended a two-month spell without watching a Newcastle game in person when he took up his seat in the directors’ box at Stamford Bridge.

Flanked by his trusted advisor, Justin Barnes, Ashley listened to a succession of songs from the away end urging him to “get out” of St James’ Park. The fear, for the travelling fans, is that his sudden reappearance means he has accepted there is now very little chance of him being able to sell up this season.

Even if Peter Kenyon was to come up with the money demanded by Ashley, Premier League regulations means it would be all-but-impossible to complete a takeover before the January transfer window closes. As a result, it will be Ashley making the decisions over whether to spend this month.

LONGSTAFF CATCHES THE EYE

Sean Longstaff started last weekend’s FA Cup draw with Blackburn Rovers, but this was the 21-year-old’s first start in the Premier League. Given the quality of opposition he was up against, he acquitted himself well.

Tall and athletic, Longstaff covered more ground than any other Newcastle player as he patrolled the midfield, and his long-range passing threatened to trouble the Chelsea defence.

“We knew we had problems with (Mo) Diame and (Jonjo) Shelvey, and we have a lot of confidence in him (Longstaff),” said Rafael Benitez. “We didn’t want to put him in a position that would be too much for him. We knew it would be difficult, but at the same time we had confidence he could do well.”

LEJEUNE’S RETURN IS A BOOST

Like Longstaff, Florian Lejeune also started the cup game with Blackburn, and like his young team-mate, the French centre-half was also making his first league start of the season at Stamford Bridge.

Newcastle have missed Lejuene’s assured marshalling of the backline, and he looked like he had never been away as he stuck closely to Eden Hazard all evening. With Lejeune back in the fold, Benitez is likely to stick with his current policy of playing five at the back.

“He (Lejeune) gives us something on the ball, and he helps us to play the way we want to play sometimes from the back,” said the Magpies boss. “He can play short or long, and I am happy with him coming back because he is another player and he can give us more competition.”

HIT FOR SIX BY THE BIG BOYS

Newcastle’s record against the top six this season is abject. Saturday’s game was their eighth encounter with one of the established big six this season, and they are yet to claim a point.

Admittedly, the top Premier League sides tend to beat the teams at the bottom more often than not, but it is not the case that everyone loses to the elite.

Southampton beat Arsenal last month, Crystal Palace won at Manchester City and drew with Manchester United and Arsenal, and Brighton beat Manchester United at the start of the season. All three of those sides are outside the bottom three.

CHELSEA NEED A STRIKER

Eden Hazard is one of the best players in the Premier League – but he is not a natural number nine. For all that Newcastle defended extremely well for most of Saturday’s game, Chelsea played into their hands by fielding Hazard as their central striker.

The Belgian was easily outmuscled by both Lejeune and Jamaal Lascelles, and became increasingly frustrated as he found himself drifting to the flanks to try to get on the ball. The more he moved around, the more Chelsea suffered from a lack of bodies in the box.

Maurizio Sarri is desperate to sell Alvaro Morata, and does not appear to trust Olivier Giroud, who made a four-minute substitute appearance, either. If Chelsea are to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City, it is imperative they sign a world-class centre-forward this month.