Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has expressed his joy that his team’s persistence and hardwork hardwork eventually paid off after Blues victory over Newcastle.

Marcos Alonso’s 73rd goal was all Chelsea needed to secure the three points at stake after several misses in front of goal.

Speaking after the match, Lampard said: “Yeah, credit to Newcastle, you can see why they’ve got a couple of big results this year. They’re organised, men behind the ball, a threat on the counter attack and in the first half we were a little bit safe and a little bit slow.

“We moved the ball side-to-side but not with enough urgency and not enough risk to take people out of the game. That was the message at half time and for the majority of the second half we did that, we were good.

“We created a lot, the combinations were good, we played between the lines more. People were going one-v-one, Callum, Willian, Christian when he came on, and there should have been more goals. It would have made the last ten minutes more comfortable.”

“Delighted. If there was a worry it was that the international break might have cut out momentum and we’d forget the good thing we were doing to get those results. But particularly in the second half you saw a spirit and energy in the team.

“Every game now we need to go back to basics and keep trying to pick up those wins, because it’s a tough league when you see the results around you realise how tough it is. You take nothing for granted. Today it was tough, we had a bit of a problem and we solved it with the way we played in the second half.”

The Blues boss stated he was pleased his boys kept playing and not panic despite their inability to find the back of the net before Marcos Alonso’s 73rd minute goal.

His words: “I’m pleased with that. The players need to be brave and confident. It’s a great sign of the squad when subs come on and make such a difference. Kovacic was outstanding when you’re talking about taking people out of the game, centrally, creating opportunities.

“Christian came on in a position just behind Tammy and started to turn and get at people, which created the goal. So, I’m pleased.

“That’s the way we are. We have to play like that. We’re not going to go long unless it’s an option needed to change things up. It could have been an option we needed later on today but we got our reward.”

On Callum Hudson-Odoi? “I thought he was good, really good. I agree. In terms of product on the wing and taking people on. He looked sharp, getting at people. A big threat. I am really pleased with that.

“The end product will come even more with Callum, another young player. So coming inside and getting his shots away, he was giving them a big problem so it was great to see and for the fans to see. Callum needs to carry on doing that.

“There is the other side of the game, off the ball. He knows that he can get better at that, and he will do. There are glimpses today of some of the special stuff he has got.”

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