Graeme Jones explains tactics in Newcastle United defeat

Relegation-threatened Newcastle United were beaten 3-0 by the Premier League leaders on Saturday.

Jones’s side had defended deeply, and in numbers, up to the 65th minute, when Chelsea got their breakthrough through a Reece James strike – and the club’s caretaker head coach admitted after the game that the priority was stopping the visitors.

“It’s not a style of football the fans are accustomed to,” said Jones, whose side had one shot on target. “We want to attack people, we want to score goals, but this is the stage we’re in. We haven’t kept enough clean sheets this season, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what the need is at the minute.

“I think the priority is to stop conceding goals. That’s an absolute priority. I don’t worry about the other end of the pitch.”