Chelsea forward Joao Pedro haunted former suitors Newcastle United as his side showed their powers of recovery to come back from 2-0 down and claim a point.
It looked a long way back for Chelsea at a raucous St James’ Park after a well-taken double from Nick Woltemade put Newcastle in control at half-time.
But no side have dropped more points – 13 – from winning positions in the Premier League than Newcastle.
So the stadium suddenly felt a little nervy when Chelsea captain Reece James pulled one back with a pinpoint 25-yard free-kick just a few minutes into the second half.
It then turned a little hostile when Newcastle were denied a penalty after Trevoh Chalobah bodychecked Anthony Gordon inside the box before Chelsea equalised.
Joao Pedro, who opted to move to Chelsea ahead of Newcastle last summer, drew his side level. The Brazilian raced through on goal and slotted the ball past Aaron Ramsdale after capitalising on a slip from defender Malick Thiaw.
It set up a grandstand finish as the game became increasingly stretched and Harvey Barnes had a glorious opportunity to win it for Newcastle late on, but the substitute fired wide on the volley to leave head coach Eddie Howe covering his face with his hands on the touchline.
Chelsea remain six points clear of Newcastle in fourth while Howe’s side are in 11th for the time being.
Newcastle analysis: Points dropped even after Woltemade rallies
You never quite know what you are going to get with this Newcastle side.
But Howe’s team certainly looked like their old selves in the first half and they got their reward for an aggressive start as Woltemade bounced back on his first start since putting through his own net in the derby defeat against Sunderland last week.
Although Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made a superb reflex save to keep out Gordon’s acrobatic volley from inside the box, the ball fell into the path of Woltemade, who smashed it into the roof of the net from close range.
Woltemade then doubled his side’s lead when he deftly stuck out his big boot to divert Gordon’s searching cross from the left into the bottom corner and score his seventh goal of the season.
It gave Newcastle the perfect platform at the break, but this side were not the same relentless outfit after the break.
Newcastle ended up ruing yet more dropped points – which has been the story of their season – and one or two refereeing calls to boot.
Indeed, there was little festive cheer inside St James’ at full-time as referee Andy Madley and his officials let the field to deafening boos.
