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Newcastle under pressure after Chelsea loss, says Jamie Redknapp

Andros Townsend (L) and Jonjo Shelvey (R) of Newcastle United
Image: Andros Townsend (L) and Jonjo Shelvey (R) show their disappointment

Jamie Redknapp says Newcastle are under "extreme pressure" to get results at home after their poor away form continued with defeat at Chelsea.

Steve McClaren's side were thumped 5-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday Night Football, with Andros Townsend scoring a late consolation for the visitors.

The result saw them drop into the relegation zone and they have now lost 10 of their 13 away matches in the Premier League this season.

With home matches coming up against fellow strugglers Bournemouth and Sunderland, Redknapp says the pressure is on the Magpies.

"Their home form is key," he said. "Their away form puts an extreme amount of pressure on them. They have got good players and I was expecting better from them tonight.

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Steve McClaren thinks Newcastle were out of the game within 20 minutes

"I had seen some really positive signs last week [against West Brom]. But the first 20 minutes was so disappointing and so abject. Everyone wants to play, when things are going well you can play, but it was a horror 20 minutes."

The Magpies conceded three times in the opening 17 minutes to leave themselves with a mountain to climb against the Premier League champions.

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"They did not give themselves a platform at all," said former Newcastle midfielder Scott Parker. "They were very naive in terms of the way they played, they wanted to keep playing and playing and there comes a time in a game when you have to realise it's not working for you.

Pedro (2nd L) of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal
Image: Pedro (2nd L) scored twice for Chelsea

"They have very good players but when you are around the bottom three you have to give yourself a chance and they didn't do that."

Newcastle fans are known as some of the most passionate in the league and Parker, who spent two years at St James' Park, says the home support could be key.

"They are the most passionate I have played for and, as good as they can be, they can also be a hindrance, I have been on both sides," he said.

"When you are there as an away team the first thing you are saying is 'let's keep them quiet' because the crowd will get on their case, on the other hand in the Newcastle dressing room they are saying 'we need to get the fans behind us'. So they could be a massive help for them at home."

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