Newcastle United inched closer to Champions League qualification as they battled to a crucial 2-0 home win over Chelsea, who had Nicolas Jackson sent off.

The teams entered Sunday's mammoth clash at St James' Park level on 63 points in fourth and fifth respectively, only ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference after Unai Emery's men beat Bournemouth on Saturday.

It was Eddie Howe's Magpies that took a huge step towards sealing a top-five spot, though they had to do things the hard way despite going ahead in the second minute.

Sandro Tonali got that goal, meeting Jacob Murphy's pinpoint cross with a slightly scuffed finish that bounced up and over Robert Sanchez. 

Chelsea's hopes took a further blow in the 35th minute, as Jackson threw a forearm into Sven Botman's head after taking his eye off a high ball. Following a VAR review, the Blues striker was dismissed for violent conduct.

However, Chelsea improved massively after half-time and had multiple chances to equalise, with the first seeing Nick Pope keep out Marc Cucurella's low drive.

Pope brilliantly touched Enzo Fernandez's deflected strike over the top as Chelsea continued to press, and substitute Reece James should have levelled when he nodded Malo Gusto's cross off-target in the 88th minute.

But the home fans could breathe a sigh of relief in the 90th minute, as Bruno Guimaraes' 20-yard effort deflected off Gusto and looped beyond the stranded Sanchez.

The win takes Newcastle above Manchester City and into third in the Premier League table. They are three points above Chelsea, who could end the weekend outside of the Champions League places.

Data debrief: Tonali's touch of gold

Tonali has found form at the perfect time for Newcastle as they chase a return to Europe's premier club competition.

This was his third goal in his last eight Premier League appearances, one more than he managed in his first 34 outings in the competition.

Four of his five goals in the Premier League have come at St James' Park, while all four at the ground have given Newcastle the lead.

His far-post finish ensured Chelsea conceded inside the opening two minutes of a Premier League match for the first time since December 2013 against Southampton, when Jay Rodriguez scored after 13 seconds.

But it was Jackson's sending-off that arguably proved even more costly for Chelsea. He received his first Premier League red card in his 65th game in the competition, and his first in any league since April 2023, for Villarreal against Real Sociedad in LaLiga.

He will now be suspended for their final two games of the season against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest – the latter could yet amount to a play-off for Champions League qualification.