Mikel did not do well enough says Alan Shearer

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has blamed Nigeria international, Mikel Obi for Chelsea’s 2-1 loss at Newcastle on Saturday which ended their unbeaten run. Shearer said Mikel did not do well enough in the midfield emphasising that Jose Mourinho side missed suspended Nemanja Matic.

 “Chelsea didn’t play that well,” Shearer told BBC Sport.  “There is no doubt they missed Nemanja Matic. He has started every game for them this season but John Mikel Obi was in there against Newcastle and didn’t do as well. In the build-up to Newcastle’s second goal, Mikel dives in, Eden Hazard dives in. There is no one sitting in front of the back four.

 “That said it was a really committed Newcastle performance. They were really well organised and every player knew what job they had to do. It was a thoroughly deserved win.”

The Serbia international who has scored a goal and two assists in 14 EPL games was suspended for the trip to ‘The Magpies’ after he picked up his fifth booking of the season in a 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.