Chelsea may have dominated possession and created several good chances away to Newcastle United but it ultimately counted for little as the Blues exited the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 defeat at St James' Park.

A slip from Renato Veiga contributed to Newcastle taking the lead midway through the first half thanks to Alexander Isak, and it was 2-0 three minutes later when Axel Disasi diverted the ball into his own net.

Chelsea enjoyed 68 per cent of possession, had more shots on target and saw a number of goal-bound efforts blocked, but it was to be Eddie Howe's side's night and they progress to the quarter-finals.

Wholesale changes

As has been customary in cup competitions this season, Maresca made 11 alterations to his starting line-up at St James' Park.

Filip Jorgensen started in goal, with Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile and Marc Cucurella in front of him.

Cucurella was used as an inverted full-back, moving into midfield when in possession alongside Renato Veiga and Enzo Fernandez, who was the most central of the three.

It meant the Blues were lining up in a 3-3-4 formation when on the ball, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall wide right and Mykhailo Mudryk on the left, either side of Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix.

Early chances

There was a frantic start to the game as Chelsea forced a save after just 60 seconds. A break from deep by Nkunku saw the ball rebound into the path of Dewsbury-Hall 18 yards out but his shot was too central and easily saved.

The home side then went even closer moments later when a cross from the right picked out Joelinton at the far post and his first-time effort struck the outside of the woodwork.

The Blues went close again inside the opening ten minutes as Cucurella got to the byline and cut the ball back, with Veiga's goal-bound shot from close to the penalty spot diverted out for a corner.

The goalmouth action slowed during the next ten minutes before Joao Felix flashed a shot over the bar from outside the box after some good pressing and neat footwork.

Double blow

But it was to be Newcastle who took the lead midway through the first half when Veiga went down under pressure from Joelinton on the edge of his box and his pass went astray, resulting in Isak receiving a pass unmarked 12 yards out and coolly finding the bottom corner.

And it was 2-0 three minutes later when a Isak cross from the left was deflected into the box by the head of Veiga and Joe Willock's header was turned into his own net by the back-tracking Disasi close to his goalline.

Chelsea created a good opening ten minutes before the break when Veiga's line-splitting pass found Joao Felix and he played a one-two with Mudryk before the Portuguese's side-footed shot from the corner of the six-yard box was blocked for a corner.

Mudryk then passed for Joao Felix to have another attempt at goal, this time from outside the area, as the 24-year-old's powerful low drive was parried away just beyond the outstretched leg of Dewsbury-Hall.

There was still time in the first half for Joao Felix to force another save. Fernandez's clipped ball forward was well held up by Nkunku and he laid it off to the former Atletico Madrid man, whose low shot was heading for the bottom corner but Nick Pope managed to stretch and make the save.

Newcastle almost grabbed a third with the final kick of the half as a mistake from Badiashile allowed Gordon to get in behind and his well-hit cross to the back post reached Willock but he was unable to direct his shot on target.

Going close

It looked as though Cucurella was asked to play higher up the pitch at the start of the second half and it contributed to Chelsea almost grabbing an early goal. Fernandez picked out the run of the Spaniard and his pull-back from the byline was well controlled by Nkunku ten yards out. The striker's shot was destined for the bottom corner but for an exceptional goal-saving block from Lloyd Kelly.

Chelsea were pilling on the pressure and Dewsbury-Hall had another goal-bound effort from the edge of the area blocked by a great block, this time from Blues Academy graduate Lewis Hall, after a punch from Pope.

The impressive blocks kept coming as after more good play down the left, Nkunku was unable to direct Mudryk's low cross towards goal and Cucurella thumped a shot from ten yards but Joelinton made another intervention.

For all of Chelsea's pressure, it was Newcastle who had the ball in the net next, when Dan Burn headed in moments after coming on as substitute. Fortunately for the Blues, it was ruled out for offside.

And it looked as though it could be a sliding doors moment when just a minute later Tosin picked out the run of Joao Felix with an exceptional pass but the forward's flick past the on-rushing Pope trickled just wide of the far post.

Newcastle weren't attacking often but when they did, the home side carried a threat, with substitute William Osula striking the outside of the post with a 20-yard drive.

The Blues continued to push for a way back into the game, with Madueke having a shot blocked and Veiga forcing Pope into a save with a shot from outside the box, but the Magpies were able to hold on for victory.

What it means

Chelsea's defeat means it will be Newcastle who progress to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

The draw is set to take place after Tottenham Hotspur versus Manchester City, which kicked off half an hour after our game, and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

What next

Chelsea's focus will quickly turn to Sunday's Premier League clash away to Manchester United, with a home Conference League clash against Noah to follow on Thursday 7 November.

The teams

Newcastle United starting XI: Pope; Krafth, Schär, Kelly, Hall (Burn 72); Longstaff, Joelinton, Tonali (Miley 90+2); Gordon (Livramento 72), Isak (Osula 63), Willock (Guimarães 63)
Substitutes not used: Dúbravka, Barnes, Almirón, Murphy
Goalscorers: Isak 23, Disasi OG 26
Bookings: Schar 16, Longstaff 19, Gordon 52, Pope 55

Chelsea starting XI: Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Cucurella; Veiga, Fernandez; Dewsbury-Hall (Madueke 57), Joao Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku
Substitutes not used Bergstrom, Bettinelli, Colwill, Chilwell, Casadei, Chukwuemeka, Palmer, Guiu
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Badiashile 27, Joao Felix 85

Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Attendance: 51,934