Newcastle United endured another miserable loss in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, this time at the hands of Chelsea in a 3-0 drubbing at St James' Park.

Two excellent strikes from Reece James and a penalty from Jorginho were more than enough for the away team to take all three points from Tyneside. The Transfer Tavern has looked at statistical website SofaScore to analyse the three worst players for the home side on the day, outlining why their performances failed to trouble Thomas Tuchel's visitors:

Matt Ritchie

Matt Ritchie was Newcastle's third worst player to have to have played at least 45 minutes as SofaScore gave him a measly 6.3 overall rating.

The Scotland international offered little attacking threat from the left wing-back position, completing just one successful dribble and playing only one key pass.

Defensively, he failed to block any shots or make any tackles or interceptions in the game, and he found himself receiving a yellow card in the first half for time-wasting. Ritchie also lost possession of the ball nine times on what was a frustrating afternoon for him.

Emil Krafth

Krafth was rated as the Magpies' second worst starter, as SofaScore gave him a 6.2 overall rating.

A right-back by trade, the Swede struggled in the centre-back position in which Graeme Jones put him, as he lost out on three of his duels and also failed to block any shots.

He also lost possession seven times as the Magpies struggled to play out from the back.

Karl Darlow

Darlow was given a very low 5.7 rating by SofaScore and was indeed rated as Newcastle's worst player in the match.

The goalkeeper recorded a lowly 43% passing accuracy, the lowest out of any Magpies player to have started, and lost possession of the ball on 25 separate occasions, the most by far out of any player on the pitch.

With Martin Dubravka returning to the bench, Darlow may now find his starting position under threat.

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