Eddie Howe responds to Newcastle fans who BOOED his substitution of Sandro Tonali in 2-1 defeat by Chelsea

Eddie Howe was booed by Newcastle supporters for substituting Sandro Tonali but insisted it is not his fault, as the onus is on the Italian midfielder to make himself undroppable.

Howe hooked Tonali after 68 minutes at Stamford Bridge with the visitors trailing 2-1 after goals from Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer.

‘I understand the supporters love Sandro and want to see him stay on the pitch but every decision I make is to the benefit of the team,’ Howe said. 

‘Also with a view of the horizon and the games we have to come.

‘Sandro can only do his bit in influencing the game that much that he becomes indispensable in my opinion to the team. I think there is more to come from him.’

Howe hooked Tonali after 68 minutes at Stamford Bridge with the visitors trailing 2-1

Enzo Maresca’s side will pay yet another FA fine – this time worth £75,000 – after becoming the first team in Premier League history to pick up at least six cautions in three separate games

Meanwhile, Chelsea will be forced to pay yet another FA fine – this time worth £75,000 – after becoming the first team in Premier League history to pick up at least six cautions in three separate games in a season.

Enzo Maresca’s side paid £25,000 for breaking the six-card ceiling in a 1-0 win at Bournemouth, and £50,000 for reoffending in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. 

Yesterday’s latest infringement takes their total outlay on cautions to £150,000 this term.