We appeared to break the deadlock inside five minutes after Palmer rolled a shot into the Newcastle net following a Jackson pass, but the goal was ruled out for offside by VAR. It only proved a reprieve for the hosts as, with 18 minutes on the clock, a flowing Chelsea attack ended with Neto fizzing the ball across goal and Jackson finishing confidently.

Chances were fashioned and passed up by the Blues to add a second. Newcastle gained belief as a result and went into the interval level after Alexander Isak finished from close range.

Yet, as has often proved the case at Stamford Bridge, Palmer proved the match-winner as he drove home an effort early into the second period. Not that the Blues eased to victory from that point.

There was stout defending, a Chelsea penalty awarded and overturned by VAR, and a crucial late clearance from Reece James. But the most important thing was that come the full-time whistle, blown after almost 99 minutes, another three points were secured.

Fresh legs

After our Conference League excursion in Athens on Thursday, Maresca confirmed changes would be made to his side for Newcastle's visit. The Blues head coach was true to his word with 10 players returning to the starting XI.

Robert Sanchez was in goal, Malo Gusto began at right-back, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill were the centre-backs and Reece James captained the Blues from left-back. Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo were the midfield two while Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto – the only man to keep his place – supported Nicolas Jackson in attack.

Before the action began at Stamford Bridge, a crowd surfer in honour of Matthew Harding was displayed in the stand that adorns his name. It was 28 years this week that the Chelsea vice-chairman sadly passed away. Matthew is gone but never forgotten.

Harding's beloved Blues made an excellent start to the contest. There was an early sighter from Madueke after intelligent work to fashion the chance by Jackson, and what appeared to be our opener arrived moments later from Palmer's reliable left boot.

Jackson turned provider again as he evaded pressure and slid the ball through the Newcastle defence to the England international, who calmly slotted beyond Nick Pope. Then came a VAR check, which ruled Palmer as being offside.

Going ahead

It proved nothing more than a momentary reprieve for the visitors as with 18 minutes on the clock, the Blues went ahead – and they did so in some style. The goal started with Gusto reclaiming possession and finding Palmer, who whipped a wonderful pass behind Tino Livramento and into the path of Neto.

The Portuguese winger managed to nick the ball beyond the despairing slide tackle of Fabian Schar and fired it across the box for Jackson to finish confidently first-time.

Newcastle attempted to respond immediately and Miguel Almiron skewed a shot wide of Sanchez's goal after a clever pass over the Blues backline from Joelinton. At the other end, Neto saw an effort saved by Pope before a cross from the Portugal international couldn't be turned goalward by Gusto.

As the half progressed, Newcastle started to wrestle momentum their way. Chances then followed. The first saw Sanchez save well from Almiron after a cute pass from Livramento. Isak then guided a header wide after a Newcastle corner, delivered by Blues Academy graduate Lewis Hall.

They were warning shots that were not heeded and, just after the half-hour mark, the Magpies levelled. A Newcastle attack saw Harvey Barnes knock the ball on to the overlapping Hall, whose cross was touched home from close range by Isak. After a VAR check for offside, the goal stood.

Maresca's side needed a response of their own and after Caicedo flashed a shot over the crossbar Neto forced Pope into a save with an effort from the edge of the box. Aside from a Dan Burn header which did not trouble Sanchez, it proved the last chance of the half.

Back in front

The challenge for Chelsea after the break was to replicate the fast start of the opening 45 minutes. The Blues did that and reclaimed the lead as a result.

There was still much work to do for Palmer when Lavia nudged the ball in his direction just inside the Newcastle half but the 22-year-old advanced, was given room to shoot and drove an effort inside Pope's near post for his seventh goal of the campaign.

There was no let-up and we came close to a third when Madueke dug out a cross, which Neto met well at the back post. The winger rose above Livramento and his header beat Pope, yet the ball struck the post and bounced clear.

Madueke was then presented with an opportunity of his own after another driving run forward from Jackson. The England international cut inside onto his stronger left foot before angling a shot through Hall's legs. Pope, however, saved without trouble.

Both sides soon turned to their substitutes' bench. From a Chelsea perspective, Mykhailo Mudryk, who scored and assisted twice against Panathinaikos, replaced Madueke.

One of the players introduced by Newcastle, Joe Willock, had an immediate impact as he produced a cross to the back post for Isak. The Sweden international guided a header toward the corner but James covered the back post well to block and Colwill scrambled the ball clear.

Maresca made another alteration as Lavia, not yet fit to play 90 minutes, was replaced by Enzo Fernandez. Marc Cucurella and Christopher Nkunku were introduced soon after, with Gusto and Jackson replaced.

Before that double change had been made, however, Newcastle had an excellent opportunity to restore parity when Fofana's attempted header back to Sanchez was intercepted by Isak, who rounded the goalkeeper and advanced at goal. Colwill did brilliantly to cover the goal and held up the striker long enough for Caicedo to get back and tackle.

It proved a vital moment for the Blues – and we came close to adding a third when Palmer and Nkunku dovetailed to fashion a chance for Mudryk, whose powerful drive at goal was batted away by Pope.

As the game ticked into its 90th minute, a burst into the Newcastle penalty area ended with Nkunku going down under pressure from Burn. Referee Simon Hooper pointed to the spot but was then sent to the monitor and the decision was overturned.

It created a nervy end for Chelsea as Newcastle flooded men forward. With one of their final attacks, a flighted pass found Willock at the back post, and he headed the ball back across goal. Isak was waiting but James produced a diving header to clear the ball over his own crossbar.

One more corner defended and victory was guaranteed for Maresca's side.

What it means

After nine Premier League matches, and prior to Arsenal's clash with Liverpool, the Blues have moved up to fourth in the table.

What comes next

A quick turnaround for both sides as we meet again in the Carabao Cup fourth round at St James' Park on Wednesday night.

The Teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto (Cucurella 78), Fofana, Colwill, James (c); Lavia (Fernandez 71), Caicedo; Madueke (Mudryk 67), Palmer, Neto; Jackson (Nkunku 78)
Unused substitutes: Jorgensen, Tosin, Veiga, Joao Felix, Sancho
Goalscorers: Jackson 18, Palmer 47
Booked: Fofana 11, Lavia 54, Madueke 65, Sanchez 84, Neto 88, Maresca 95, Nkunku 95

Newcastle United (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall (Kelly 89); Joelinton (Osula 89), Tonali (Longstaff 68), Guimaraes (c); Almiron (Murphy 68), Isak, Barnes (Willock 68)
Unused substitutes: Vlachododimos, Ruddy, Krafth, Miley
Goalscorers: Isak 32
Booked: Schar 22, Longstaff 90

Attendance: 39,526