Chelsea against Newcastle United

Newcastle still pressing late on in the game - Dyer tries to get a one-two passing move going but Bridge tackles and Chelsea break...

From the corner Kezman goes for the spectacular with an overhead kick, but he just gets thin air!

Hughes concedes a corner after pressure from Drogba

Foul by Bowyer on Ferreira - the ref might have let play go on then have a word with Bowyer... but he dosen't and Newcastle track back

Cech makes his first mistake of the day by overhitting his goalkick straight to opposite number Given

Newcastle restricted to one-man runs at goal - this time Dyer tears up the pitch only to be tackled with ease in the box. Chelsea imperious!

A decent move by Chelsea ends with Lampard lashing a dipping shot over the bar. Earlier in the move Drogba waited just a fraction too long to pass to the umarked Duff, who squared the ball to Lampard.

Robben tries to do it all himself, but his shot from outside the box is not strong enough to beat Given

A change for Newcastle with jst over ten minutes to go - bye-bye Robert, hello Shola Ameobi!

Another freekick - this time further out - Robert lobs it in, Kluivert throws himself at it but Cech claims the ball and clears

But when the ball comes in there is no Alan Shearer who would surely have buried the chance. Chelsea clear.

Newcastle win a freekick on the edge of the penalty area on the left of the goal...

Jenas and Robert lead a coutner-attack after Duff mis-timed a pass to Drogba

Kezman hits the post! He can't get a goal!! Duff slipped him a ball after good work by Robben, but Kezman, uttely unmarked, could only hit the woodwork and he holds his head in his hands!

Newcastle nearly threaten a chance - bit the Chelsea defence are on hand to deny the Toon

The Chelsea fans in fine, loud voice!

A superb ball from Lampard on the halfway line found Drogba. The striker was too strong for Bramble, he turned the defender to slot the ball beyond Given. He ran to the crowd shouting 'I'm back!'. Chelsea 2-up and cruising!

Another for Chelsea - Drogba!

Lampard underlines his workrate by getting back to block a Jenas shot

Chelsea flying now! Great move ending in a saved Lampard shot - Robben, Kezman and Duff all involved

Drogba goes down holding his face. Bowyer caught him in face. Not pretty, but not intentional. Which is nice to say with reagrds Bowyer...

More pressure from Chelsea. A corner disappoints, but the soon have it back!

Great play from Chelsea. Makelele chipped a ball into the box for Drogba to head down into Lampard's pass. Lamps controlled on his chest before turning and half-volleying a shot into the deck to fox Given. Great goal.

Goal for Chelsea! Lamapard!!!

Two changes for Chelsea Gallas goes off for Wayne Bridge in a straight swap, while Tiago make way for Mateja Kezman. The home side switching to a 4-4-2

A half chance for Bellamy after a decent ball Robert - but Gallas was on hand to block the chance

Bridge and Kezman look ready to make an appearnce as the Chelsea look to turn possession and dominance into goal.

Robert did want it! He whipped a shot round the wall but Cech got down quick to parry the shot and Carvalho was there to mop up and clear the danger

Makelele fouls Bowyer in a dangerous area about 30 yards out in a central position. Robert must want it...

Ronny Johnsen quickly tackles Drogba in the box - great defending

Jenas gets a talking to for a strong tackle on Lampard - but no booking

A few spicy tackles flying, but the ref lets them go

Great control from Drogba to bring down a long ball from the back, but it wouldn't drop quite quick enough and Given was off his line to claim it

Bowyer out-runs Makelele to cut off another attempted Chelsea attack

Bellamy latches onto a decent ball but while he's holding the ball up Carvalho fouls the Welshman. Carvalho, already on a yellow, claims there was a dive, but it was another cynical foul and he's lucky to be on the pitch

Carvalho stabs away a pass from Robert aimed at Kluivert

A deep freekick is too long for Chelsea and the set-play is wasted

Good build up between Gallas, Makelele and Duff but the final ball from Gallas was poor

Chelsea go backwards to keep possession as Newcastle close all the doors in midfield

Lampard runs out of room and loses the ball

Scrappy start to the second half - Jenas and Tiago involved in dangerous studs-up encounter in the middle

Drogba finds himself hurdling the advertising boards after losing out on a tackle in the centre

Lovely skill from Bellamy - a sweet heel-flick to Hughes, but the wingback failed to control it and Chelsea have a goalkick

Dyer down on the deck after getting Makelele's studs in his back - nice!

Same system for Chelsea in the second half - but a change in personel: Didier Drogba is on for Gudjohnsen. And we're underway!

Keep it right here to see if Newcastle can steal a goal or if Chelsea make good on their pressure. The next 45 minutes coming up!!

Good stuff - great pressure from Chelsea, but resolute defending from Newcastle. The visitors looked dangerous on the break, especially as Chelsea's defence are playing high up the park.

And that's halftime!

Robeen fires in two shots in quick succession. The first, a low drive, is blocked by Jenas, the second he hits over the bar...

Great skill by Robbern to hold onto the ball and find a teammate despite the attention of two defenders

Patrick Kluivert - who has hardly had a touch - gets the ball from Robert, but is quickly shown up as lacking pace, tackled easily by Terry

Offside given against Gudjohnsen

Given makes a mistake on his clearance and hammers a longball into the crowd.

Over-hit pass from Bramble to Bellamy, but the Welshman applauds the effort - he wants the early ball to use his pace

Excellent work from Dyer to win the ball in the centre, beat Lampard and release Robert down the left

Decent break from Newcastle - they work it wide to Bowyer who delivers a superb cross to the back post but only gets a corner for his work

Backs-to-the-wall defending from Newcastle!!

Bramble appeared to hold back Terry in the box as the freekick was floated in, but the ref isn't interested

Yellow card for Taylor after a foul on Robben

Newcastle attempt to release the pressure by breaking quickly, but Chelsea are excellent at the back and quickly win the ball

Neat work by Duff who cuts inside but his shot is blocked

It's all Chelsea at the moment as they try to pass their way through Newcastle's back-line

Given rolled the ball to Bramble who hit a hopeless pass to the unsuspecting Taylor following pressure from Gudjohnsen. But the Chelsea man could only steer the shot past the post after robbing the hapless defenders!

Gudjohnsen fails to score after a shocking mistake at the back by Newcastle.

Dyer feeds it to Bowyer, but Cech is quick to smother the ball - Brave keeping!

Jenas drops very deep to pick the ball up out of defence and bring it forward

Tiago fires in a shot which moved viciously through the air - but Given managed to watch the dipping, curling shot

Every Chelsea player is in the opposition half as they look for the opener

Tiago to Duff as Chelsea play it wide

However, Newcastle illustrate that they are dangerous on the break - Robert fails to deliver a killer ball to Bellamy, if he had, he would've been in on goal. Newcastle soaking it up - Ali vs Foreman... maybe not...

Newcastle struggling at the moment as Chelsea move the pace up a notch (again). The home side's movement and vision is first class and is leaving Newcastle looking punch-drunk

Lampard plays it wide to Duff, who fires in an early pass. The whistle goes for a shove on Shay Given by Gudjohnsen.

Tiago and Lampard switch passes and Lamps breaks into space only to be tackled just before he pulled the trigger - Aaron Hughes the man with the tackle

Famous last words! Great slide-rule pass from Dyer to Bellamy who beats Ferreira to ball but Cech races off his line and smothers the ball. Great Newcastle move, but excellent goalkeeping

Yet more fine work by Bowyer to steal the ball from Lampard - but again the is no final pass

Bellamy looking lively, but not getting much in the way of the ball

Bramble gets away with a clear shove on Robben, but then the Blues win another foul in the middle as the ref makes up

But Chelsea are restricted to long passing thanks to strong defence - not much slick passing on the deck Arsenal-style

Titus Bramble this time is the player with a miscontrol, handing Chelsea a throw deep in the Magpies' half

Lampard's touch lets him down - he tries a back flick as the ball reaches him on the quick break, but he fluffs his lines

Kieron Dyer turns Gallas on the Chelsea left after more good grafting by Bowyer

Lampard tries a shot from the long-range freekick, but it flies wide

Now Chelsea have a freekick in a dangerous area - 40 yards out - Terry ambles forward...

In the absence of Alan Shearer, Robert is the man to take. He fires in a great dead-ball up and over the wall, headed for the top corner, but Cech save well

Yellow card for Carvalho for a cynical tackle on Jermaine Jenas. Free-kcik in a dangerous area outside the box...

John Terry puts the ball in the Newcastle net but its offside. Great skill by Lampard to conjure the cross.

Chelsea shift up a gear and win a corner

Great move by Chelsea best of the match - Duff latched onto a ball from Lampard after a quick freekick. But instead of taking a shot from a tight angle Duff looked for Gudjohnsen, who was expecting the winger to shoot. Great passing.

A close offside call goes against Gudjohnsen

Hopeless longball from Terry - he pinged it 50 yards to no-one - Chelsea yet to find their ominous rhythm

Foul by Bellamy on Claude Makelele - perhaps not the first...

Good workrate from Eidur Gudjohnsen - he drops deep holds off three men to slip a pass to Gallas

Laurent Robert pulls the strings on the left for Newcastle, the ball finds is way wide right to Taylor who screws his cross horribly and it shanks into the crowd - whoops!

Taylor's cross is too strong for Bellamy and Petr Cech gathers

Tiago and Lampard challenge eachother for the same ball and Newcastle mop it up and break with Steven Taylor

Gallas has not settled well in the early stages of this game - Bowyer and Craig Bellamy have pulled him out of position a few times already

Good stuff from Bowyer - getting stuck in early with some stern tackles

Chelsea break down the left through Arjen Robben, but the Magpies are quick to close him down

John Terry hoists a long clearance from the back, but it is headed straight back to him

Lee Bowyer closes down William Gallas, but then fails to control the ball for a throw

Frank Lampard looking sharp in the scrappy midfield exchanges

Chelsea fans in fine voice "One man went to mow...", still you would be happy if you were top of the league!

An early offside call against Chelsea winger Damien Duff

Referee Rob Styles blows the whistle and we're underway

The players are taking the pitch - League leaders Chelsea will play a 4-3-3, while visitors to The Bridge, Newcastle, will play a 4-4-2.

And for Newcastle: Shay Given, Titus Bramble, Aaron Hughes, Ronny Johnsen, Lee Bowyer, Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas, Laurent Robert, Steven Taylor, Craig Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert.

The Chelsea line-up: Petr Cech, William Gallas, Renato Paulo Ferreira, Alberto Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry, Damien Duff, Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele, Cardoso Tiago, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Arjen Robben.

The Chelsea fans in fine, loud voice!

A superb ball from Lampard on the halfway line found Drogba. The striker was too strong for Bramble, he turned the defender to slot the ball beyond Given. He ran to the crowd shouting 'I'm back!'. Chelsea 2-up and cruising!

Another for Chelsea - Drogba!

Lampard underlines his workrate by getting back to block a Jenas shot

Chelsea flying now! Great move ending in a saved Lampard shot - Robben, Kezman and Duff all involved

Drogba goes down holding his face. Bowyer caught him in face. Not pretty, but not intentional. Which is nice to say with reagrds Bowyer...

More pressure from Chelsea. A corner disappoints, but the soon have it back!

Great play from Chelsea. Makelele chipped a ball into the box for Drogba to head down into Lampard's pass. Lamps controlled on his chest before turning and half-volleying a shot into the deck to fox Given. Great goal.

Goal for Chelsea! Lamapard!!!

Two changes for Chelsea Gallas goes off for Wayne Bridge in a straight swap, while Tiago make way for Mateja Kezman. The home side switching to a 4-4-2

A half chance for Bellamy after a decent ball Robert - but Gallas was on hand to block the chance

Bridge and Kezman look ready to make an appearnce as the Chelsea look to turn possession and dominance into goal.

Robert did want it! He whipped a shot round the wall but Cech got down quick to parry the shot and Carvalho was there to mop up and clear the danger

Makelele fouls Bowyer in a dangerous area about 30 yards out in a central position. Robert must want it...

Ronny Johnsen quickly tackles Drogba in the box - great defending

Jenas gets a talking to for a strong tackle on Lampard - but no booking

A few spicy tackles flying, but the ref lets them go

Great control from Drogba to bring down a long ball from the back, but it wouldn't drop quite quick enough and Given was off his line to claim it

Bowyer out-runs Makelele to cut off another attempted Chelsea attack

Bellamy latches onto a decent ball but while he's holding the ball up Carvalho fouls the Welshman. Carvalho, already on a yellow, claims there was a dive, but it was another cynical foul and he's lucky to be on the pitch

Carvalho stabs away a pass from Robert aimed at Kluivert

A deep freekick is too long for Chelsea and the set-play is wasted

Good build up between Gallas, Makelele and Duff but the final ball from Gallas was poor

Chelsea go backwards to keep possession as Newcastle close all the doors in midfield

Lampard runs out of room and loses the ball

Scrappy start to the second half - Jenas and Tiago involved in dangerous studs-up encounter in the middle

Drogba finds himself hurdling the advertising boards after losing out on a tackle in the centre

Lovely skill from Bellamy - a sweet heel-flick to Hughes, but the wingback failed to control it and Chelsea have a goalkick

Dyer down on the deck after getting Makelele's studs in his back - nice!

Same system for Chelsea in the second half - but a change in personel: Didier Drogba is on for Gudjohnsen. And we're underway!

Keep it right here to see if Newcastle can steal a goal or if Chelsea make good on their pressure. The next 45 minutes coming up!!

Good stuff - great pressure from Chelsea, but resolute defending from Newcastle. The visitors looked dangerous on the break, especially as Chelsea's defence are playing high up the park.

And that's halftime!

Robeen fires in two shots in quick succession. The first, a low drive, is blocked by Jenas, the second he hits over the bar...

Great skill by Robbern to hold onto the ball and find a teammate despite the attention of two defenders

Patrick Kluivert - who has hardly had a touch - gets the ball from Robert, but is quickly shown up as lacking pace, tackled easily by Terry

Offside given against Gudjohnsen

Given makes a mistake on his clearance and hammers a longball into the crowd.

Over-hit pass from Bramble to Bellamy, but the Welshman applauds the effort - he wants the early ball to use his pace

Excellent work from Dyer to win the ball in the centre, beat Lampard and release Robert down the left

Decent break from Newcastle - they work it wide to Bowyer who delivers a superb cross to the back post but only gets a corner for his work

Backs-to-the-wall defending from Newcastle!!

Bramble appeared to hold back Terry in the box as the freekick was floated in, but the ref isn't interested

Yellow card for Taylor after a foul on Robben

Newcastle attempt to release the pressure by breaking quickly, but Chelsea are excellent at the back and quickly win the ball

Neat work by Duff who cuts inside but his shot is blocked

It's all Chelsea at the moment as they try to pass their way through Newcastle's back-line

Given rolled the ball to Bramble who hit a hopeless pass to the unsuspecting Taylor following pressure from Gudjohnsen. But the Chelsea man could only steer the shot past the post after robbing the hapless defenders!

Gudjohnsen fails to score after a shocking mistake at the back by Newcastle.

Dyer feeds it to Bowyer, but Cech is quick to smother the ball - Brave keeping!

Jenas drops very deep to pick the ball up out of defence and bring it forward

Tiago fires in a shot which moved viciously through the air - but Given managed to watch the dipping, curling shot

Every Chelsea player is in the opposition half as they look for the opener

Tiago to Duff as Chelsea play it wide

However, Newcastle illustrate that they are dangerous on the break - Robert fails to deliver a killer ball to Bellamy, if he had, he would've been in on goal. Newcastle soaking it up - Ali vs Foreman... maybe not...

Newcastle struggling at the moment as Chelsea move the pace up a notch (again). The home side's movement and vision is first class and is leaving Newcastle looking punch-drunk

Lampard plays it wide to Duff, who fires in an early pass. The whistle goes for a shove on Shay Given by Gudjohnsen.

Tiago and Lampard switch passes and Lamps breaks into space only to be tackled just before he pulled the trigger - Aaron Hughes the man with the tackle

Famous last words! Great slide-rule pass from Dyer to Bellamy who beats Ferreira to ball but Cech races off his line and smothers the ball. Great Newcastle move, but excellent goalkeeping

Yet more fine work by Bowyer to steal the ball from Lampard - but again the is no final pass

Bellamy looking lively, but not getting much in the way of the ball

Bramble gets away with a clear shove on Robben, but then the Blues win another foul in the middle as the ref makes up

But Chelsea are restricted to long passing thanks to strong defence - not much slick passing on the deck Arsenal-style

Titus Bramble this time is the player with a miscontrol, handing Chelsea a throw deep in the Magpies' half

Lampard's touch lets him down - he tries a back flick as the ball reaches him on the quick break, but he fluffs his lines

Kieron Dyer turns Gallas on the Chelsea left after more good grafting by Bowyer

Lampard tries a shot from the long-range freekick, but it flies wide

Now Chelsea have a freekick in a dangerous area - 40 yards out - Terry ambles forward...

In the absence of Alan Shearer, Robert is the man to take. He fires in a great dead-ball up and over the wall, headed for the top corner, but Cech save well

Yellow card for Carvalho for a cynical tackle on Jermaine Jenas. Free-kcik in a dangerous area outside the box...

John Terry puts the ball in the Newcastle net but its offside. Great skill by Lampard to conjure the cross.

Chelsea shift up a gear and win a corner

Great move by Chelsea best of the match - Duff latched onto a ball from Lampard after a quick freekick. But instead of taking a shot from a tight angle Duff looked for Gudjohnsen, who was expecting the winger to shoot. Great passing.

A close offside call goes against Gudjohnsen

Hopeless longball from Terry - he pinged it 50 yards to no-one - Chelsea yet to find their ominous rhythm

Foul by Bellamy on Claude Makelele - perhaps not the first...

Good workrate from Eidur Gudjohnsen - he drops deep holds off three men to slip a pass to Gallas

Laurent Robert pulls the strings on the left for Newcastle, the ball finds is way wide right to Taylor who screws his cross horribly and it shanks into the crowd - whoops!

Taylor's cross is too strong for Bellamy and Petr Cech gathers

Tiago and Lampard challenge eachother for the same ball and Newcastle mop it up and break with Steven Taylor

Gallas has not settled well in the early stages of this game - Bowyer and Craig Bellamy have pulled him out of position a few times already

Good stuff from Bowyer - getting stuck in early with some stern tackles

Chelsea break down the left through Arjen Robben, but the Magpies are quick to close him down

John Terry hoists a long clearance from the back, but it is headed straight back to him

Lee Bowyer closes down William Gallas, but then fails to control the ball for a throw

Frank Lampard looking sharp in the scrappy midfield exchanges

Chelsea fans in fine voice "One man went to mow...", still you would be happy if you were top of the league!

An early offside call against Chelsea winger Damien Duff

Referee Rob Styles blows the whistle and we're underway

The players are taking the pitch - League leaders Chelsea will play a 4-3-3, while visitors to The Bridge, Newcastle, will play a 4-4-2.

And for Newcastle: Shay Given, Titus Bramble, Aaron Hughes, Ronny Johnsen, Lee Bowyer, Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas, Laurent Robert, Steven Taylor, Craig Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert.

The Chelsea line-up: Petr Cech, William Gallas, Renato Paulo Ferreira, Alberto Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry, Damien Duff, Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele, Cardoso Tiago, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Arjen Robben.