2008/9 NEWCASTLE 0 CHELSEA 2
NEWCASTLE: Harper, Ryan Taylor, Beye, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Nolan (Guthrie 69), Butt, Lovenkrands (Duff 44), Owen, Martins (Carroll 81). Subs Not Used: Forster, Smith, Geremi, Edgar.
CHELSEA: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien (Ballack 57), Mikel, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka (Di Santo 67), Kalou. Subs Not Used: Hilario, Carvalho, Deco, Belletti, Mancienne.
Att: 52,112
Even Alan Shearer's return could not prevent Newcastle slipping deeper into relegation trouble as Chelsea closed to within a point of leaders Manchester United.
The Magpies completed a hat-trick of successive home defeats by top-four sides as the Blues left St James' Park with all three points just as United and Arsenal have done in recent weeks.
There was plenty to admire in the effort, commitment and determination shown by Shearer's players, but ultimately they failed to take any of the handful of chances they created, although skipper Michael Owen was convinced his 73rd-minute shot had crossed the line before Ashley Cole hooked it clear.
By contrast, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda were clinical when their chances arrived within nine second-half minutes.
Newcastle now have just seven games in which to save themselves from relegation, the first of them at fellow strugglers Stoke next weekend.
A crowd of 52,112 turned out desperate for the Shearer effect to kick in straight away, but left under little illusion as to the struggle ahead.
The Magpies knew they would struggle to match Guus Hiddink's men for innate skill and fluency, and decided to make up for that with effort and sheer determination.
Nicky Butt set the tone with a rugged early challenge on Michael Essien, and Jonas Gutierrez was fortunate to escape punishment for a two-footed lunge at John Terry which drew extended protests from the Blues skipper.
Chelsea rarely sidestep a battle and a tense encounter unfolded with the visitors pressing repeatedly, but meeting stern resistance and Newcastle attempting to hit them on the break.
Clear chances were few and far between with Steve Harper having to pull off a fine 19th-minute save to keep out Salomon Kalou's diving header and Habib Beye just getting a touch to divert Nicolas Anelka's shot into the side-netting 14 minutes before the break.
The Magpies created only one real opening when Obafemi Martins, perhaps surprised that Jose Enrique's low cross had been allowed to reach him, stabbed it just wide of the post with his knee as he reacted late.
But for Shearer, who spent much of the first 45 minutes of his reign stalking the technical area and barking out orders, there was much with which to be pleased.
However, he will have been concerned with the lack of quality of delivery from his wide men, and in particular with Ryan Taylor's inability to avoid the first man from a series of free-kicks in promising areas.
Owen and Martins combined to almost open Chelsea up within three minutes of the restart, but the visitors responded swiftly.
Essien drilled a long-range shot high and wide, but Malouda's clever spin took him in on goal with 51 minutes gone and Harper had to make another excellent block at his near post.
Martins fired wide under pressure from Terry and Alex three minutes later, but the opening goal came with 56 minutes gone, and it went to Chelsea.
Fabricio Coloccini's clearance was blocked and the ball ran to Lampard, who poked it through to Anelka.
The Frenchman was forced wide, but managed to chip a shot over Harper and on to the woodwork, with Lampard easily heading the rebound into the empty net.
Jonas might have done better when he headed substitute Damien Duff's 64th-minute cross straight at Petr Cech, and his side's plight worsened within seconds.
Anelka flicked on Cech's clearance and Lampard slid the ball into the path of Malouda, who despatched a left-foot shot across Harper and into the net.
Owen thought he had pulled a goal back with 17 minutes remaining when his deflected shot was cleared by Ashley Cole, with replays suggesting the ball had crossed the line.
The 29-year-old was in again two minutes later when Martins played him into space inside the box, but his left-foot shot was saved easily by Cech.
But it was the visitors who finished with a flourish as substitutes Michael Ballack and Franco di Santo, Malouda, Kalou and Lampard all went close.
Disappointed applause rang around St James' on the final whistle as the home fans trudged away hoping against hope that Shearer could yet be their saviour.
TOON v CHELSEA - THE HISTORY ...
2010/2011 Wed 22 Sep Chelsea 3 - 4 Newcastle Utd. League Cup
2008/2009 Sat 04 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Chelsea Premier League
Sat 22 Nov Chelsea 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
2007/2008 Mon 05 May Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Chelsea Premier League
Sat 29 Dec Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
2006/2007 Sun 22 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Chelsea Premiership
Wed 20 Dec Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Chelsea League Cup
Wed 13 Dec Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2005/2006 Sun 07 May Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea Premiership
Wed 22 Mar Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 19 Nov Chelsea 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2004/2005 Sun 15 May Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Chelsea Premiership
Sun 20 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea F.A. Cup
Sat 04 Dec Chelsea 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Wed 10 Nov Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Chelsea League Cup
after extra time, 90 minutes 0-0
2003/2004 Sun 25 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Chelsea Premiership
Sun 09 Nov Chelsea 5 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2002/2003 Sat 01 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Chelsea Premiership
Sat 14 Sep Chelsea 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2001/2002 Sat 29 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Chelsea Premiership
Wed 12 Dec Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. League Cup
Sun 19 Aug Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2000/2001 Wed 31 Jan Chelsea 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 09 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Chelsea Premiership
1999/2000 Sun 09 Apr Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
played at Wembley
Sat 04 Mar Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Chelsea Premiership
Sat 11 Sep Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1998/1999 Sat 09 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Chelsea Premiership
Sat 22 Aug Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1997/1998 Sat 02 May Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Chelsea Premiership
Sat 27 Sep Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1996/1997 Wed 16 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Chelsea Premiership
Sat 23 Nov Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1995/1996 Wed 17 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Chelsea F.A. Cup
after extra time, 90 minutes 2-2, Chelsea won 4-2 on penalties
Sun 07 Jan Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 09 Dec Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sun 24 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Chelsea Premiership
1994/1995 Sat 01 Apr Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 10 Sep Newcastle Utd. 4 - 2 Chelsea Premiership
1993/1994 Mon 04 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Chelsea Premiership
Tue 28 Dec Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1992/1993 Wed 28 Oct Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. League Cup
1987/1988 Sat 27 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Chelsea First Division
Sat 03 Oct Chelsea 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1986/1987 Sat 25 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea First Division
Sat 22 Nov Chelsea 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1985/1986 Sat 19 Apr Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 16 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Chelsea First Division
1984/1985 Sat 16 Feb Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 10 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Chelsea First Division
1983/1984 Sat 10 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Chelsea Second Division
Sat 12 Nov Chelsea 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1982/1983 Sat 16 Apr Chelsea 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 11 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Chelsea Second Division
1981/1982 Sat 27 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea Second Division
Sat 07 Nov Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1980/1981 Sat 28 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea Second Division
Sat 25 Oct Chelsea 6 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1979/1980 Sat 12 Jan Chelsea 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 01 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Chelsea Second Division
1977/1978 Sat 18 Mar Chelsea 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 22 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea First Division
1974/1975 Sat 22 Feb Chelsea 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 16 Nov Newcastle Utd. 5 - 0 Chelsea First Division
1973/1974 Sat 16 Mar Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 20 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Chelsea First Division
1972/1973 Sat 24 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Chelsea First Division
Sat 28 Oct Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1971/1972 Sat 22 Apr Chelsea 3 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 04 Dec Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Chelsea First Division
1970/1971 Sat 06 Feb Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Chelsea First Division
Sat 05 Dec Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1969/1970 Wed 25 Feb Chelsea 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 25 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Chelsea First Division
1968/1969 Fri 04 Apr Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 21 Aug Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Chelsea First Division
1967/1968 Wed 30 Aug Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 Chelsea First Division
Wed 23 Aug Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1966/1967 Sat 25 Mar Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 10 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Chelsea First Division
1965/1966 Sat 19 Mar Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Chelsea First Division
Sat 25 Sep Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1962/1963 Sat 23 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Chelsea Second Division
Sat 03 Nov Chelsea 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1960/1961 Sat 25 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 6 Chelsea First Division
Sat 05 Nov Chelsea 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1959/1960 Mon 28 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Chelsea First Division
Sat 26 Dec Chelsea 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1958/1959 Mon 19 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 4 Chelsea F.A. Cup
Wed 17 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Chelsea First Division
Wed 10 Sep Chelsea 6 - 5 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1957/1958 Sat 18 Jan Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Chelsea First Division
1956/1957 Mon 22 Apr Chelsea 6 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Fri 19 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Chelsea First Division
1955/1956 Sat 21 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Chelsea First Division
Sat 10 Dec Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 14 Sep Chelsea 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Charity Shield
played at Stamford Bridge
1954/1955 Sat 12 Feb Chelsea 4 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 25 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Chelsea First Division
1953/1954 Sat 24 Apr Chelsea 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 05 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Chelsea First Division
1952/1953 Sat 04 Apr Chelsea 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 15 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Chelsea First Division
1951/1952 Wed 12 Mar Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 20 Oct Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Chelsea First Division
1950/1951 Sat 13 Jan Chelsea 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 09 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Chelsea First Division
1949/1950 Sat 29 Apr Chelsea 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 28 Jan Chelsea 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 10 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Chelsea First Division
1948/1949 Wed 01 Sep Chelsea 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 25 Aug Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Chelsea First Division
1933/1934 Sat 10 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Chelsea First Division
Sat 28 Oct Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1932/1933 Sat 04 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Chelsea First Division
Sat 24 Sep Chelsea 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1931/1932 Thu 14 Apr Chelsea 4 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 12 Mar Chelsea 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
played at Huddersfield
Sat 12 Sep Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Chelsea First Division
1930/1931 Sat 02 May Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Wed 03 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea First Division
1923/1924 Sat 19 Apr Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 12 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Chelsea First Division
1922/1923 Sat 27 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Chelsea First Division
Sat 20 Jan Chelsea 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1921/1922 Sat 15 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea First Division
Sat 08 Oct Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1920/1921 Wed 09 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea First Division
Sat 05 Feb Chelsea 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1919/1920 Sat 20 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Chelsea First Division
Sat 13 Sep Chelsea 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1914/1915 Wed 17 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Chelsea First Division
Sat 13 Mar Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Chelsea F.A. Cup
Sat 06 Mar Chelsea 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 12 Sep Chelsea 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1913/1914 Sat 14 Feb Chelsea 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 11 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea First Division
1912/1913 Sat 18 Jan Chelsea 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 21 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Chelsea First Division
1910/1911 Sat 25 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Chelsea F.A. Cup
played at Birmingham City
1909/1910 Sat 01 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea First Division
Mon 27 Dec Chelsea 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1908/1909 Sat 17 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Chelsea First Division
Sat 12 Dec Chelsea 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1907/1908 Mon 23 Sep Chelsea 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Chelsea First Division