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  • Date:2008-11-22
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:Stamford Bridge
  • Attendance:41660
  • Referee:Dowd, P

Live Commentary

90mins

FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 0-0 NEWCASTLE: The Magpies worked hard to frustrate Chelsea and earned their point at the Bridge.

90mins

Salomon Kalou's header is over the bar.

90mins

John Terry's shot is deflected wide for a corner.

90mins

There's three minutes of added time for Newcastle to hold on.

89mins

Michael Ballack has a great chance but his shot from six yards out hits the side netting.

87mins

Frank Lampard sends the free-kick way over the crossbar.

86mins

Guthrie becomes the second Newcastle player to go into the referee's notebook.

86mins

Chelsea have another corner which is punched clear by Shay Given and they win another free-kick for a foul on Deco.

84mins

It's all hands to the pump now for Newcastle and every player is back defending.

83mins

Joe Cole makes way for Michael Ballack.

81mins

The clock is ticking for Chelsea as they try to find a way through.

79mins

Nicky Butt sends a lovely ball through to Charles N'Zogbia but Branislav Ivanovic is there to win the ball back.

78mins

Charles N'Zogbia comes on for Jonas Gutierrez.

77mins

Ashley Cole whips the ball across the face of goal but there was no Chelsea player there and Damien Duff is able to clear.

74mins

Newcastle are still working extremely hard defensively and are frustrating Chelsea.

72mins

Salomon Kalou is on for Florent Malouda.

70mins

Nicky Butt almost gives the ball away to Chelsea but Newcastle manage to clear.

69mins

Chelsea exchange passes and a low hard shot from Joe Cole goes wide.

67mins

Frank Lampard's free-kick from 25 yards out is into the wall again and Mikel is offside.

65mins

The corner is wasted by Florent Malouda.

64mins

Frank Lampard unleashes a shot from the right-hand side which is deflected wide for another corner.

62mins

Chelsea again appeal for a goal as Frank Lampard's free-kick is taken by Shay Given who seems to stumble over the goalline.

61mins

Shola Ameobi comes on for Obafemi Martins.

59mins

Nicolas Anelka again crosses towards Florent Malouda who doesn't connect properly and Given gathers.

57mins

Nicolas Anelka charges forward and slides the ball to Frank Lampard who sends the ball wide.

55mins

Joe Cole thinks he's scored from a rebound from Florent Malouda's shot but the goal is ruled out for a foul on Shay Given.

53mins

Both teams keep giving the ball away to the frustration of the supporters.

52mins

Chelsea spurn the chance from the free-kick as Deco sends the ball into the wall.

51mins

There's a break in play as Chelsea are awarded a free-kick and a couple of players are down.

50mins

Nicolas Anelka surges into the penalty area but his shot is deflected into the arms of Shay Given.

49mins

Jonas Gutierrez is booked for a foul on Florent Malouda.

48mins

Obafemi Martins passes to no-one in particular in the area and Petr Cech is able to gather.

46mins

No changes for either side as the second half begins.

45mins

Half-Time: CHELSEA 0-0 NEWCASTLE. Newcastle will be pleased with their first-half performance as the referee blows for half-time.

45mins

Nicky Butt almost finds Michael Owen but he can't quite reach the pass and the ball trickles through to Petr Cech.

43mins

Newcastle are having a good spell of possession but can't force Petr Cech into a save.

42mins

Damien Duff's corner is cleared by Jose da Silva Bosingwa, who is having a good game, and Newcastle win a throw-in.

41mins

Habib Beye does well to get into the penalty area and wins a corner.

39mins

Jonas Gutierrez cuts in from the right but his final ball can't reach Obafemi Martins.

38mins

The throw-in is disappointing and easily cleared by Petr Cech.

37mins

Florent Malouda's shot from the edge of the area is blocked and Newcastle are able to come forward with Damien Duff and win a throw-in.

35mins

Lampard's free-kick from the right is met by Branislav Ivanovic but his header doesn't hit the target.

34mins

Lampard delivers a corner towards Branislav Ivanovic but the ball is cleared almost to the halfway line.

32mins

Damien Duff crosses to Obafemi Martins whose control lets him down and the ball goes out for a Chelsea throw.

31mins

Chelsea are stepping up the pressure and Jose da Silva Bosingwa delivers the ball to Florent Malouda whose effort goes wide of the left-hand post.

30mins

Deco chips the ball to Frank Lampard in the box but his shot on the turn is saved by Shay Given.

28mins

Newcastle have a good spell of possession but Chelsea counter and Joe Cole tries to backheel the ball to Frank Lampard in the area but it doesn't quite come off.

26mins

Damien Duff wins the ball from Joe Cole who doesn't look at his best and Newcastle try to come forward but Chelsea clear.

24mins

Danny Guthrie surges past John Terry but Deco comes back to challenge and win the ball back.

23mins

Deco's corner is delivered deep to Nicolas Anelka and his cross is headed over by Branislav Ivanovic.

22mins

Deco's cross is cleared for another corner.

21mins

Jonas Gutierrez has an optimistic long-range shot which doesn't trouble Petr Cech.

19mins

Chelsea are dominating but there's not much penetration.

17mins

Newcastle are doubling up on the Chelsea full-backs and are restricting much of their attacking play.

15mins

Newcastle are now finding it hard to get out of their own half and Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen are becoming isolated up front.

13mins

Frank Lampard takes the free-kick and sends it into the wall, Ashley Cole collects the ball but Nicolas Anelka's header is harmless and Newcastle have a goal-kick.

12mins

Chelsea win a free-kick left of the penalty area for a trip on Frank Lampard.

9mins

Frank Lampard heads Florent Malouda's cross goalwards but Shay Given makes a good save.

7mins

Chelsea have their first corner as Bosingwa's effort goes behind but Newcastle defend it well.

6mins

Chelsea try to build an attack with Deco but Newcastle are standing firm and block Malouda's effort.

5mins

Newcastle are playing four four two and are going to have a go at Chelsea, Martin's effort going well wide.

3mins

Newcastle have a few early touches and Fabricio Coloccini aims one for Michael Owen but Petr Cech is able to stop the danger.

1mins

The game is underway with Chelsea chasing their fifth straight win.

0mins

Can Newcastle prevent Chelsea staying top of the Premier League - they're 14 to 1 to win here today.

0mins

The teams are walking out onto the immaculate Stamford Bridge pitch.

Match Preview

Chelsea hope to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League table when struggling Newcastle United visit Stamford Bridge.

Despite a lengthy injury list, the Blues have won their last four league games without conceding a goal, although their cause will not be helped by the absence through suspension of star striker Didier Drogba.

The Ivory Coast international is beginning a three-match ban after admitting an FA charge of violent conduct for throwing a coin back at Burnley fans during last week's Carling Cup tie.

However, Drogba's absence shouldn't be felt too keenly, with Nicolas Anelka having scored eight goals in his last five games.

Blues skipper John Terry recently stated: "For me, Anelka is in the best form of his career. When we signed him I said 'thank God you are here' because I used to hate playing against him.

"He was always a problem, always playing on my shoulder and a great finisher as well. He is in great form and getting the goals as well. He is top scorer in the Premier League and long may it continue."

Blues coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is also having to deal with the absence of Michael Essien due to a serious knee injury, while Frank Lampard (rib), Ashley Cole (calf) and Joe Cole (ankle) are all doubts.

Newcastle arrive in the capital hoping to move away from the relegation places, with the Magpies currently only outside the bottom three on goal difference.

However, goalkeeper Shay Given believes that interim manager Joe Kinnear is doing a god job in testing circumstances.

He said: "He has done well so far.

"As far as I'm aware, the club is still up for sale, so I don't know if he is going to be here long-term, short-term or what. At the minute, we have been told short-term.

"As players, we like what he is doing in the sense that it is a difficult situation to manage because the club is up for sale and it's not ideal.

"We are in a relegation fight and they are difficult times for the club, so it's not ideal. But he has done a very good job so far."


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Match Report

Newcastle United gained a valuable point as they frustrated table-topping Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have now dropped nine points at home already this season and the Londoners' inability to carve open defence-minded sides is becoming an increasing problem.

The simple fact is that Newcastle are in a relegation dogfight did not come for a victory. They sat back and absorbed the erratic attacks of the home side and came away with a 0-0 draw.

Shay Given produced a marvellous save on five minutes denying Frank Lampard's excellent downward header from eight yards out. The shot-stopper punched the ball away after Florent Malouda's left-wing cross had found the midfielder who seemed certain to open the scoring.

Malouda produced a piece of magic weaving his way through the Newcastle rearguard before losing his balance and the ball trickled to Given on 17 minutes.

Newcastle's first attempt on the Chelsea goal came from Jonas Gutierrez on 20 minutes but his shot zoomed high and wide of the home goal.

The game was very much attack versus defence as the visitors defended deep to repel the home side's advances.

An excellent ten-man move by Chelsea on 30 minutes saw Lampard pirouette and connect with a smart volley but Given saved well.

A minute later Jose Bosingwa opened up the Newcastle defence with a curling right-wing cross that fell to Ashley Cole at the far post, but the left-back was unable to steer the ball goal-bound.

A Branislav Ivanovic header from a Lampard free-kick on 33 minutes them flew inches wide of Given's crossbar.

A quick counter-attack on 38 minutes almost saw Michael Owen snatch a opener for the visitors but the ball from Gutierrez, from the right was cleared by John Terry before the ex-England striker had a chance to connect.

Joe Cole bundled the ball into the net on 54 minutes but he was judged to be offside after Malouda's shot had been parried into the air.

A Lampard curler, which was just wide a minute later, demonstrated Chelsea's superiority.

Chelsea felt that Given had pulled the ball over the line a minute later when the Irishman held onto a Lampard free-kick but the referee Phil Dowd decided in favour of the goalkeeper.

Luiz Felipe Scolari brought on Salomon Kalou on 60 minutes to pep up Chelsea's attack while Joe Kinnear brought on Shola Ameobi and Charles N'Zogbia.

But with Michael Ballack shooting into the side-netting in the closing moments that was as close as it got for Chelsea as Newcastle came away with a well-deserved point.

Chelsea

Newcastle United

Corners

81

Fouls

1213

Goal attempts

262

Shots off target

122

Offsides

30

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