Chelsea – Newcastle United

1. There has been rain, thunder and lightening, but ESPN should be there for Chelsea v Newcastle at 17.30 BST

2. No JT or Lamps for the Blues though. Team news to follow:

3. Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Meireles; Mata, Hazard, Bertrand; Torres.

4. Newcastle: Krul; Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Anita, Gutierrez; Ba, Cisse

5. Chelsea new boy Cesar Azpilicueta has <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1141960/chelsea%27s-cesar-azpilicueta-pleads-for-patience?cc=5739" target="_blank">urged the fans</a> to give him time to settle into the Premier League, after his £9 million move from Marseille was confirmed on Friday.

6. There's no John Terry today, so we'll get to see Gary Cahill alongside David Luiz once more.

7. The big miss for Newcastle is Tiote, but his absence will offer Vurnon Anita the chance to shine in the centre of midfielder.

8. Di Matteo claims Lampard is on the bench as part of Chelsea's squad rotation.

9. It's been pretty wet here in West London today, but the pitch at Stamford Bridge still looks in good condition. Hopefully the water will give the ball some zip.

10. Victor Moses was presented at Stamford Bridge today, can't see him fitting into the Chelsea team straight away, but will be a great impact sub.

11. The players are in the tunnel, with the Chelsea team wearing some lovely jackets.

12. Good to see Coloccini's hair making a return to action today. His partnership with Steven Taylor will be crucial for Newcastle once more this season.

13. Papiss Cisse scored goal of the season in this fixture last time around, but I think he'd take a five yard tap-in if it ensured victory today.

14. 1'

    And we're off!

15. 1'

    Anita shows he can replace Tiote by tackling Ashley Cole and sending him up in the air at the same time.

16. 2'

    David Luiz tries a 40-yard cross field pass, but only finds Davide Santon at left-back. Maybe the Brailian should keep it simple.

17. 3'

    Ivanonic tries a cross from the right wing, but only finds Krul, with Torres lurking.

18. 5'

    Anita does his best to pull down Mikel, but Phil Dowd allows play to carry on.

19. 6'

    Simpson fouls Torres, with the two fighting hard for the ball on the touchline.

20. 6'

    Hazard tries a shot from the edge of the area, but fails to connect properly, allowing Steven Taylor to control and clear the ball.

21. 8'

    Chelsea are controlling possession in midfield, but can't find that killer ball.

22. 8'

    Ben Arfa takes on two on the right-hand touchline, but can't make it beyond a third, as the Frenchman gives a glimpse of his talent.

23. 9'

    Torres lays the ball back for Mikel, who proves why he isn't known for his goalscoring prowess as he slams it high into the stand from 30 yards.

24. 11'

    Ba collects a ball from Cabaye and turns Cahill, but his touch is slightly too heavy as it runs out for a goal-kick.

25. 12'

    Hazard offers some mercurial running, but his pass has too much on it, and runs out of play before Torres can reach it.

26. 13'

    Newcastle are getting into the game more now, and a long Ben Arfa pass finds Ba in the box, but the big striker has to stretch and hits it over.

27. 14'

    Chelsea enjoy some neat build-up, with the ball ending up with Hazard, whose shot is straight at Krul from 20 yards.

28. 15'

    Ben Arfa is looking for a few long range passes now, but his latest has too much on it and bounces over Santon and out of play.

29. 16'

    Newcastle are keeping the ball now in an attmept to limit Chelsea's control, but are struggling to find a way through.

30. 17'

    Ba fails to control a Gutierrez pass and ends up fouling a Chelsea defender.

31. 18'

    Bertrand has the best effort of the game thus far when he runs onto Torres' lay off on the edge of the area, but his right-foot shot goes straight at Krul.

32. 19'

    Torres shows some indiscipline by fouling Coloccini and then kicking the ball into the advertising.

33. 20'

    It's a Newcastle corner after Ba's cross is deflected behind.

34. 20'

    Cabaye's corner fails to beat the first man and is cleared.

35. 21'

    Penalty to Chelsea as Anita takes down Torres with aplomb.

36. 22'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Hazard takes the penalty with Lampard on the bench, but beats Krul to his right.

37. 23'

    That's Chelsea's third penalty in three games...

38. 24'

    Chelsea are now calming the situation down, by passing it around the back four and midfield.

39. 25'

    Lampard is sent to warm-up after Meireles goes down with an injury,

40. 26'

    The Portuguese midfielder receives treatment and returns to the pitch.

41. 27'

    Cisse tries to set Ba away, but his ball is too powerful for Ba to catch.

42. 28'

    Luiz goes down after a heavy fall when challenging Cisse for the ball.

43. 29'

    You'd think his hair would give him some protection, but Luiz doesn't look happy.

44. 30'

    A groggy Luiz returns to the action, hoping to shake off the knock.

45. 31'

    Ashley Cole puts a sharp cross in, which Ivanovic heads powerfully at goal, but Krul makes the save.

46. 32'

    Torres almost gets the wrong side of Coloccini, but the Argentine defender does enough to hold him up on the edge of the area.

47. 33'

    Foul by Meireles on Gutierrez on the halfway line.

48. 34'

    Ben Arfa gets himself a throw-in despite the ball coming off him last. Cunning.

49. 35'

    Hazard plays the ball to Mata on the byline, but his cross is cleared by Coloccini.

50. 36'

    The Belgian wizard, Hazard, tries to double his tally but his wild volley from 20 yards goes high and wide.

51. 37'

    Torres and Taylor clash in the centre circle, but Dowd waves the protests away.

52. 38'

    Cahill is the latest to injure himself when he stumbles whilst trying to pass the ball and jars his knee.

53. 39'

    Torres looks for a foul by jumping over a diving challenge from Coloccini, but the ref ignores his pleas, as the Spaniard dived.

54. 39'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Torres gets the booking for simulation.

55. 40'

    Cisse crosses to Ba at the second attempt, but the striker heads it over.

56. 42'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0825/hazardgoal20120825_275x155.jpg"><br>Hazard slots home the penalty

57. 43'

    A Newcastle free-kick is cleared, allowing Chelsea to break but Torres finds Meireles in an offside position.

58. 44'

    A first shot on target for Newcastle as the ball falls to Cisse, who spins, but his shot is straight at the imposing Cech.

59. 45'

    Four minutes added time, so still a bit more action.

60. 45'

    Mata gets a ball into the box, but Gutierrez easily clears it.

61. 45'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Torres nets with a toe-poke from the edge of the area.

62. 45'

    Hazard backheeled the ball into the Spaniard's path, and he sticks it in from 18 yards.

63. 45'

    Cabaye sits himself down in the centre circle complaining of a problem with his right knee. Let's just blow for half-time.

64. 45'

    HT - Chelsea go into the break with a deserved lead thanks to Hazard and Torres.

65. Serie A starts tonight, so get the lowdown on <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature/_/id/1141117/adam-digby:-serie-a-2012-13-season-preview?cc=5739" target="_blank">all the teams from Adam Digby</a>

66. You don't want to see Fernando when he's mad!

67. Newcastle will need to come up with a few more ideas in the second half after only managing to get one shot on target.

68. The Newcastle bench doesn't look inspiring either.

69. 46'

    Cabaye is back out for the second half, which will be key if Newcastle are to get back into this game.

70. 47'

    Fans taking cover as the rain gets heavier. Someone give them a plastic poncho!

71. 48'

    Chelsea look promising down the left, but Cole crosses the ball over everyone and Newcsatle clear.

72. 49'

    Cabaye goes for an elaborate 40-yard pass, but it's intercepted by Cole on the edge of the area.

73. 51'

    After fighting for the ball, Newcastle make some progress up the pitch, but are met by a wall of Chelsea players forcing them back.

74. 52'

    Ben Arfa uses his quick feet to open up some space on the edge of the area, but his shot goes across Cech's goal and wide.

75. 53'

    The Newcastle players look keener to have a shot, but Gutierrez's effort from 25 yards ends up high in the stand.

76. 54'

    Ben Arfa is spending a lot of time infield, trying to make things happen, but it's not happening for the Frenchman.

77. 56'

    Cisse battles with Cahill who flicks the ball away, before Ivanovic wins a throw-in for Chelsea.

78. 57'

    Coloccini loses the ball in the Chelsea half, and Cole tries to catch him out of position by launching the ball up the Torres, but Santon covers tehe danger.

79. 59'

    Newcastle are coming more into the game with their added vigour, and it almost reaps rewards as Ba has a shot from seven yards, but Cech pushes it behind.

80. 60'

    Someone won't hand the ball back to Ben Arfa> Those zany Chelsea fans.

81. 60'

    Mata picks up a Cole cross, but his effort into the six-yard box is cleared by Gutierrez.

82. 61'

    Sadly Santon isn't the finest crosser of the ball, and slices one well out of play from the left-hand flank.

83. 62'

    Ba runs across the pitch in his own half and is lucky to be brought down by Torres rather than lose the ball.

84. 63'

    Ben Arfa does his best, but runs into a few too many players, but manages to win a corner off Mikel.

85. 64'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ryan Taylor has come on to replace Danny Simpson

86. 64'

    Ryan Taylor will add more danger from set-pieces than the man he replaced, but his first corner is easily headed clear.

87. 66'

    A through ball from Mikel sets Torres away, but Coloccini matches him yard for yard, and manages to get a block in before it's cleared.

88. 67'

    More magic from Ben Arfa gets him a free-kick on the left.

89. 67'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Chelsea look to shut up shop by replacing Mata with Ramires.

90. 68'

    A better set-piece from Ryan Taylor finds Cisse's head, but he jumps to early and heads the ball over on the way down.

91. 69'

    Gutierrez gifts a free-kick to Chelsea by running into the back of Mikel.

92. 69'

    The Hair (David Luiz) takes the free-kick, but it's well over.

93. 71'

    Topless Newcastle fans at a football match, whatever next?

94. 73'

    The visitors are looking short of ideas as they await some magic from the feet of Ben Arfa.

95. 74'

    The introduction of Ramires means it's now even harder to break down Chelsea, who needs John Terry?

96. 74'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Santon departs as Sylvain Marveaux joins the party.

97. 76'

    Anita looks frustrated as he gives away another foul, he's looked competent today without excelling.

98. 76'

    Meireles goes closer than Luiz did moments ago, but his free-kick still flies over.

99. 77'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Final change for Newcastle as James Perch replaces the injured Cabaye.

100. 78'

     Another foul from Gutierrez as he brings down Ramires needlessly on the sidelines.

101. 79'

     That man Hazard breaks away down the left, but his cut back is cleared. Bertrand then picks up the ball and rifles a shot that is tipped wide by Krul.

102. 81'

     A corner is given, which Hazard chips into the box, but the ball is cleared.

103. 82'

     Pardew is doing his best to get sent off for the second time in a week. Dowd takes pity and tells him to calm down.

104. 83'

     It's looking over for Newcastle as Anita sums up their day by chipping the ball into Cech's arms from 45 yards.

105. 84'

     Demba Ba should equalise, after receiving a knock down, the striker misses his first kick, but then gets more space, but only manages to shoot straight at Cech from ten yards.

106. 86'

     Cahill has had another impressive game for Chelsea, maybe this could be the season he takes over from Terry...

107. 87'

     Perch brings down Hazard with a bad challenge, but the Belgian gets up.

108. 87'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Frank Lampard is now on for Meireles.

109. 89'

     A cross from Gutierrez causes chaos in the box, as Ba challenges Luiz, with the big Brazilian hitting the deck after a clash.

110. 90'

     Looks like Luiz is losing some blood.

111. 90'

     Four minutes of added time, as Luiz receives more treatment. Just sub him for the remaining moments.

112. 90'

     He lives!! Luiz gets up and goes for a jog round the pitch.

113. 90'

     Luiz decides against heading a long ball out of the Newcastle defence, and instead neatly controls the ball and plays it back ot Cech.

114. 90'

     Full-time. Chelsea got the job done in the first half, and Newcastle never had the quality to break down a strong Blues backline.

115. Chelsea look to have the quality to outplay the likes of Newcastle, and have an exciting season ahead if they can up it slightly. Newcastle will continue to struggle with such a small squad, as their subs showed they didn't have the answer.

116. Join us tomorrow for the action from Liverpool v Manchester City.

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