Newcastle United – Chelsea

1. Hello everyone and welcome to our live minute-by-minute coverage of Chelsea's visit to a snow-covered St James' Park to face Newcastle.

2. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1128/stjames'parksnownewcastlevchelsea20101128_275x155.jpg"><br>After a morning of hard work by the St James' Park staff, referee Andre Marriner gave Newcastle v Chelsea the green light to go ahead.

3. The match was in doubt for a while because of heavy overnight snow up in the north east of England, but the game will go ahead as planned and I assure you, the pitch no longer looks like it does in that photo!

4. Team news is in so I guess you'd probably like to know the line-ups...

5. <b>Newcastle: </b>Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell,Jose Enrique, Routledge, Guthrie, Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi. <p> Subs: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Perch, Smith, Best, Kadar, Ranger.

6. <b>Chelsea:</b> Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Ivanovic, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba, Kalou. <p> Subs: Turnbull, Ferreira, Sturridge, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Kakuta, McEachran.

7. So the main news is that Sol Campbell starts at centre-back for Newcastle and Carlo Ancelotti has appeared to have selected a particularly pacy attacking quartet to try to cause Campbell problems. I am not sure I facy poor Sol's chances with Drogba, Anelka, Malouda and Kalou running at him!

8. Chelsea managed to arrest their recent slide with an unconvincing Champions League victory over MSK Zilina in midweek but they have still managed to lose three of their last four games in the league and are in dire need of a win, especially as Manchester United leapfrogged them at the top of the table on Saturday.

9. Newcastle have been a bit of Jekyll and Hyde side this season - losing at home to Stoke and Blackpool, but thumping Sunderland 5-1 and winning 1-0 at Arsenal. It's difficult to predict which Magpies team will turn up.

10. We're just about ready for this one now.

11. And we're off...

12. 1'

    Early touch for Campbell and Drogba is on him like a shot. Easy enough for the former England defender though.

13. 1'

    Carroll wins a free-kick in the left corner after a foul from Ivanovic.

14. 1'

    <b>Great chance!</b>

15. 2'

    Stunning save from Petr Cech. Steven Taylor's powerful header was palmed into the path of Ameobi whi sliced wide from close range.

16. 2'

    What a great early piece of action - it was a poor second attempt from Ameobi who looked like he just needed to fire it goalwards. Instead, it went into the side netting.

17. 3'

    Drogba and Anelka link up well in midfield and it's a Chelsea free-kick after the Frenchman is floored inside the centre circle.

18. 4'

    Good early pressure by Newcastle, with Ameobi and Carroll doing some impressive closing high up the pitch.

19. 4'

    Lovely little exchange between Anelka and Cole and the left-back receives the return pass and looks to feed in Kalou, but the ball is just a foot beyond where he is standing in space in the area.

20. 5'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Andy Carroll has put the Magpies ahead.

21. 6'

    Shocking from Alex! Poor communication and he has passed the ball beyond the onrushing Petr Cech, which left Carroll with an open goal to prod home.

22. 7'

    That's Carroll's ninth league goal of the season and what a terrible start for a Chelsea side already lacking in confidence.

23. 7'

    Drogba tries to float the ball in towards Anelka and Kalou but it's overhit.

24. 8'

    A cracking start to the game and there is a great pace about this match.

25. 9'

    Just spotted Joey Barton grinning in the stands, wearing a rather ridiculous looking hat!

26. 9'

    Gutierrez opens up some space down the left and crosses towards Carroll. The ball looked like it his Ivanovic on the hand but I think it would have been harsh. By the sound of the St James' Park fans, I'm not sure they agree.

27. 10'

    Drogba looking over to the bench, not sure if he is troubled with some kind of injury.

28. 11'

    Gutierrez again engineering some room against Bosingwa and it's another Newcastle corner.

29. 12'

    This time Cech comes and claims and that will be what he needs after the mistake - for which I think both he and Alex were to blame - that led to the Magpies' opener.

30. 12'

    The pitch looking pretty rock hard and very bobbly at the moment, it will be interesting to see how it holds up.

31. 13'

    Great forward run by Bosingwa and the ball finds its way over to the other flank with Cole. He crosses in towards the waiting Drogba, but Campbell gets an important interception in before it can reach the lurking Ivorian.

32. 14'

    Krul taking rather too long with the ball at his feet and he was closed down by Ramires. Fortunately for the goalkeeper's kick ricocheted out for a goal-kick.

33. 15'

    <i>Stats: Chelsea have not lost three games in a row in the league since the reign of Gianluca Vialli.</i>

34. 16'

    Towering header by Carroll to win the ball above Ivanovic, who is really struggling to keep tabs on the England striker.

35. 17'

    Chelsea have kept the better possession ovr the last five minutes or so, but still no real openings yet for the champions.

36. 17'

    Drogba must have heard me as he has just fired a powerful effort goalwards. Solid save by Krul at the near post and it's a Chelsea corner.

37. 18'

    Nothing comes from the resulting kick but Chelsea regroup and are heading forward again.

38. 19'

    Drogba's shot before was probably heading wide but Krul got a strong wrist to it as he probably thought it was rising towards the top corner at his near post.

39. 20'

    Injection of pace from Anelka as he looks to get past Campbell, but it's a great challenge from the centre-back. Big Sol is doing admirably so far!

40. 21'

    Cynical challenge by Ramires on Gutierrez down the left wing.

41. 21'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Ramires.

42. 21'

    Fully deserved booking there, it was a reckless challenge and Newcastle have a free-kick.

43. 22'

    Routledge looks to cross towards Ameobi, but it's just over the towering striker's head and out for a goal-kick.

44. 22'

    Carroll with a massive shoulder charge on Cole that knocked the left-back off his feet.

45. 23'

    Ruled to be a foul though and Malouda will deliver the free-kick.

46. 23'

    Drogba gets in ahead of Taylor but he's unavle to direct his header any closer than ten yards wide of the left-hand post.

47. 24'

    Routledge escapes into some space down the right-wing and floats a great ball in towards Ameobi and Carroll. The former heads the ball down but the latter was going for the same ball so there is no one to pounce in the knockdown.

48. 25'

    Chelsea corner now.

49. 25'

    Header by Alex is cleared off the line by Taylor and then Anelka nods the ball back into the danger zone but Newcastle claer their lines after a bit of pinball in the six-yard box.

50. 26'

    Another corner now for Chelsea as the Blues press for an equaliser. Malouda to take it.

51. 26'

    Ameobi and Carroll again go for the same ball.

52. 26'

    Well claimed by Krul from another Chelsea corner.

53. 28'

    Chelsea again marauding forward but the Magpies are defending resolutely and looking to hit the Blues on the break.

54. 29'

    Another good break down the right from Routledge and his ball is cleared away though it caused a bit of bother in the Chelsea area.

55. 30'

    Gutierrez tries his luck from distance. He shouldn't have though. Miles over.

56. 31'

    <i>Stats: Newcastle and Chelsea have met 130 times in league encounters. Newcastle have won 44 times, with Chelsea victorious on 52 occasions. </i>

57. 32'

    The snow starting to fall quite heavily now at St James' Park.

58. 32'

    Chelsea still keeping the ball well, definitely the better of the two teams. But they have looked less penetrative than Newcastle.

59. 34'

    Kalou emerges into some space into the area but Campbell uses his strength and experience to guide him out and secure the goal-kick for the Magpies.

60. 35'

    Drogba lays the ball off to Anelka but Jose Enrique tackles back well. That is followed by the teams exxhanging possession about ten times in the space of 90 seconds. A really frenetic period of the game.

61. 36'

    Tiote eases Drogba off the ball but the Chelsea captain is on the floor like a sack of spuds. He runs to the ref looking irate but looking at the replay the contact is so minimal in comparison to the manner at which Drogba threw himself on the floor.

62. 37'

    <i>Stats: The Magpies had previously not scored in their last three league matches against Chelsea. Before this game it was 304 minutes (five hours and four minutes) since Nicky Butt scored in a 2-1 away defeat in December 2007. </i>

63. 38'

    Tiote and Drogba tangle again and this time the Newcastle midfielder wins the free-kick.

64. 39'

    Newcastle heading down the right wing now but the move is broken up and Ramires comes away with the ball, before promptly giving possession straight back to the home side with a truly terrible imitation of a cross-field pass.

65. 40'

    Ameobi wins a free-kick just inside his own box.

66. 40'

    Taylor floats it forward and Carroll won the flick on against Alex. Ivanovic misses the ball and Ameobi could be in...

67. 41'

    But Cech comes and smothers the ball at his feet. Great goalkeeping.

68. 42'

    Cole goes down in the area and Tiote again the man involved. Referee Marriner waves away the appeals though.

69. 43'

    Carroll has been absolutely imperious in the air today, I haven't seen him fail to win a header as yet!

70. 44'

    <i>Stats: Chelsea are unbeaten in their last three Premier League trips to St James' Park. The last two visits have ended in 2-0 successes, with Florent Malouda scoring on both occasions. </i>

71. 44'

    Ramires does well to escape the clutches of Carroll and Chelsea try to probe once more.

72. 45'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Kalou slots it home.

73. 45'

    Kalou made some space just inside the area and right-foot shot deflected off Simpson and ended up in the bottom right-hand corner.

74. 45'

    <b>HALF-TIME. Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea.</b> A great contest so far, Carroll pounced on a defensive error to give Newcastle an early lead but Kalou's goal on the stroke of half-time will give the champions renewed hope. Grab yourself a cup of tea and we will be back in 15 minutes.

75. 46'

    Right, we're off for the second period.

76. 46'

    Chelsea straight on the front foot with Anelka,who advanced into the area and then claimed a penalty when he struck the ball into the hand of Simpson.

77. 46'

    But Simpson's hand was right down by his side. There was no chance MArriner would have given that!

78. 46'

    Gutierrez does fantastically well to keep the ball in play, but the Blues have it back now.

79. 47'

    Cole dispossessed superbly by Simpson, who plays it on to Ameobi down the right wing. Solid defending by Ivanovic though to force the striker out of play.

80. 47'

    <i>Stats: Newcastle have lost their last six league home games against Big Four opposition, conceding at least twice in the process. </i>

81. 48'

    Ivanovic gives Carroll a shove and Newcastle have a free-kick about 35 yards out in a central position.

82. 48'

    Guthrie with a genuinely rubbish delivery - it floats harmlessly out of play for a goal-kick.

83. 49'

    Bosingwa looking for an incisive break down the right, but again the Magpies defend resolutely.

84. 51'

    Chelsea certainly look to be pressing Newcastle higher up the pitch in this half, the Magpies have very little space in which to operate.

85. 52'

    Cole fires a cross in from the left but despite going slap bang in the middle of 'the danger zone', neither Drogba or Kalou were alert enough.

86. 53'

    Newcastle corner now after some good work by Routledge down the right.

87. 53'

    Terrible delivery straight into Cech's grateful grasp.

88. 54'

    Strong effort from Drogba, who controlled the ball with his chest and produced a stinging shot as he went away from goal. Krul saved and Taylor hoofed the subsequent rebound away.

89. 56'

    Newcastle in an advanced position down the left now, with Gutierrez looking to make some space.

90. 57'

    Chelsea clear it way but Newcastle coming straight back at them.

91. 57'

    Enrique gives the ball away this time and the Blues have proper posession for the first time in a good few minutes.

92. 58'

    Gutierrez forces a roar from the St James' Park faithful as he skips away from Bosingwa and then Alex, and Newcastle look to sustain the pressure.

93. 59'

    Routledge brings down Cole and Chelsea can monmetarily breathe.

94. 59'

    Routledge crosses in to Carroll who directs his header towards Cech, though he was penalised for fouling Ivanovic.

95. 60'

    Drogba escapes from Enrique and looks to be in but the Newcastle left-back does really well tot rack back into position and ends up drawing the foul from Drogba.

96. 61'

    Cech in no-man's land and Routledge has an empty goal to fire at from the edge of the box...

97. 61'

    Cole heads it off the line!

98. 61'

    Cracking clearance from Cole as the shot was very powerfully struck.

99. 61'

    Gutierrez in space on the left and he's won a corner.

100. 62'

     Poor delivery from Guthrie and Ramires sprints out on the break. Electric pace from the Brazilian and he releases Kalou down the middle. He takes it past taylor but Enrique is again the man running back to mop up.

101. 64'

     Dangerous ball across the box from Cole and Enrique is there again! This time, he gets in ahead of Krul to hammer it clear.

102. 64'

     This has really developed into a hugely entertaining game. End-to-end stuff at the moment.

103. 65'

     Anelka with a good strike from 25 yards out but he's just dragged it a touch and it's finished wide of the goal.

104. 66'

     <i>Stats: Kevin Nolan has scored six of his seven Premier League goals at St James' Park this season, the equal best home performer in the league along with Chelsea duo Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda. </i>

105. 67'

     Malouda's turn to break for Chelsea this time, he slips in Anelka but Taylor gets his foot across and it's a corner.

106. 67'

     Alex left face down in the turf after a collision with Carroll, and moments later Drogba swivels and shoots but Krul manages to hold onto the effort.

107. 68'

     Alex is okay and he's back up and running.

108. 69'

     Anelka just dropping deep and probing at the moment.

109. 69'

     Routledge with an exremely lightweight challenge on Ramires and Chelsea come streaming forward again. Drogba in space ont he right-side of the box, and he wins a corner.

110. 70'

     Malouda's corner met by Ivanovic but Krul just about keeps hold of it - it had seemes he might drop it at first but he held on tight.

111. 71'

     <i>Stats: All four of Chelsea's league defeats this season have come after they conceded the opening goal. The only occasion they have bucked that trend this season was a comeback win at Blackburn last month. </i>

112. 72'

     Krul comes out to claim well with Malouda waiting to pounce on any fumble.

113. 72'

     It's been all Chelsea for the last ten minutes or so. Newcastle beginning to look tired. Remember, it is both Campbell and Taylor's first league start of the season.

114. 73'

     And just as I write that, Campbell gives the ball away and gets his feet muddled up. Chelsea corner.

115. 74'

     Krul looks less than convincing at delaing with the ball but the Magpies manage to clear their lines.

116. 74'

     Ramires exchanges passes with Malouda and gets into a dangerous position on the byline, before absolutely hoofing a cross out for a throw-in. I don't know what he was thinking.

117. 75'

     No goal! Drogba was penalised for a foul and his great finish doesn't count.

118. 77'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Newcastle sub: Ranger on for Ameobi.

119. 78'

     The Blue wave just keeps coming and coming at the moment.

120. 78'

     Malouda with some tricky footwork on the right wing but Enriques does well again.

121. 79'

     Kalou should have scored!

122. 79'

     His inital effort from close range was saved by Krul but he was right in front of goal with an empty net and crashed the ball into the side-netting. It was a tight angle but it was also an open goal!

123. 80'

     Newcastle really hanging on.

124. 80'

     Kalou penalised for a foul on Krul but I think the Magpies goalkeeper was a tad fortunate there.

125. 81'

     Newcastle corner after an excellent run by Gutierrez.

126. 82'

     Ivanovic heads it out for another corner, from the right this time. Guthrie to deliver.

127. 83'

     Campbell rises highest but his header is a bit of a looper. Routledge then gets another bite at the cherry but the cross is straight into Cech's hands.

128. 84'

     <i>Stats: The Last 10 minutes possession stats see Chelsea with 82% and Newcastle with 18%. </i>

129. 84'

     Ramires fouled and Chelsea have a free-kick.

130. 84'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Tiote booked for his troubles.

131. 85'

     Taken short and the ball eventually comes to Sturridge - who has come on for Mikel, but the striker drags his shot wide and the Magpies can breathe a sigh of relief.

132. 86'

     Ranger tiptoes through the middle of the Chelsea defence but after leaving Cole and Alex like statues, Ivanovic runs back to tackle.

133. 87'

     Ranger again finds himself advancing into space and he has won a corner.

134. 87'

     Cleared out and Anelka does well to take the ball out of defence.

135. 88'

     But here come the Magpies again as Chelsea try to regroup - they have five forwards on the pitch now really. Surely one of Sturridge, Drogba, Anelka, Malouda or Kalou will be able to break the Magpies' resistance?

136. 89'

     Great defending AGAIN from Enrique to prevent Sturridge from getting a cross in.

137. 89'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Guthrie with a reckless challenge on Ivanovic.

138. 90'

     Three minutes of stoppage time to play.

139. 90'

     Nailbiting stuff, this is a fantastic end to the game!

140. 91'

     Malouda playing more centrally now, releases Anelka down the left but Routledge forces him out of play and it's a Newcastle throw-in.

141. 92'

     Newcastle break now...

142. 92'

     But Chelsea have it back with Ivanovic and are moving forward at pace. Genuinely end-to-end!

143. 93'

     Shepherded out by Simpson and it's a Magpies' goal-kick.

144. 93'

     Newcastle free-kick and will there be one last chance for the home side?

145. 93'

     No is the answer, it's all over.

146. 93'

     <b>FULL-TIME. Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea. </b> A thoroughly enjoyable game of football, though not for the champions. That's four points from their last possible 15 and Chelsea are now two points behind United at the top of the table. Really good performance from Newcastle, especially their defenders who held on resolutely at the end. Enrique was immense and Carroll had a great game, but Ancelotti will be left wondering what else he can do after finishing the game with five forwards. That's all here

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