Newcastle United – Chelsea

1. Live commentary will appear here from 1245 GMT.

2. Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas badly needs a victory - both to leapfrog Newcastle back into the top four and to boost confidence ahead of their vital Champions League clash with Valencia.

3. Arsene Wenger believes Villas-Boas should be given the time he needs to get the Blues on track - you can read about that <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/991501/arsene-wenger-sympathises-with-andre-villas-boas?cc=5739" target="_blank"></a><a href="" target="_blank">here</a>.

4. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/1201/andrevillas-boaspressersmile_275x155.jpg"><br>Villas-Boas has remained calm in the face of the current poor run of form.

5. <b>Chelsea team:</b> Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole, Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Drogba, Sturridge. Subs: Turnbull, Bosingwa, Bertrand, Meireles, Malouda, Kalou, Torres.

6. <b>Newcastle team: </b>Krul, Simpson, S.Taylor, Coloccini (c), R.Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Ben Arfa, Ba. Subs: Harper, Perch, Santon, Gosling, Sammy Ameobi, Best, Shola Ameobi.

7. Good day, and welcome to Mike Ashley Park.

8. Today, we've got some football, and I'm excited. Newcastle host Chelsea, don't you know.

9. I (James Dall) did a preview of this match, and you can read that <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=318031&cc=5739">here</a>.

10. Robin Hackett, sitting diagonal to me, has said the Sun is reporting that both Alex and Anelka have been banned from first-team training ahead of January exits.

11. Romeu starts again for Chelsea. The youngster now appears a regular for the Blues, having usurped the often useless Mikel.

12. TWITTER! Yes, I am on it, and will get this one shameless pre-match plug over and done with now. Fire your match comments to: <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/JamesDallESPN">@JamesDallESPN</a>

13. A minute's silence is due prior to kick-off to remember the late Gary Speed, who played almost 300 times for Newcastle.

14. Newcastle's John Carver is very emotional as the minute's silence turns into applause and then chanting for the great man, Speed.

15. The Toon huddle pre kick-off, the team eager to build on their hard-fought point at Old Trafford.

16. 1'

    <b>KICK-OFF:</b> Newcastle get the game started and immediately lose the ball.

17. 2'

    Villas-Boas looks typically dapper on the touchline.

18. 3'

    Chelsea work it tidily but Steven Taylor is there to shut the door, sweeping up after poor control from Drogba.

19. 4'

    Cheers from the home fans as Simpson is quickly in on Mata to tackle the Spaniard.

20. 5'

    Outstanding run from Ramries as he makes up 40 yards. He looks to slip the ball to Drogba but Coloccini is there to cut out the ball.

21. 5'

    Oh my...

22. 6'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Goodness me. Ba gets the wrong side of Luiz following a lovely pass from Lovenkrands. Luiz takes down Ba, as they collide, and a free-kick is awarded. A red is surely due, but no, Dean brandishes a yellow. Certainly looked a clear goalscoring opportunity.

23. 7'

    Ryan Taylor to to take the resulting free-kick...

24. 8'

    Alas, in spite of R Taylor being so adept from deadballs, his free-kick hits the top of the wall.

25. 9'

    Luiz does what he does best: not defend. He surges forward, all the way up to the edge of the Newcastle box.

26. 10'

    Newcastle fans singing at Luiz: "You're just a s**t Coloccini."

27. 11'

    Luiz again goes rogue, losing the ball in a dangerous area. Man is mental (not literally). In other, more meaningful news, a minute's applause rings out in the 11th minute, in Speed's honour.

28. 12'

    Super play from Sturridge as he darts down the right and hooks in a cross. S Taylor is well positioned to head away though.

29. 13'

    Bemusement in the ESPNsoccernet office over how that wasn't a red card for Luiz. He has got away with one there. Pardew looks peeved on the sidelines.

30. 14'

    <b>PENALTY TO CHELSEA.</b>

31. 14'

    Cabaye clumsily fells Sturridge in the box. Absolute stonewall pen.

32. 14'

    <b>KRUL SAVES IT!</b>

33. 15'

    What a save that was. Lampard trotted up and slotted low towards the bottom corner but Krul sprung to get a hand on the effort and tip it onto the post.

34. 16'

    Massive chance for Chelsea there as they had two over on the right, but Ivanovic picks out the wrong pass.

35. 17'

    <b>Woodwork!</b> Sturridge is the danger man, of that there is no doubt. The England man unleashes a venomous shot that smacks against Krul's near post.

36. 18'

    Boos rain down as Sturridge goes down theatrically in the middle of the park. Throw-in given.

37. 19'

    Guthrie is in sharply on Sturridge following a poor touch. The home fans enjoyed that.

38. 20'

    Villas-Boas is crouching, as only he knows how. His hamstrings must be in all sorts of bother.

39. 21'

    Sturridge has a ping from range, and Krul scrambles to his left but sees the ball zip wide.

40. 22'

    Replays show Krul was a yard or so off his line when Lampard struck his penalty.

41. 23'

    Sturridge AGAIN the man causing problems against Newcastle. He races clear down the left, where the Toon look so exposed, and cuts in to shoot. The shot is low and straight at Krul, who smothers well.

42. 24'

    Chelsea have had five shots, four of which I think have been had by Sturridge. Newcastle need to plug the gaps down their left, or otherwise they will concede. Soon.

43. 25'

    Ooo! Lovenkrands curls in a wonderful cross and Ba angles the ball goalwards with a flick of the ankle. Cech is forced to tip over. A fine chance.

44. 26'

    The opening 25 minutes have been thoroughly enjoyable thus far. More of the same, please.

45. 27'

    Perch is going to come on for Newcastle. Coloccini has a problem.

46. 28'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Perch is on for Coloccini. Newcastle have of course named an unchange back four for each league match this season. Might Perch's early inclusion spell worry?

47. 29'

    Resident Newcastle fan Chris Murphy reckons that change means curtains for Newcastle in this game.

48. 30'

    Wow. Wicked turn from Mata, and I mean wicked. The Spaniard rolls his man with a stunning flick before curling in a classy cross. Drogba looks to meet it but is denied by R Taylor.

49. 31'

    Obertan receives the ball high up the field for the first proper time. Cole has him in his pocket though.

50. 32'

    Ramires is very good.

51. 33'

    Romeu has a shot from distance, but the effort is rather wayward. He has been tidy, the Spaniard, winning the ball back and distributing well.

52. 34'

    Lampard hangs up a cross from the left but Krul is there to pluck the ball out of the air.

53. 35'

    Clumsy challenge from, yep you guessed it, Luiz in the box to fell Ba. Nothing doing from the ref.

54. 35'

    Woah!

55. 36'

    Guthrie sends in a cross and Ba leaps well. His header is downwards and comes off the post. Terry looks to swipe clear but his clearance hits Luiz, and threaten to deflect home, only for the ball to fall the wrong side of the post.

56. 37'

    What a game this is. No goals, mind.

57. 38'

    Wahey! Lovenkrands goes over the advertising hoardings in comical fashion.

58. 39'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL!!!</b> Drogba scores for Chelsea!

59. 39'

    Mata nips in from a throw-in and sends in a classy cross. Drogba rises and slams in a header. No chance for Krul.

60. 40'

    One wondered how there hadn't been a goal, and so it came. There was initially some debate over whether it was a Chelsea throw in the lead up to the goal. Replays show it was.

61. 41'

    How on earth has Sturridge not scored? Lampard sends him on goal but the striker's shot is tepid and Krul makes a solid save.

62. 42'

    Ba is causing Luiz all sorts of issues. He is giving the Brazilian a really tough time.

63. 43'

    Chelsea certainly deserve their lead, but Newcastle will point to the red card that wasn't brandished.

64. 44'

    Ba leaves Romeu for dead, but then tries to take on a million players, before losing the ball.

65. 45'

    There will be two minutes of added time.

66. 45'

    Sturridge skins R Taylor once more but the full back hangs out a desperate leg to win back the ball.

67. <b>Half-time:</b> Newcastle 0-1 Chelsea.

68. Drogba's goal is the difference following an enthralling first half. Luiz is lucky to still be on the pitch, while I need to pop to the bathroom. Be right back.

69. I am back, with a sandwich in hand. Hurrah. In other news, how was Luiz's foul on Ba a yellow? How?

70. Some news! (Sorry Newcastle fans). O'Neill confirmed as manager of Sunderland.

71. The second half is about to get under way, yes it is indeed. I am looking forward to it. Are you?

72. 46'

    <b>KICK-OFF:</b> Second half begins, and there's been a change at the interval...

73. 46'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ben Arfa has been replaced by Ameobi.

74. 47'

    Apparently the officials indicated at half time they thought Ba's chance wasn't a "clear goalscoring opportunity". Not entirely sure how that could have been the case.

75. 48'

    Bit of a quiet beginning to the second half, compared to the first. Let's hope the players are just warming into matters.

76. 49'

    Second 'wahey' of the match as Ameobi looks to win a corner but his blast against Luiz comes back off the defender and plonks him the face.

77. 50'

    Newcastle are doing the pressing. Chelsea standing firm though.

78. 51'

    The ball falls loose to Ameobi, who thumps at goal. Lampard is there to make a vital block.

79. 52'

    Ameobi then commits a foul, which helps to relieve the pressure on the visitors.

80. 53'

    Ooof. A deep cross to the back post is pulled down brilliantly by Drogba. He then lashes at goal but the ball whistles wide. Half the ground thought it was in, as they say. It wasn't.

81. 54'

    Mata is boss. Just executed another terrific piece of skill.

82. 55'

    <b>WOODWORK</b>

83. 56'

    All hell just broke loose. Newcastle swung in a corner and a combination of Drogba and Ba manage to hammer the ball against the crossbar. Chelsea spring clear, on the counter. Sturridge slips in Ramries, who is clean through, but the midfielder sees his shot just diverted wide by Krul. An breathe.

84. 57'

    Chelsea look so dangerous on the break. You wonder whether Newcastle are chasing this deficit too early. Still many minutes left.

85. 58'

    It opens up for Ameobi, who needs little invitation to shoot. The strike, from 20 yards out, skims wide of the post.

86. 59'

    Obertan finally gets the better of Cole as the latter misses an interception. But the Frenchman's cross is to nobody and the move fizzles out.

87. 60'

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

88. 61'

    Cech makes an important claim from a cross. Newcastle are pushing for the leveller.

89. 62'

    Vital header from Terry as Lovenkrads' through ball almost finds the charging Ba.

90. 63'

    Good legs from Simpson to keep up with Mata and hold up the Spaniard, whose pass to Meireles is cut out.

91. 64'

    Very sloppy from Ivanovic has his pass goes out of play. Chelsea have countered well but not kept the ball when needed.

92. 65'

    S Taylor does enough to nip the ball off Drogba, who was looking to fire home after charging onto a searching pass.

93. 66'

    Ba should really have given it just then, but failed to see his screaming team-mate.

94. 67'

    Very brave header from Cole there. A cross from Newcastle's left causes havoc and Ba looks to turn it in. But Cole is there to dive in and nod away, almost losing his head in the process.

95. 68'

    Terry squeezes Ameobi off the ball. Strong defending from the Chelsea man, who has been excellent today.

96. 69'

    Half chance for Mata just then but good harrying from Newcastle denied the Spaniard.

97. 70'

    Be sure to join Chris Murphy for live chat, updates and goals on all this afternoon's action.

98. 71'

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

99. 72'

    Newcastle now boasting three tall players in the two Ameobis and Ba. Be prepared for a bombardment, Chelsea.

100. 73'

     The second goal continues to evade Chelsea, and Mata's toe at goal bobbles wide of the post.

101. 74'

     Off the line! Cech doesn't deal with a looping cross and the ball drops to Sammy Ameobi, who shoots first time. But Terry is there to hack away.

102. 75'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Mata is replaced by Kalou.

103. 76'

     Important sweeping up from Krul as Sturridge looked to latch onto a long ball.

104. 77'

     Any deep ball from Newcastle needs to be aimed at Luiz, rather than Terry, as the latter has been very strong today. Not so much for the former.

105. 78'

     Perhaps an elbow into the back of Ba's head there from Terry. Not sure it was intentional.

106. 79'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Torres enters the fray, in place of the goalscorer Drogba.

107. 80'

     Torres' first touch is an iffy pass, that does find its target.

108. 81'

     <b>WOODWORK AGAIN!</b>

109. 81'

     Oh, so unlucky for Newcastle. Shola Ameobi hits a powerful drive that cannons back off the crossbar. His brother, Sammy, picks up the rebound and shoots, but Cech is down to save. The Magpies have now hit the woodwork three times.

110. 82'

     Ba offside. The fans frustrated.

111. 83'

     How wasteful does Sturridge want to be? AGAIN he is through, but AGAIN he fails to score. This time he punts a poor shot at Krul from inside the box.

112. 84'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Ba looks to pull the trigger, but he mis-times the volley. Meanwhile, it is a booking for the wasteful Sturridge for kicking the ball away.

113. 85'

     Torres has the ball in a nice area, but looks lost for ideas. He slides a pass to Sturridge but the forward is forced wide and the chance goes a-begging.

114. 87'

     Moans and groans as Guthrie's pass is rotten and floats out of play.

115. 88'

     Perch hangs out a leg to cut out Sturridge's through ball. Key block.

116. 89'

     Chelsea keeping the ball now, looking to take the sting out of the game.

117. 89'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL!!!</b> Kalou scores for wrap up the game for Chelsea!

118. 89'

     Chelsea spring clear, but Torres is the one leading the attack. He slows everything down, looking devoid of confidence. He does, though, roll the ball back to Kalou, who spanks in, via Krul's hand. Game over.

119. 90'

     Four minutes of added time will be played.

120. 90'

     Chelsea almost have a third, but the flag is up for offside and Kalou strays into an advanced position.

121. 90'

     The television award Mata the Man of the Match award.

122. 90'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL!!!</b> Sturridge scores a goal!

123. 90'

     How many shots has this boy had? Many, is the answer. Anyway, he finally gets his goal, cutting onto his left and firing low past Krul. That was an excellent finish, and a deserved goal to his name.

124. 90'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Ryan Taylor is booked for an awful tackle on Sturridge. Should/could have been a red.

125. <b>FULL-TIME:</b> Newcastle 0-3 Chelsea.

126. Well, that scoreline is harsh on Newcastle, isn't it? Pardew will be angry about Luiz staying on the field and will also feel hard done by having seen his side hit the woodwork three times and one cleared off the line. Chelsea were profligate, in particular Sturridge, but scored three, which makes for odd reading. Anyway, a much-needed win for the Blues, and that is all that matters for AVB.

127. Thank you for your company this lunchtime. Now join Chris Murphy for the live chat on the other day's games. <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/live/_/id/991583/matchday-live---december-3?cc=5739">This way</a>, please.

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