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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle | Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Didier Drogba came off the bench to strike Chelsea's late winner and reduce Manchester United's lead at the Premiership summit to five points. | Didier Drogba came off the bench to strike Chelsea's late winner and reduce Manchester United's lead at the Premiership summit to five points. |
| Jose Mourinho dropped Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko to the bench, but they combined for the latter to bundle in from six yards with 16 minutes left. | Jose Mourinho dropped Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko to the bench, but they combined for the latter to bundle in from six yards with 16 minutes left. |
| Antoine Sibierski gave Chelsea a scare by heading against the bar early on. | Antoine Sibierski gave Chelsea a scare by heading against the bar early on. |
| But Chelsea improved after the break, with Arjen Robben hitting a post after Drogba broke the deadlock. | But Chelsea improved after the break, with Arjen Robben hitting a post after Drogba broke the deadlock. |
| It was a night of struggle for Chelsea, but they prevailed in trademark fashion to extend their unbeaten Premiership run at Stamford Bridge to 53 games. | It was a night of struggle for Chelsea, but they prevailed in trademark fashion to extend their unbeaten Premiership run at Stamford Bridge to 53 games. |
| Chelsea axed off-colour striker Shevchenko and rested Drogba, who had a knock and was on the bench. | Chelsea axed off-colour striker Shevchenko and rested Drogba, who had a knock and was on the bench. |
| The changes provided starting opportunities for Robben, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Salomon Kalou. | The changes provided starting opportunities for Robben, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Salomon Kalou. |
| 606: DEBATE We made hard work of it and Newcastle did well to keep us at bay for so long VA 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE We made hard work of it and Newcastle did well to keep us at bay for so long VA 606: Have your say |
| Kalou wasted two opportunities and Frank Lampard shot over as Chelsea dominated the early exchanges - but once injury-hit Newcastle settled to their task they were more than a match for Chelsea in the opening half. | Kalou wasted two opportunities and Frank Lampard shot over as Chelsea dominated the early exchanges - but once injury-hit Newcastle settled to their task they were more than a match for Chelsea in the opening half. |
| Sibierski almost shocked Chelsea after 15 minutes when he rose highest to meet James Milner's corner, but headed against the bar. | Sibierski almost shocked Chelsea after 15 minutes when he rose highest to meet James Milner's corner, but headed against the bar. |
| And 10 minutes before half-time Giuseppe Rossi was narrowly off target with a left-foot snap shot. | And 10 minutes before half-time Giuseppe Rossi was narrowly off target with a left-foot snap shot. |
| But Newcastle's plans were disrupted again just before the interval when Charles N'Zogbia fell awkwardly and was stretchered off with a knee injury, to be replaced by Matty Pattison. | But Newcastle's plans were disrupted again just before the interval when Charles N'Zogbia fell awkwardly and was stretchered off with a knee injury, to be replaced by Matty Pattison. |
| Chelsea's display had lacked vigour, and the champions made a double change during the interval. | Chelsea's display had lacked vigour, and the champions made a double change during the interval. |
| Wright-Phillips had endured another frustrating evening and he was replaced by Drogba, with Claude Makelele replacing the injured Ricardo Carvalho. | Wright-Phillips had endured another frustrating evening and he was replaced by Drogba, with Claude Makelele replacing the injured Ricardo Carvalho. |
| Drogba almost made an instant impact when he stole in on the end of Robben's cross, but headed wide. | Drogba almost made an instant impact when he stole in on the end of Robben's cross, but headed wide. |
| And Newcastle keeper Shay Given needed to be alert after 58 minutes to block an angled free-kick from Robben. | And Newcastle keeper Shay Given needed to be alert after 58 minutes to block an angled free-kick from Robben. |
| Chelsea were struggling to break Newcastle's stubborn resistance, resulting in Mourinho sending on Shevchenko for Geremi after 66 minutes. | Chelsea were struggling to break Newcastle's stubborn resistance, resulting in Mourinho sending on Shevchenko for Geremi after 66 minutes. |
| Kalou had got himself into dangerous positions, but his finishing was wayward and he shot wildly over with his right foot after working an opening inside the area. | Kalou had got himself into dangerous positions, but his finishing was wayward and he shot wildly over with his right foot after working an opening inside the area. |
| Chelsea finally broke the deadlock in somewhat fortuitous fashion after 74 minutes through Drogba. | Chelsea finally broke the deadlock in somewhat fortuitous fashion after 74 minutes through Drogba. |
| Robben's cross found Shevchenko, whose attempted shot fell into the path of Drogba, who made no mistake from six yards out. | Robben's cross found Shevchenko, whose attempted shot fell into the path of Drogba, who made no mistake from six yards out. |
| The strike left Newcastle deflated, and Given was forced to turn a header from John Terry over the top. | The strike left Newcastle deflated, and Given was forced to turn a header from John Terry over the top. |
| As Glenn Roeder's side wilted, Given was outstanding again to turn Robben's low shot on to an upright. | As Glenn Roeder's side wilted, Given was outstanding again to turn Robben's low shot on to an upright. |
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: "Didier Drogba's attitude was brilliant. He was injured and there was maybe the risk of a bigger injury if he played, but at a tough time we needed him and he came on and made his contribution with the goal. | |
| "The team understood the message at half-time and the message was that we couldn't afford to lose points from this game. | |
| "Sometimes you get points through quality and sometimes you get it with your heart, and we did it with our heart." | |
| Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder: "I was very proud of my players. I think we deserved a point. | |
| "We were little unlucky with the goal because Andriy Shevchenko's ball for Didier Drogba's goal was not a pass. | |
| "World class players don't normally scuff shots, but Shevchenko scuffed his shot and it turned out to be a very good scuff and Drogba is lethal from six yards. | |
| "It was a real shame because we battled so hard and I cannot say enough good things about the attitude of my players here, especially with so many young players in the team." | |
| Chelsea: Hilario, Geremi (Shevchenko 67), Carvalho (Makelele 46), Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Wright-Phillips (Drogba 46), Kalou, Robben.Subs Not Used: Hedman, Bridge. | Chelsea: Hilario, Geremi (Shevchenko 67), Carvalho (Makelele 46), Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Wright-Phillips (Drogba 46), Kalou, Robben.Subs Not Used: Hedman, Bridge. |
| Booked: Essien, Makelele. | Booked: Essien, Makelele. |
| Goals: Drogba 74. | Goals: Drogba 74. |
| Newcastle: Given, Huntington, Ramage, Taylor, Babayaro, Rossi, Butt, N'Zogbia (Pattison 44), Milner, Sibierski (Luque 78), Martins.Subs Not Used: Srnicek, O'Brien, Edgar. | Newcastle: Given, Huntington, Ramage, Taylor, Babayaro, Rossi, Butt, N'Zogbia (Pattison 44), Milner, Sibierski (Luque 78), Martins.Subs Not Used: Srnicek, O'Brien, Edgar. |
| Booked: Ramage, Babayaro. | Booked: Ramage, Babayaro. |
| Att: 41,945 | Att: 41,945 |
| Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire). | Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire). |