Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Chelsea 0 - 0 Newcastle

November 22 2008, Premier League, Stamford Bridge, West London



Newcastle United put in a resolute performance as they battled to earn a point against Chelsea.

The Blues were below par throughout, and their lack of invention in the final third frustrated the Stamford Bridge faithful. The visitors were tenacious and determined, and were good value for their deserved point. With Liverpool drawing 0-0 at home against Fulham, both Luiz Felipe Scolari and Rafa Benitez will consider this a missed opportunity to increase their respective points tallies.

Chelsea welcomed back goalkeeper Petr Cech into the starting line-up, and talismanic midfield maestro Frank Lampard was declared fit to play after injury had ruled him out of England's win in Berlin over Germany. Ashley Cole replaced Wayne Bridge, and the return to fitness of Joe Cole saw the England winger replace Ivorian forward Salomon Kalou. Branislav Ivanovic continued at the back with both Alex and Riccy Carvalho absent. Newcastle came into the match ravaged by injury, with no fewer than seven regular first team players on the sidelines. Obafemi Martins started up front, and captain Michael Owen replaced Shola Ameobi, but Stephen Taylor was missing.

Despite their mounting injury woes, it was the away side that created the better chances of the opening period, after putting the West London outfit under sustained periods of pressure. The first chance of the game fell to Martins, but he dragged his effort wide of Petr Cech's upright. At the other end, Malouda had an effort blocked after Deco had supplied a pinpoint cross, but Newcastle were making all the early running.

The best chance of the opening exchanges - and arguably the game - fell to Frank Lampard. The Englishman's close range header was on-target but too near to goalkeeper Shay Given, who did well to palm the ball away. The Chelsea number 8 was disappointed by his attempt, but he had successfully managed to warm up the crowd on a bitterly cold afternoon in the capital.

Anelka was next to test Given's positioning, rifling a shot from 25 yards that lacked conviction straight into the palms of the Irish shot stopper. Moments beforehand, the in-form Frenchman had headed wide from Ashley Cole's cross from the left flank, but Newcastle continued to frustrate the Blues as the effective midfield pairing of Nicky Butt and Danny Guthrie managed to shackle the attacking runs of Deco and Lampard.

The away side's commitment and determination was underlined when they fashioned a decent chance towards the end of the first 45 minutes, and but for a timely intervention from captain John Terry - scorer of the winning goal in England's 2-1 win against Germany in midweek - Michael Owen may have opened the scoring with a right-footed effort that was denied by the stretching Blues skipper. Ivanovic flicked a header over the bar from a Lampard free-kick, but Chelsea's chances were limited to set-pieces as the Newcastle defence stood firm.

Given felt the full force of Nicolas Anelka's right boot early in the second half as the first chance fell to Chelsea, before Chelsea had the ball in the back of the net on 53 minutes. It was great play from Florent Malouda, whose original effort was blocked by Shay Given following Lampard's incisive pass. The ball squirmed away from the Irish custodian and fell to Cole, who tapped home. The goal, however, was ruled out for offside - replays confirmed that it was a good decision by the linesman, but Chelsea nevertheless felt hard-done-by, as Cole was only a fraction of a yard offside. Lampard arrowed wide as the clock ticked away, and the opening goal looked less and less likely, despite Chelsea's pressure.

Shay Given nearly spilled a Lampard free kick over his own goalline, but replays suggested that referee Phil Dowd was correct in his dismissal of Chelsea claims. Lampard wasted a decent chance for that elusive opening goal with only minutes remaining after Deco has been scythed down, as he fired over Given's bar from a decent position when a cross to the far post would have been a better option.

Ballack was introduced late on for his first appearance at Stamford Bridge since returning from injury, before Salomon Kalou - a late substitute for Florent Malouda - headed wide in stoppage time. The full-time whistle was sounded, with Chelsea succumbing to their first 0-0 result at home since February - despite 14 shots on target. Chelsea have now dropped nine points at home this season - recording just three wins out of seven home matches. In comparison to their flawless away form, the Blues must improve their performances at home if they want to win the Premier League, beginning with Arsenal next weekend.
__________________________________________________________________

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Joe Cole, Deco, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka Subs: Cudicini, Ballack, Sinclair, Bridge, Ferreira, Kalou, Mineiro

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Butt, Duff, Martins, Owen Subs: Harper, Cacapa, and'Zogbia, Ameobi, Edgar, LuaLua, Carroll

Attendance: 41,660