NEWCASTLE UNITED v CHELSEA, 0-0 Sun 22 Apr
2007
Newcastle United tipped the title race back into Manchester
United's favour after they held Chelsea to a goalless draw at St
James' Park.
A day after derby rivals Middlesbrough had opened the door for the
reigning champions, the Magpies slammed it shut to leave United
three points clear at the top.
Glenn Roeders side were more than good value for their point after
limiting the Blues to only one effort on target, and that came 10
minutes from time.
However, Jose Mourinhos side may live to regret misses from Frank
Lampard, Salomon Kalou and at the end, substitute Joe Cole, as they
rallied after the break but could not extend their run of nine
successive Barclays Premiership victories.
But things could have been even worse for Chelsea had goalkeeper
Petr Cech not got down to block Kieron Dyers 59th-minute shot, and
the Magpies left the field to warm applause from a crowd of 52,056
after a second successive home draw against one of the top-four
sides.
Chelsea arrived on Tyneside knowing victory would take them to
within a point of United a day after they were held 1-1 at Old
Trafford by the Magpies derby rivals Middlesbrough.
However, they did so knowing that was something they had not
managed to achieve in the league at St James Park in four
visits.
Newcastle have had an intensely frustrating capacity this season to
save their best for the Barclays Premierships big guns, and having
taken all three points from Liverpool and one apiece from United
and Arsenal already, they were determined to extend that
record.
For 45 minutes, they looked more than capable as Roeders men made
the double champions look distinctly ordinary and limited them to
two attempts on goal, neither of which troubled goalkeeper Steve
Harper.
John Terrys wayward 36th-minute header and a wild long-range
striker from full-back Wayne Bridge on the stroke of half-time were
as near as the Blues, who lost Michael Ballack to injury after just
18 minutes, came to calling Harper into action.
That was due in the main to a spirited display from the Magpies,
for whom captain Nicky Butt was tenacious in midfield and central
defender Steven Taylor little short of faultless as he marshalled
Didier Drogba to such an extent that the striker started to lose
his composure as the game wore on.
For their part, Newcastle created few genuine chances, but always
looked the more likely scorers.
Antoine Sibierski caused problems for both Cech and full-back Paulo
Ferreira with a second-minute header, while Dyer saw a shot
deflected wide eight minutes later.
Obafemi Martins went close with another effort which flew behind
off a Chelsea leg and then whistled a 25-yard drive past the post
with the home fans sensing an opportunity to have a major say in
the destination of the title.
However, Chelsea returned in determined mood and had two
opportunities to take the lead within three minutes of the
restart.
Lampard shot over in the 47th minute after Kalou had twisted his
way past Solano and Titus Bramble to lay the ball back into his
path.
Kalou caused problems again seconds later to pick out Shaun
Wright-Phillips, but when he pulled the ball square for Drogba, his
attempt to curl a shot into the top corner was woefully high and
wide.
Mourinho replaced Wright-Phillips with Cole on 55 minutes, but the
Magpies went close four minutes later.
Dyer was given the benefit of a marginal offside decision to run on
to Butts through-ball, but Cech made a vital block.
Martins headed over from Milners corner, but the drama switched
swiftly to the other end when Cole found himself in space on the
left on 62 minutes.
Lampards effort from his low cross was blocked and Kalou miskicked
as he slid in, allowing Butt to tidy up.
Sibierski headed over from Milners cross two minutes later, but it
was Chelsea, aided by the arrival of substitute Andriy Shevchenko,
who finished stronger.
They got their first attempt on target when Drogba flicked in a
header at the near post, but Harper was equal to the task.
Martins headed over from a Milner cross and substitute Andy Carroll
blasted across the face of goal in injury-time.
However, Cole might have snatched victory in the final seconds when
he got a touch on Paulo Ferreiras cross, only to see his effort
spin agonisingly wide of the far post.