Wigan at the JJB on a rugby pitch (after all Wigan is a rugby town), or Bolton on your own 'lusicious bowling green' turf?

This afternoon at St James' Park it was a funny old game. Gravy Boy made five changes from midweek and Anelka got a very rare start. Ferriera started at right-back, Bridge started at left-back, Mikel came into midfield and Malouda came in for Kalou.

Joey and Super Frank were on the bench and I thought here we go again (Carling Cup final straight-away sprung to mind).

The first-half to be honest was a non-event. Don't get me wrong it was nerve racking to say the least.

After all Newcastle were on a roll, unbeaten in their last seven and Chelsea hadn't won at St James' Park since Dec 2001.

Utd's best chance fell to Owen after Cech smothered from Martins but the Utd captain's shot was cleared off the line by our own captain, JT. Ballack who made a few mistakes in the early part of the game, had Chelsea's best chance but one touch too many saw him blaze over the bar as well.

The second-half was a completely different game. For the first fifteen minutes Chelsea dominated and it was only a matter of time before Chelsea scored the first goal. Malouda broke down Chelsea's right and tried to skip a tackle from Utd's Faye who was booked for the challenge.

Malouda and Drogba set their routine and Drogba chipped the ball into the area for Ballack to head in his third goal in two games. As soon as Utd restarted the game it was Chelsea on the back foot but Newcastle couldn't capitalise on their domination. Owen had another chance, Geremi tried to reproduce a West Ham-esque free-kick despite it being taken twice, without success.

Super Frank came on for Anelka and with eight minutes to go he played his part in a simple but beautiful one-touch passing movement that led to Chelsea's 2nd goal.

At this point I congratulate the Newcastle fans for applauding Super Frank when he came on - RESPECT!

JT started the move with Essien, Ballack and Super Frank joining in before Frank slid a precise ball through for Malouda to fire home first time under the diving body of Harper.

Prior to Chelsea's first goal, JT hit the bar with a fierce header from a decent Malouda corner and a few minutes from the end, Essien had a chance to make it 3-0 but Harper saved bravely.

Chelsea suffered a blow after Carvalho crashed twice onto his back during the game and eventually was replaced by Alex, twelve minutes from time.

John Terry was booked along with Malouda. Faye and Enrique of Newcastle were also booked.

HIGHLIGHTS

http://www.bestsoccervids.com/2008/05/newcastle-united-chelsea-fc-0-2-highlights.html

Teams:

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho (Alex 78), Terry (c), Bridge, Essien, Mikel, Ballack, Anelka (Lampard 65), Drogba (Shevchenko 86), Malouda

Newcastle: Harper, Beye, Taylor, Faye, Jose Enrique (N'Zogbia 77), Geremi (Duff 80), Butt, Barton, Owen (c), Viduka (Smith h-t), Martins.

GAME ON MANURE!!!!