Newcastle hum a new melody

Newcastle Utd -2 Chelsea - 1 There is something rather appropriate in the way they have taken to blasting out The Ramones here in the run-up to kick-off. Bobby Robson may make an unlikely punk rocker, but his Newcastle United often play with the crafted rush of a three-minute thrash.

Robson, as he revealed last week, is more a Frank Sinatra kind of man. He likes to swoon.

But, as Robson said after this hour-and-a-half of clashing cymbals, he is sometimes willing to sacrifice the melody if the tune in its stead is also a winner.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have been temporarily unplugged. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored a cracking goal for the second Saturday in a row, but this time it was into his own net. Frank Lampard equalised with a sweet and clever volley but, though Newcastle won through Olivier Bernard's fine finish, it was also partly because Chelsea have lost their attacking voice.

They need to find it again. Next Saturday at Highbury is one of their games of the season. Exit the FA Cup and all they have is the dash for cash that is fourth place in the Champions League. Miss that and a season in which Claudio Ranieri has been asked if Chelsea could win the Premiership is in danger of petering out.

But Chelsea are not so far off the top three, and their next three league games are West Brom away, Manchester City at home and Sunderland away. That should be nine points, which would leave them on 57 with six games left. Last season Leeds finished fifth on 66.

Newcastle - yes, Newcastle - finished this game with six defenders. There were four at the back and two in midfield and Robson loved it, loved it.

"I have to applaud Chelsea and his (Ranieri's) substitutions made me think," Robson said. "But we showed today that we have learned how to win a tight game narrowly. All the top clubs know how to win 1-0 or 2-1. We have a learning team."

Robson then referred to a not-so-distant past when Newcastle might have been "a bit more kamikaze-ish". But, when Robson took off Nolberto Solano in the 78th minute he replaced a creative midfielder with a full back, Andy Griffin. Seven minutes earlier he had taken off Hugo Viana and put on Titus Bramble. Bramble went straight beside the solid, unspectacular debutant, Jonathan Woodgate.

Robson rhapsodised about the ability of Viana to receive the ball in pressurised space and still retain it. Starting his first Premiership match since Southampton here in mid-November after breaking his arm, Viana showed afresh with some velvet touches why he is the European young footballer of the year.

Viana's dagger pass eight minutes after half-time that set up Bernard was an example of the fractions that alter the overall sum.

Newcastle had shown rare patience in the build-up to Viana receiving the ball 20 yards out. Viana delayed until the last, and best, possible moment before sliding the ball into the path of Bernard.

Newcastle now move on to Middlesbrough on Wednesday and another victory there would put 10 points between them and Chelsea. Kieron Dyer, though, is a concern. He looked in agony when he went off.

One final thought from Saturday: Jeff Winter is the Danny La Rue of referees.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Woodgate, Bernard, Solano (Griffin 79), Dyer (Ameobi 88), Speed, Viana (Bramble 72), Shearer, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: LuaLua, Caig.Goals: Hasselbaink 31 o.g., Bernard 53.

CHELSEA: Cudicini, Melchiot, Gallas, Terry, Babayaro (Cole 77), Gronkjaer (Zola 67), Morris, Lampard, Stanic (Zenden 67), Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen. Subs Not Used: Evans, Huth. Booked: Cole. Goal: Lampard 37.

Referee: J Winter (Cleveland)