Shearer leaves Chelsea singing the blues

NEWCASTLE...2 CHELSEA...1: Noise, drama, great goals and a vitally important victory, yet for Newcastle United as well as Chelsea this was an afternoon almost as memorable for what was lost.

For Chelsea it was the Premiership title after a third defeat in four games. Though the title was never really theirs to lose, official confirmation came from Arsenal at White Hart Lane anyway. "I congratulated Arsenal four games ago," said Claudio Ranieri. "They were champions after the Liverpool match."

For Newcastle it was Jonathan Woodgate who was lost. The defender departed with a suspected torn thigh muscle which may rule him out of the rest of Newcastle's season, UEFA Cup semi-final second leg in Marseille included. Woodgate's stature over the past few games has been sufficient for his potential absence to take the edge off an otherwise major win. "Torn thighs are usually three to four weeks, but it could be six," said Bobby Robson. Woodgate's injury will also be viewed anxiously by Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Woodgate and his opposite number John Terry were both outstanding yesterday, yet the pair were eclipsed by another man Eriksson watches with bottom lip bit, Alan Shearer.

Three minutes into the second half, Shearer spun on to a pass from Olivier Bernard and looked up. He was 30 yards out and in a similar position to where he scored his famous volley against Everton last season. Marcel Desailly made the mistake of backing off, Shearer took instant advantage and stroked an electrifying shot across the static Marco Ambrosio into the far top corner. It was Shearer's 28th goal of the season and one of his best ever. St James' Park, louder than it has been all season, erupted.

Despite a subsequent series of chances at each end, Shearer's goal won the three points that hoisted his side back on to level terms with Liverpool in the race for fourth place. Newcastle have a game in hand, but like two more of their remaining four fixtures it is away, at Southampton.

With their first-choice XI disintegrating and the treatment room filling up, Newcastle may yet have to win at Anfield on the last day of the season.

Chelsea also have much to lose even now. One point ahead of Manchester United, second place and an automatic Champions League position is theirs to forfeit. The two meet at Old Trafford on the season's penultimate weekend.

Four days earlier, Chelsea host Monaco in the European Cup semi-final, trailing 3-1. They could do with beating Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, just to get the winning feeling back.

Chelsea have not won since the landmark night at Highbury. Four league games have provided two points - 0-0 draws at home to Middlesbrough and Everton.

Arguably they should have won here, certainly drawn. Joe Cole scored his first league goal for the club on six minutes, accepting Frank Lampard's give-and-go and then bursting into the area to poke the ball past Shay Given.

It put Chelsea in charge. On the half-hour, however, Cole was in an equally promising spot but shot wide.

Chelsea were sharper than Newcastle then, Cole and Wayne Bridge combining effectively and Eidur Gudjohnsen drifting wilfully. At the back Terry was immense. But in the 40th minute Shearer climbed above him for the first time and worried Ambrosio with a header.

Newcastle gained momentum. Four minutes later Shola Ameobi took a chip from Hugo Viana on the edge of Chelsea's area. Desailly was up Ameobi's back but Ameobi had quick feet and a good first touch. In one swivel he was around Desailly and the ball was drilled into the bottom corner.

In injury-time Terry, up for a last surge, met Geremi's centre on the run six yards out. The ball hit the post and bounced to safety, an incredible miss. Ranieri's head shook.