Zola provides touch of class

Claudio Ranieri again rang the changes last night but there remains one constant in this resurgent Chelsea. Gianfranco Zola's continuing excellence, typified by his wonderful equaliser, constructed the platform for his side's domination of the second half, which was rounded off with eye-catching goals by Gustavo Poyet and Jesper Gronkjaer.

The Italian's goal - his 10th of the season - and Poyet's speak of renewed confidence at the Bridge was underlined by Gronkjaer's emphatic strike 11 minutes from time. Europe may yet welcome Chelsea again next season.

However, United had the best of the opening exchanges and they opened the scoring when Nol Solano dispossessed Celestine Babayaro and fired a canny pass up the right flank. Kieron Dyer took possession, ran on, took one look at the non-departing Frank Leboeuf and sped past him to the byline before crossing.

The towering Shola Ameobi missed but the hovering Christian Bassedas did not, firing low to Carlo Cudicini's left.

Amid Chelsea's largely unconvincing early attacks, Zola's talent shone and he came to the boil on 37 minutes when he received Babayaro's pass, cut inside and, despite facing four Newcastle shirts, half-turned and curled a superb shot from 22 yards past the hopelessly beaten Shay Given.

Gronkjaer's surging runs down the left featured in Chelsea's early second-half attacks but it was the more thoughtful touches of Zola and Poyet that threatened to unhinge United who, despite a fair share of possession, rarely threatened Cudicini's goal.

Chelsea's pressure paid off on 62 minutes when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink curled an inviting low cross into the area. Poyet reacted fractionally faster than the defenders, flicking the ball cleverly past Given.

CHELSEA: Cudicini, Ferrer, Babayaro, Leboeuf, Melchiot, Poyet (Stanic 87), Wise, Le Saux (Gronkjaer 30), Dalla Bona, Zola (Gudjohnsen 84), Hasselbaink. Subs Not Used: de Goey, Jokanovic. Booked: Gronkjaer. Goals: Zola 37, Poyet 62, Gronkjaer 79.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Barton, Quinn, Goma, Hughes, Solano, Acuna, Bassedas, Speed, Dyer (Lua-Lua 78), Ameobi (Cordone 78). Subs Not Used: Marcelino, Griffin, Karelse. Booked: Barton, Bassedas. Goal: Bassedas 23.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).