01/03/2003  Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1
 
Frenchman Olivier Bernard was Newcastle's hero as Sir Bobby 
Robson finally shattered his Chelsea hoodoo.

Full-back Bernard fired home a 53rd-minute winner to put 
the Magpies level on points with second-placed Manchester 
United and hand Robson his first victory over the Londoners 
since he took over at St James' Park.

But perhaps more significantly, it extended the gap over 
fellow Champions League aspirants Chelsea to seven points with 
a game in hand.

However, they had to fight all the way for victory as the 
visitors ensured that debutant Jonathan Woodgate was not 
allowed a gentle baptism in a game they could not afford to 
lose.

The £9million new boy was a tower of strength, but he was 
not alone as the Magpies turned in a spirited defensive 
display to extend their record of not losing in the 
Premiership immediately after a European tie to 20 games.

Ironically, it was Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 
who put them in front with a 31st-minute own goal, and 
although Frank Lampard levelled within five minutes, Bernard 
ensured that the points went to Tyneside.

The Newcastle faithful among a crowd of 52,157 turned up 
determined to give Woodgate a rousing welcome, but Hasselbaink 
and Eidur Gudjohnsen had different ideas.

He was not about to be allowed to stroll through his debut, 
and nor were his team-mates as the visitors arrived intent on 
extending the stranglehold on the Magpies under Robson's 
charge.

While the Magpies enjoyed the greater share of possession 
before the break, it was Claudio Ranieri's men who looked the 
more likely to score, and so it transpired with 31 minutes 
gone.

Hasselbaink met the ball at the near post with a glancing 
header which flew into the back of the net, although sadly for 
him, it was his own as his attempt to clear Nolberto Solano's 
cross proved disastrous.

It was hard luck on Chelsea, who had managed largely to 
nullify the threat of Kieron Dyer and Craig Bellamy, although 
their fortunes were to improve.

Shay Given saved well from Gudjohnsen after he slipped away 
from Andy O'Brien to collect Mario Stanic's cross, but the 
Irishman will not have been pleased with his part in the 
equaliser on 36 minutes.

Given came for but missed Hasselbaink's deep right-wing 
corner, and although Aaron Hughes cleared to the edge of the 
box, Lampard was able to steer a shot into the roof of the net 
with the keeper still scurrying back.

Things could have been worse for Newcastle and Given 
redeemed himself with a good save from Jesper Gronkjaer five 
minutes before the break.

The home side returned knowing that they would have to be 
better after the break, and despite their exertions in Europe, 
they upped their workrate and reaped the rewards within eight 
minutes.

Portuguese international Hugo Viana, who had received a 
knock to his injured shoulder during the first-half, found 
space on the left and delivered a perfectly-weighted ball into 
the path of overlapping full-back Bernard, who lifted his shot 
over the advancing Carlo Cudicini to restore his side's 
lead.

Given denied Chelsea a second equaliser two minutes later 
when he pulled off a fine reaction save to keep out Lampard's 
header after William Gallas had returned Hasselbaink's corner 
across goal.

Ranieri opted for all-out attack as the game entered the 
final stages, sending on Gianfranco Zola, Boudewijn Zenden and 
Carlton Cole, and Zenden whistled a 72nd-minute shot just wide 
to keep Newcastle on their toes.

Robson responded by replacing wide men Viana and Solano 
with defenders Titus Bramble and Andy Griffin, and the result 
was an enthralling conclusion as the pattern of the first half 
was reversed with the visitors surging forward and their hosts 
defending tigerishly and countering on the break.

But a spirited United held out to clinch the points and 
maintain their charge up the Premiership table.