morning papers newcastle away

The Times

May 6, 2008
Avram Grant sparks Chelsea into life

Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 2
Martin Samuel

One of the teams performed a slightly self-conscious lap of honour at the end of this match, but not the justified one. The bouquets and plaudits deserved to be thrown and offered to Chelsea, whose players have made what could have been a dismal, depressing season for English football memorable for the right reasons.
Had the European Championship debacle been followed by disappointment in Europe and a tired, predictable chase for the Barclays Premier League title, the 2007-08 season might have fizzled out, a damp squib from every angle. Instead, the first all-English final in the Champions League will be preceded by the most exciting final day of the league in the modern era, with Chelsea locked on points at the top of the table with Manchester United, with all the delicious permutations that implies.
No Premier League season has ever been this close, indeed, only two have gone to the final day with the destination of the title still to be decided, and statisticians were forced to trawl back through four decades to find a final set of fixtures as beautifully poised.
The last comparable date was May 11, 1968, when Manchester United and Manchester City were joined at the hip on 56 points at the top of the old first division. Manchester United lost 2-1 at home to Sunderland, Manchester City won 4-3 away to Newcastle United and the prize went to Maine Road (although United stole their thunder, and how, in the European Cup final some days later). There have been other occasions when rival teams have played games in hand at a later date, collected the trophy from a beach as Derby County did in 1972, or played catch-up in an incredible head-to-head match as Arsenal managed to do away to Liverpool in 1989, but in terms of nail-biting spectacle, people with radios glued to their ears, false alarms and the potential for emotional turmoil at opposite ends of the country, this is as good as it gets.
Bookmakers, with their flint-hearted dedication to the bottom line, make United odds-on favourites, thanks to a vastly superior goal difference, but one slip, one hint of nervousness from the league leaders away to Wigan Athletic and Chelsea are in position to take advantage when they play at home to Bolton Wanderers. These three points at St James’ Park ensured that Sir Alex Ferguson will be made to work to the end of his 38 matches if he is to retain his title, which is as it should be, but so rarely is.
Set against Chelsea’s achievement in turning what many regarded as a foregone conclusion into something akin to Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty fighting to the death on Reichenbach Falls, Newcastle’s lap of thanks to the supporters for their continued indulgence in treating twelfth place as a big whoop seemed somewhat out of place. After Michael Owen, the Newcastle striker, was denied by John Terry’s clearance off the line in the 28th minute, Newcastle were outplayed in the second half once Chelsea’s players had life breathed into them by Avram Grant, the first-team coach, during the interval.
Until then, it had been a strangely listless affair, with Chelsea seemingly unconvinced that the title was within their sights, and failing to produce even a hint of a goalscoring chance before the 34th minute, when Michael Ballack shot wide after failing to bring a pass by Michael Essien under control in a good position. Nicolas Anelka was equally ineffectual two minutes later and when Chelsea’s players returned to the dressing-room it was to be greeted with the rare sight of a furious Grant, reminding them that this was no time for half-measures.
A different Chelsea then emerged, with faint hearts such as Florent Malouda suddenly efficient, particularly with set-pieces from the right. In the 49th minute, Malouda’s corner was headed wide by Ricardo Carvalho, in the 53rd minute an identical delivery led to Terry, the Chelsea captain, hitting the bar with a header. Shaken by Chelsea’s revival, Abdoulaye Faye, the Newcastle defender, dived in when confronted with Malouda on the run and provided Chelsea with a sufficient gap to conjure a grandstand finish next weekend.
The free kick was crafted or cock-up, depending on your point of view. Malouda stepped over the ball, Didier Drogba stepped up, hesitated as if slightly confused, took a pace back and curled in the ball, directly on to the head of Ballack, who had lost Alan Smith, his marker. Steve Harper, the Newcastle goalkeeper, had no chance and, the odd skirmish around the Chelsea penalty area aside, the visiting team barely looked troubled after that. Twice, in the 71st minute, Terry cleared and Newcastle returned fire, but on the first occasion Obafemi Martins shot wide and on the second Owen could not get a touch on an effort by Nicky Butt.
After that, having weathered the briefest of storms, Chelsea set course for home. The introduction of Frank Lampard as a replacement for the woeful Anelka — he must be the only player who looks worse having left Bolton to be a Champions League finalist — paid dividends and, in the 81st minute, an exquisite exchange of passes, of a variety we are frequently told Chelsea cannot play, ended with Lampard slipping the ball through to Malouda, who scored the goal his second-half performance deserved.
The sole worry for Chelsea took the form of a second-half injury to Carvalho, the central defender, who was adequately replaced by Alex in the short term earlier in the season. Long term, he is crucial if Chelsea are to give the next three weeks their best shot and the mild consternation on the Chelsea bench when he insisted on walking from the field, rather than being carried, suggested as much. Tiny margins have never been so important. One chance, one miss, one goal, one mistake, might decide it.
So take a good look, missus, there will never be another one like this. Well, not for 40 years, maybe.

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Star:

CHELSEA SHOW REAL BALLACKS!

6th May 2008 By Danny Fullbrook

Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2

MICHAEL Ballack inspired Chelsea to take the title race to the bitter end.
When the Blues needed someone to step up to the plate, the German delivered once again with the opening goal against Newcastle.
Frank Lampard had shown nerves of steel in the Champions League against Liverpool, scoring the definitive extra-time goal which took Chelsea to Moscow.
But yesterday at St James’s Park, the whole of the Blues machine showed real bottle to pile the pressure on Manchester United.
There was no way this lot were going to give in without a fight.
And now it is a toe-to-toe duel on the last day of the season.
Chelsea are at home to a now safe Bolton, while United take on Wigan on a bumpy pitch at the JJB Stadium. Pick your winner.
Chelsea have chased and chased United and now the Premier League goes into the final day with two teams separated at the top only on goal difference for the first time ever.
Skipper John Terry revealed there were harsh words at half-time in the Chelsea dressing room after an insipid first half from Avram Grant’s team.
The manager and his coaching staff slaughtered their team as they were in danger of throwing away the points. But whatever was said, it worked a treat.
Chelsea came out, revved up through the gears and simply blew Newcastle away.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s team had faced the easier task of playing West Ham at home at the weekend, when Alan Curbishley’s team went down 4-1.
Chelsea knew they had to react and in the 60th minute they did just that.
Abdoulaye Faye fouled Florent Malouda on the right side of the penalty area.
Didier Drogba took a stuttering run-up to the free-kick and his delivery found Ballack unmarked and the midfielder headed past Steve Harper. Last season, the German was nowhere to be seen at this stage.
It was against Newcastle with four league games to go that he picked up the controversial ankle injury which ruled him out of the run-in and the Champions League semi-finals.
This time around he is firing on all cylinders.
Ballack scored the two goals against Manchester United last weekend in a game Chelsea just had to win, and his breakthrough yesterday was equally as important.
It was his ninth goal since Boxing Day when he returned from injury. Ballack has been in this situation before, but this time he hopes it will be a happy ending.
In 2002, when he was at Bayer Leverkusen, his team lost the German Bundesliga on the last day of the season to Bayern Munich, the European Cup Final to Real Madrid and even the German Cup.
Chelsea will hope the powerhouse midfielder will be their lucky omen this time rather than a curse as an unlikely European Cup and Premier League double is still in sight.
Nobody thought Chelsea really stood a chance when they were still five points behind United in March.
But their second goal against Newcastle wrapped up the points to give them a glorious chance to land their third title in four years.
Lampard, who had started the game on the bench, ended a mesmerising passing movement in the 82nd minute by slipping the ball through to Malouda.
As Harper came flying off his line, the French winger slid the ball home under the goalkeeper’s body for his first strike since the opening day of the season when he scored against Birmingham.
The only downside for Chelsea was that Ricardo Carvalho was forced off with what looked like concussion after a clash with Alan Smith. Grant had made five changes from the starting 11 against Liverpool last Wednesday.
Joe Cole was on the bench, while Salomon Kalou, Ashley Cole and Claude Makelele were omitted.
In the opening half it looked like it was a change too far, especially as Nicolas Anelka was played wide right rather than up front.
The result was a disjointed first half in which Kevin Keegan’s team should have taken the lead.
Their best opportunity came in the 28th minute when John Terry cleared brilliantly off the line.
Newcastle’s three-man strike force of Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka and Michael Owen combined to create a great chance.
First, Martins chested down Jose Enrique’s long ball in the area, before it ran through to Viduka.
The Australian’s shot was saved by Petr Cech, who raced off his line.
With bodies strewn about the Chelsea penalty box, a fast-arriving Owen side-footed his effort towards the right-hand corner of the unguarded goal.
But Terry anticipated the danger and moved across the goal-line to kick clear.
Owen had Newcastle’s other great opportunity of the opening 45 minutes when Nicky Butt lifted a ball over the top of the Chelsea defence.
The little England striker chose to volley it first time but cleared the bar instead of threatening Cech’s goal.
It was all change after half-time as Carvalho headed over and then Terry hit the crossbar before Ballack’s goal.
Whatever happens now, more bums than ever will be squeaking on the final day of the season.

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Telegraph:

Chelsea prove they are the real deal

By Henry Winter at St James' Park
Newcastle United (0) 0 Chelsea (0) 2

Manchester United remain favourites for the title, courtesy of their superior goal difference, but such is the closeness of the race that the Premier League have ordered that two sets of winners' medals be minted for 'Showdown Sunday'.
The real trophy is being taken to the JJB Stadium, where United face Wigan Athletic this weekend, but the Premier League are leaving nothing to chance and will have a replica at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea host Bolton Wanderers.
This may simply be a copy of the original, but there is nothing fake about an enthralling championship chase involving the thoroughbreds of Chelsea and Manchester United.
Whatever the displeasure within football over the way in which Avram Grant replaced Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, nothing can detract from the reality that his strong, lean machine of a team are pushing United all the way to the line.
Grant acted decisively at a key moment yesterday, demanding his players raise their tempo at the break, and also making a significant tactical switch that built the platform for this deserved victory.
As if heralding Grant's change, the St James' DJ played Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond and it was a diamond formation that duly glistened for Chelsea. With a narrow midfield, and Michael Ballack in the hole behind Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea laid siege to Newcastle's area, pouring through the middle in blue waves.
Cometh the hour, cometh the German: Ballack headed home his ninth of the season before Florent Malouda added a second. In all probability, United will need to win at Wigan, because Chelsea surely boast too much belief and firepower for Bolton.
In the run-up to Sunday's date with destiny, the conspiracy theorists will have a field day with the Wigan-United game coming under the microscope. Anyone who knows Wigan's manager, Steve Bruce, will realise that it is not in his mentality to tell his players to ease up, simply to help out his old United manager.
Bruce's first love, Newcastle United, only briefly threatened to do Ferguson a favour yesterday. Before the sheer power and quality of Grant's players ground them down, Newcastle's hopes flickered brightest in the earliest stages.
Looking organised and confident in Kevin Keegan's 4-3-1-2 formation, Newcastle did sit a little deep, but their work-rate was impressive, with Joey Barton a disciplined, energetic presence in midfield and even Mark Viduka tracking back to put a tackle in. Keegan's verdict on the team's future, with Shangri-La being fifth place, seemed gloomy. Michael Owen and company have perked up under Keegan.
Pulling the strings behind Viduka and Obafemi Martins, Owen's clever movement occasionally caught out John Terry and his fellow defenders. When he raced on to Nicky Butt's lob over Chelsea's back four, the Gallowgate stood in anticipation of an expert finish, but Owen flicked his volley into a frustrated crowd.
Martins' wriggling runs often lacked thought but his pace and touch also worried the visitors. And if Habib Beye had got his radar working, Newcastle would have been ahead.
Certainly Chelsea were indebted to Petr Cech and Terry to thwart Newcastle midway through the half. Cech spread himself brilliantly to block Viduka's shot but still the danger did not ebb. Owen, fastest to the rebound, shot goalwards but there was Terry, the rock of ages, stationed on the goal-line to clear.
It was the type of determined defending that has characterised Terry's career, but it also showed his intelligence, instantly realising that Cech was exposed on saving from Viduka; Terry immediately dropped back to protect the untended goal. Such tiny details shape a game's destiny.
Down the other end, Steven Taylor relished his physical duel with Didier Drogba. Even a late challenge from the Chelsea striker, who left his foot in on the Newcastle centre-half, must have felt almost like a compliment to Taylor, albeit a painful one.
So Chelsea seized control. Michael Essien, again outstanding, this time in a midfield role, shot wide. Ballack skewed an effort wide. So did Anelka. John Obi Mikel fired over. Only Nicky Butt's wonderful tackle then thwarted Drogba. When Viduka hobbled away at the break, Chelsea's hopes increased.
The siege began. Ricardo Carvalho headed wide. Terry headed Malouda's inswinging corner on to the bar. TWith an impressive away contingent raising the steel rafters of St James', the black-and-white dam finally yielded on the hour.
When Abdoulaye Feye clipped Malouda's heels on the edge of the area, the Frenchman dummied the free-kick and Drogba lifted the ball in. Ballack, so deadly in the area, escaped from Alan Smith to glance an unstoppable header past Steve Harper.
The lead gained, Grant removed Anelka, introducing Frank Lampard, who received warm applause from Newcastle fans following the recent tragic death of his mother. Lampard ran into midfield and ensured Chelsea kept the ball and the lead.
One scare needed negotiating, Owen prodding Butt's pass just wide, but the force remained with the Blues. When Lampard gained possession with eight minutes remaining, the England international beautifully slid the ball down the inside-left channel and Malouda swept Chelsea's second past Harper.
Down at the Premier League HQ, two miles from the Bridge, plans were being changed for the final weekend. "The practical difficulties of the title race going into the final day of the season means that the Barclays Premier League trophy will be on stand-by at both the JJB Stadium and Stamford Bridge," said a Premier League spokesman last night.
By dusk next Sunday, when the dust has settled on a thrilling season, a set of unused winners' medals will head for the furnace as the Champagne corks pop elsewhere.
Premier League last-day deciders
1994-95: Blackburn lost 2-1 at Liverpool but were still crowned champions as they finished one point ahead of Manchester United, who drew 1-1 at West Ham.
1995-96: United clinched the title with a 3-0 win at Middlesbrough, finishing four points clear of Newcastle, who had squandered a 12-point lead and drew with Tottenham on the last day.
1998-98: United fell behind at home to Tottenham but won 2-1, taking the championship by a point from Arsenal, who beat Aston Villa at home.
2007-08 deciders: Sunday: Wigan v Manchester United, Chelsea v Bolton.

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Indy:

Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 2:

Ballack drives Chelsea onward to set up tightest of title finales
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent

Tuesday, 6 May 2008

They are the shadow across Old Trafford. Their pursuit of Manchester United has been relentless and they will not be flicked aside to accommodate a convenient procession for Sir Alex Ferguson's would-be champions. If Chelsea told us one thing yesterday, it is that United will have to beat Wigan Athletic on Sunday to be sure of the title because these boys in blue are in no mood to capitulate until the very last moment of the season.
The Premier League title race goes to the last day with the two main protagonists level on points for the first time in the top flight since 1968 – when Manchester City edged out Manchester United for the title.
Ferguson can never have believed that it would be a matter of goal difference that would separate his team from the rest but that is in all likelihood what he must hope for, because no one seriously believes that the great blue machine will falter at home to Bolton Wanderers on Sunday. For Ferguson it will be like winning an election on second preference votes, but by now he will settle for victory on any terms.
Avram Grant's team are the form side of the Premier League, rumbling along like the Jose Mourinho team of old and seemingly capable of everything but overturning a Manchester United goal difference that is 17 goals better off than their own. Chelsea will need a cricket score to win the title if United beat Wigan – a margin of 18 goals should do it if Ferguson's team win, let's say, 1-0.
But there is plenty for Ferguson to worry about should his side not rise to the occasion at Wigan. The JJB Stadium is not exactly regarded as one of English football's most passionate crucibles of history and pride, but come Sunday it will be the stage for a cliffhanger of a game of such significance that Ferguson's old end-of-season "squeaky bum" description does not do it justice.
There is nothing for Chelsea to lose and everything for Manchester United to toss away. If Ferguson's team blow it, then their trauma will undoubtedly set the tone for the European Cup final in Moscow 10 days later. He is up against Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager and a Manchester United player for nine years of his distinguished career. Bruce left United in 1996 with his third Premiership winners' medal, although not before he had seen his club throw away a title at Upton Park the year before when they failed to beat West Ham and ceded the league to Blackburn Rovers on the last day of the season.
With a win Bruce's team could still take 12th place from Newcastle, although if Wigan are victorious on Sunday it is fair to say that will not be what everyone remembers from the day.
It is Grant who has won 15 and drawn five of his last 20 Premier League games, an extraordinary record in anyone's terms. Yesterday the Chelsea manager protested that his team were "human beings, not computers" when he was asked to explain their below-par first-half performance.
In the second half they played much more as if they had been programmed by computer, unyielding and remorseless in their dispatching of Newcastle.
Once again it was Michael Ballack, a man who epitomises the vorsprung durch technik element of Chelsea better than any other and the man who scored his side's first goal. The Germany international is flourishing at the end of the season, driving his team on, and ironically it may have much to do with what happened at St James' Park a little more than a year ago that has played a part in his rejuvenation.
On 22 April 2007 he was carried off the pitch with a chipped bone in his left ankle that threatened to end his career. He did not play again for Chelsea until 19 December and is performing now like a player who is reaching the peak of this season rather than one who is hanging on for dear life at the end. This was his third goal in his last two league games, including the two in the win over Manchester United 10 days ago. Ballack's goal just after the hour was simply nodded past Steve Harper with the merest twist of his neck, a beautifully worked free-kick from the right from Didier Drogba that found its target perfectly. Perfect in so much as the Ivorian had only to stagger his run-up slightly to confuse the Newcastle players in the area. It was those Manchester United old boys Nicky Butt and Alan Smith whom Ballack eluded so easily and in that moment was distilled much of Newcastle's insipid performance.
Michael Owen did have a shot cleared off the line by John Terry in the 28th minute but that was really Newcastle's only attack of any note. They bid their farewell to St James' Park for the season at the end of the game with a kind of embarrassment – so desperate had much of this game, the second half in particular, been for them. Kevin Keegan's name boomed down from the stands, the devotion of his own supporters the one thing the Newcastle manager has that Grant could conceivably envy.
Even so, Grant meddled with the Chelsea team at his peril yesterday. Nicolas Anelka was sent out to play on the right side of midfield and did a good job of playing himself out of contention for the European Cup final team.
He will not be eligible to play against Bolton under the terms of his January transfer. The biggest worry for Grant will be the back injury to Ricardo Carvalho which forced his substitution. He is one player they cannot be without in Moscow. Florent Malouda tucked in the second goal eight minutes from time when he was played in by Frank Lampard who started the game on the bench.
From an inauspicious start, Chelsea had taken this game by the throat and come to dominate it. In that sense it was rather like the title race itself, although in that particular competition it is Manchester United who hold the whip hand. They, after all, have the goal difference. But it is Chelsea who have the momentum.
Goals: Ballack (61) 0-1; Malouda (82) 0-2.
Newcastle United (4-3-1-2): Harper; Beye, Taylor, Faye, Enrique (N'Zogbia, 78); Geremi (Duff, 71), Butt, Barton; Owen; Viduka (Smith, h-t), Martins. Substitutes not used: Cacapa, Forster (gk).
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ferreira, Carvalho (Alex, 79), Terry, Bridge; Mikel; Anelka (Lampard, 66), Essien, Ballack, Malouda; Drogba (Shevchenko, 86). Substitutes not used: J Cole, Cudicini (gk).
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Booked: Newcastle Faye, Enrique; Chelsea Terry, Malouda.
Man of the match: Ballack.
Attendance: 52,305.
United or Chelsea?
To win the title, Chelsea must win while Manchester United lose or draw, or draw while Manchester United lose. If both teams win, lose or draw, Manchester United will win the title owing to their vastly superior goal difference.
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Mail:

Blues brothers Ballack and Malouda keep Chelsea's hopes alive with victory at Newcastle

Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2
By MATT LAWTON

As well as having a team that continues to match Sir Alex Ferguson's men stride for stride, Avram Grant appears to possess a hairdryer as well.
He said he gave Chelsea's players something of a rollicking during the half-time interval here yesterday and, my, how well it worked. Two goals, the extra two points they needed and the chance to really pile the pressure on to Manchester United.
Until then, Chelsea seemed to be struggling. Exhausted, no doubt, after 120 minutes of intense Champions League battle with Liverpool that followed the previous weekend's fiercely contested league encounter with United.
Either that or they had watched United crush an inept West Ham side on Saturday and convinced themselves that there is no way they will drop points at Wigan this weekend.
Ever the optimist, Grant clearly did not see it that way. Not least because he had rested six of those who started at Stamford Bridge during the week.
Even if the championship remained, and indeed remains, very much in United's hands, it had not yet slipped from their grasp and Grant clearly made the point. Does he show his temper? 'Sometimes,' he said yesterday.
Kevin Keegan might now be bored to tears, but what an afternoon Sunday promises to be. Very much a case of what Ferguson calls 'squeaky bum time' and far more so for United than it will be for Chelsea. United have everything to lose, Chelsea everything to gain.
This provided further evidence to support Grant's recent claim: that Chelsea are coming into form at exactly the right time; that they have returned to their ruthlessly efficient best with that deadly combination of power and predatory precision.
Certain players now appear invincible, not least Michael Ballack. He scored both goals against United and added another in the 61st minute yesterday, seizing on Didier Drobga's cleverly executed free-kick with an impressively simple header.
At the business end of the season, Ballack is clearly cashing in on the rest that coincided with an eight-month injury absence between April and December last year.
The German looks frighteningly fresh and every bit as dominant as he has for club and country in the past.
When you look at Chelsea's midfield — at Frank Lampard, John Mikel Obi, Claude Makelele and Michael Essien as well as Ballack, you look at an immensely strong and physical unit that will worry Ferguson in the Champions League Final in Moscow.
If matches are won and lost in midfield, United seem to have their work cut out.
Lampard has had much to contend with in the wake of his mother's death and it was said yesterday that he was too mentally drained to start this match.
When he did come on, however, he was also terrific, delivering a quite brilliant pass that enabled Florent Malouda to add a second goal for Chelsea in the 82nd minute.
Judging by this, Chelsea will beat Bolton easily on Sunday and United must realise as much, just as they must realise that only a win will do at the JJB Stadium against a side that have already damaged Chelsea's title challenge with that 94th-minute equaliser at Stamford Bridge last month.
That said, things were different then. Wigan still needed points to protect their Barclays Premier League status and it is a former United captain rather than a Chelsea one who manages them.
Steve Bruce covered his office wall in photographs from Old Trafford when he was in charge at Bramall Lane and the idea of him now denying Ferguson a 10th Premier League title will be unthinkable for some.
Will he not remember how he felt at Upton Park in 1995, when defeat against West Ham handed the title to Blackburn?
Grant said he believes in the sporting 'tradition' of the English game and for that reason he was determined to see his side make this the most exciting end to a season in years.
His side began the match poorly and were lucky to survive an early scare when John Terry denied Michael Owen with a clearance off the line.
But a few harsh words and a slight tactical reshuffle after the break and Chelsea were a completely different side.
From the right flank they were particularly dangerous, having threatened first with a header from Ricardo Carvalho and then with an effort from Terry that struck the crossbar.
When Abdoulaye Faye then brought down Malouda, Drogba delayed his free-kick for a split second, the Newcastle defence fell for it and Ballack nipped in ahead of Alan Smith to head his side into the lead.
After that, as well as the goal from Malouda, came the changes that so depressed Keegan. On went Lampard.
On went '£28million' Andriy Shevchenko.
And on marched Chelsea towards what everyone except Keegan will consider a thrilling finale next weekend.
NEWCASTLE (4-3-1-2): Harper 6; Beye 5, Taylor 6, Faye 5, Enrique 5 (N'Zogbia 78min); Geremi 5 (Duff 71, 6), Butt 6, Barton 6; Owen 6; Viduka 5 (Smith 45, 5), Martins 5.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 7; Ferreira 6, Carvalho 7 (Alex 79), Terry 7, Bridge 6; Essien 7, Obi 6, Ballack 8; Anelka 5 (Lampard 66, 7), Drogba 7 (Shevchenko 86), Malouda 6. Booked: Terry, Malouda.
Man of the match: Michael Ballack.
Referee: Steve Bennett.

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The Guardian

Chelsea make the case for a grand finale

Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 2 Ballack 61, Malouda 82
Kevin McCarra at St James' Park

Chelsea yet again paced themselves beautifully to stay in step with Manchester United. The reigning champions cannot exactly dread Sunday's trip to Wigan Athletic when a victory will secure the title on goal difference, but they will go there with a discomfiting sense of claustrophobia because of Avram Grant's team. Breathing space ceased to exist when Sir Alex Ferguson's squad lost at Stamford Bridge 10 days ago.
Newcastle United could not divert Chelsea from their course and received confirmation of their suspicion that recent improvement reflected the limited nature of the opposition. The scope of Grant's squad is great. The players may have been harangued at half-time but it had always been probable that their talent would break loose at some point.
For the first time the Premier League goes into its final day with two clubs divided purely by goal difference. Chelsea had no doubt they would bring the competition to a head in that manner and felt free to alter the line-up so that Frank Lampard cropped up merely as a substitute and Joe Cole did not take to the field at all.
That expertise included the element of calculation that undid Newcastle. The opener, after an hour, had its origins in the free-kick that Florent Malouda induced from Abdoulaye Faye. After that came some feigned hesitation to fracture the defence's concentration before Didier Drogba lifted the ball in for Michael Ballack to get in front of the substitute Alan Smith and tuck a downward header into the net.
Newcastle did have sporadic opportunities, usually involving Michael Owen. Early in the match he had volleyed over on the turn after a high ball over the back four by Nicky Butt. After 28 minutes José Enrique's cross was forced against Petr Cech by Mark Viduka and the rebound was met by Owen, but Terry blocked the attempt on the line.
The scavenger's instinct is undiminished in Owen and no one else on the field would have caught the scent of a goal as he did in the 73rd minute when he hared after a skipping mis-hit drive from Butt, but could do nothing more than help it over the byline. Not even the injury that forced Ricardo Carvalho from the field after 80 minutes awakened a faith in an equaliser among the home support.
Two minutes afterwards Chelsea put on a demonstration of their formidable ability. That incident alone could have provoked Kevin Keegan's doom-laden observations about the eternal domination of the existing top four. Still, the passing between Michael Essien, Ballack and Lampard was sharp and so absorbed defenders that they barely noticed Malouda moving into space to gather a ball from the England midfielder and shoot low past Steve Harper.
The race for the title is not making Keegan's pulse race. He has evidence to underpin an argument about the predictability of the upper reaches of the table now and, in his opinion, for all time. Keegan, of course, had no reason to reflect that there seems to be even fewer feasible contenders for the title in, say, Italy or Spain than there are in England as each new campaign starts.
This Premier League will come to a close in a blaze of public fascination with Sunday's drama. Much of the football population is sure to express a dislike for the vulgar affluence of Chelsea and, for that matter, United but that will not stop anyone from being intrigued by the outcomes at the JJB stadium and at Stamford Bridge, where Bolton Wanderers will be vastly relieved that, thanks to goal difference, they are in effect relegation-proof.
The experience in the Chelsea ranks was telling when the time came to impose themselves. A bawling-out in the dressing room did no harm but the potential had to be lurking in the side if it was to be tapped. There was an immediate crispness as the passes continually found their target and Newcastle were allowed no respite.
There was the uncommon sight, too, of Drogba and Nicolas Anelka as a pairing in the middle of the attack. The Frenchman had not begun a match in the same line-up as the Ivorian since the Carling Cup final on February 24 and even then he had opened, as he did yesterday, in a wide role.
It would be appealing to see how Anelka and Drogba evolved as a pairing, particularly since their talents are so complementary. Nonetheless it is a combination that will probably be denied the right to evolve. There is scant appetite in modern football for risk-taking in attack. Chelsea, even so, are an outstanding side and they are due gratitude for an absorbing pursuit of United that barely appeared feasible during the disruption when Jose Mourinho made way for Grant.

Tightest for 40 years
Chelsea's victory means that for the first time since 1968 the two leading teams in the top division will go into the final day of the season level on points. Forty years ago Manchester United and Manchester City were neck and neck as they began their last matches on May 11. City, under the joint management of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison, won the championship after securing a dramatic 4-3 win against Newcastle United at St James' Park. Their local rivals were beaten 2-1 at Old Trafford by Sunderland but went on to reach the final of the European Cup, in which they defeated Benfica.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Express:

GRANT STILL ON THE LEVEL WITH FERGIE
By Niall Hickman

Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2

SIR ALEX Ferguson and Kevin Keegan might not be bosom buddies, but that nearly changed yesterday as the Chelsea machine spluttered to a victory that keeps the title race open to the final day of the season.
The Blues were not at anything like their best. And if Michael Owen had shown anything like his clinical form of recent weeks we could be talking about the title being in Manchester United’s locker already.
As it is, Avram Grant’s Chelsea bravely kept their hat in the ring with goals from Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda.
Keegan’s Magpies were certainly fired up. Although Chelsea endured a scare, this 2008 version under Grant are experienced in the dark art of winning while not playing at their best – just as they were with Jose Mourinho.
Owen fluffed entirely convertible chances including an early miss that suggested it was not going to be his day. But Newcastle should not be chastised as they put in 90 minutes of absolute effort. What they were up against is a team who can turn it on like a tap. Chelsea looked a bedraggled outfit in the first half but for 15 minutes after the break they ran the show, and it was then that Ballack produced his crucial opener.
To their credit, Newcastle fought back. But the visitors weathered the storm and came up trumps in the end with a strike of spellbinding class through Malouda. Maybe it was even a goal good enough to win the title.
Grant chose a strange line-up by reducing regulars Frank Lampard and Joe Cole to the bench. Lampard attended his mother’s funeral on Friday while Cole has been somewhat subdued in recent weeks.
Newcastle manager Keegan kept faith with the ultra-attacking 4-3-3 formation that has secured his club’s Premier League status via a seven-match unbeaten run.
A full house greeted the players, with Chelsea knowing that defeat would hand the title to United. All the Old Trafford players who have been texting one-time team-mate Nicky Butt in the past week were nearly jumping off their armchairs as Owen could, and maybe should, have presented Newcastle with an early lead.
Butt sand-wedged a delightful through-ball to Owen, who caught Chelsea napping only to sky his volley high and wide with just Petr Cech to beat.
The response was an inaccurate punt on goal from roughly similar territory by Malouda, but it was the Magpies who were making all the early inroads.
Owen had another chance, but this time he was thwarted by John Terry. Mark Viduka’s shot was brilliantly blocked by Cech, but the loose ball fell kindly to Owen, who from 12 yards tried to pick his spot only to see the recovering Terry make a terrific stop on the line.
Chelsea looked second best and Terry’s booking, for a blatant body check on Owen, underlined their frustrations.
Like all high-class teams, though, they regrouped and before half-time gave a hint of what was to follow.
Malouda found Ballack on the edge of the box. The German might be renowned for his coolness under pressure – witness his spot-kick against United a fortnight ago – but on this occasion he controlled the ball badly and sliced his shot wide.
A period of pressure led to Terry smacking the bar with a firm header from Malouda’s corner. Then, though, Chelsea took the lead.
Abdoulaye Faye handed the Blues a free-kick on the right flank, which Didier Drogba delivered into the box. Ballack rose above substitute Alan Smith and headed home.
Obafemi Martins fired inches wide and Butt’s mis-hit shot seemed certain to be converted by Owen only for the striker to fail yet again. But Chelsea made sure of a nail-biting end to the championship race – locked together with United but behind on goal difference – as a simply breathtaking five-man move began with Terry and finished with the ball in the back of the net, courtesy of Malouda’s confidence in front of goal.
They have gone 20 league games without tasting defeat – title form indeed.
Newcastle (4-3-3): Harper; Enrique (N’Zogbia 78), Beye, Faye, Taylor; Butt, Barton, Geremi (Duff 71); Owen, Martins, Viduka (Smith 46). Booked: Enrique, Faye.
Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho (Alex 79), Bridge; Malouda, Mikel, Ballack, Essien; Drogba (Shevchenko 87), Anelka (Lampard 66). Booked: Malouda, Terry. Goals: Ballack 60, Malouda 82.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

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Mirror:

Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea: The title race goes to the wire Michael Ballack was again Chelsea's hero as the Londoners took the Barclays Premier League title race down to the final game of the season.

The German, whose double against Manchester United last week took them level with their rivals at the top, broke a stubborn Newcastle with a crucial 60th-minute opener at St James' Park.
But it was not until Florent Malouda added a second eight minutes from time that the points were safe as the spirited Magpies did their best to preserve a seven-game unbeaten run.
They had needed the help of the crossbar to keep out John Terry's 53rd-minute header, but had it not been for the Chelsea skipper's goalline clearance 16 minutes before the break, Michael Owen would have fired the home side ahead.
Newcastle had their chances to level as time ran down with Obafemi Martins seeing his blistering effort deflected just wide by Ricardo Carvalho.
However, Chelsea's class was ultimately made to tell on a day when Kevin Keegan was given the best illustration yet of how far his side has to go to compete an a level playing field with the big boys.
Avram Grant's men head into next weekend's clash with Bolton knowing victory might not be enough to lift the trophy if United win at Wigan, because of their inferior goal difference, but they have a chance.
It was perhaps testament to the turnaround in fortunes engineered by Keegan on Tyneside that his opposite number opted to change formation as well as personnel in the search for three points.
Out went Ashley Cole, Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, and Salomon Kalou from the side which clinched a place in the Champions League final and in, among others, came Malouda and Nicolas Anelka.
They were deployed in a three-pronged front line either side of Didier Drogba, but such was the tenacity with which the Magpies defended, none of the trio managed to put pressure on goalkeeper Steve Harper.
Indeed, their best chance of the first half fell to Ballack 10 minutes before the break when he ran onto Michael Essien's measured pass, but sliced a left-foot shot harmlessly wide.
In fact, most of the half's better chances fell to Newcastle, who perhaps made more of a lesser share of the possession.
Owen left England team-mate Terry for dead with just six minutes gone to collect the imperious Nicky Butt's pass, but lifted his first-time effort over Petr Cech's crossbar.
But with Martins making life intensely difficult for Paulo Ferreira down the Chelsea right, the Magpies threatened repeatedly and might have taken the lead with 29 minutes gone.
The Nigerian controlled a high ball superbly on his chest for Mark Viduka to stab in a shot which Cech saved, but the rebound seemed to fall invitingly to Owen.
The £17million man steered his shot firmly towards goal but Terry was in exactly the right place at the right time to save his side.
Chelsea responded by pinning Newcastle back inside their own half, but Harper was able to watch long-range efforts from Anelka and Mikel John Obi sail wide of the target, and it was the Magpies who finished the first half the stronger.
Viduka's failure to re-appear after the break - he is due to have an injection for a persistent Achilles problem - prompted Alan Smith's introduction, but it was the visitors who went close when Carvalho headed Malouda's 50th-minute corner wide.
However, Terry went much closer three minutes later as Chelsea started to turn the screw.
Malouda was the provider once again with another right-wing corner, and this time his captain climbed highest to thunder a header against the bar as Newcastle enjoyed a huge slice of good fortune.
But they finally fell behind on the hour when Ballack met Drogba's free-kick unmarked in front of goal to glance home a close-range header.
Lampard replaced Anelka with 24 minutes remaining as Grant adopted his more accustomed 4-4-2 formation, but it was Newcastle who almost hit back as the game entered its final 20 minutes.
First Martins saw Carvalho deflect his shot inches wide with Cech stranded, and then Owen only just failed to connect with Butt's mishit effort in front of goal.
Harper pulled off a smart reaction save to deny Ballack from distance and the game was anything but over.
However, Malouda's neat finish from Lampard's 82nd-minute pass cemented the win as Newcastle's resistance was finally broken.

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Sun:
By SHAUN CUSTIS

FROM a bollocking to a Ballacking.

Lacklustre Chelsea were read the riot attack by manager Avram Grant and his coaching staff at the break.
Their second-half response, led by midfield ace Michael Ballack, was emphatic as the German colossus ensured the Premier League title battle goes right to the wire.
Never before have we got to the final day with two teams on equal points as Chelsea and Manchester United are.
Due to their superior goal difference, a United win at Wigan — managed by old-boy Steve Bruce — would mean they retain their crown.
But they cannot rest with the Blues on their heels, especially as Grant’s men will surely beat Bolton at home in their last game.
Kevin Keegan says this is the most boring league in the world because of the top four’s dominance but, make no mistake, it will be nail-bitingly exciting next Sunday.
For his part, Ballack is finishing the season in storming form, strutting around the pitch and bossing the game the way he has done for years in a German shirt.
It has taken a while for the Chelsea fans to see the best of him but they are getting it now.
Ironically, Ballack’s Chelsea career hit rock bottom at St James’ last April when, after a number of poor performances, he suffered a chipped bone in his ankle which kept him for eight months. Former boss Jose Mourinho was furious when Ballack took matters into his own hands and had surgery.
Even 10 days ago, when Ballack was arguing with Didier Drogba over a free-kick against Manchester United, it seemed an apparently fragile team spirit was cracking.
But Ballack’s double gave Chelsea a 2-1 win against United and here yesterday he and Drogba combined to fire their team to success.
On the hour, Drogba clipped over a free-kick and Ballack glanced a header beyond Steve Harper. Eight minutes from time Chelsea wrapped it up with a lovely passing move started by Michael Essien to Ballack and on to sub Frank Lampard who slotted a beautifully weighted ball into the path of Florent Malouda.
The Frenchman did not have to break stride and slipped the ball past Harper to finish off Newcastle.
The first half had belonged to the Toon from the moment Michael Owen lofted Nicky Butt’s chip just over the bar. Skipper John Terry then had to hack off the line from Owen after Mark Viduka’s flick was blocked by Petr Cech.
The visiting Blues fans were seriously worried but the home truths at half-time had the desired effect on the title chasers and Terry’s thundering header against the bar was the prelude to Ballack’s opener.
The lively yet on occasions frustrating Obafemi Martins had a left-foot shot deflected just wide and Owen failed to connect with a bouncing ball as he stretched out his right leg. But then Malouda struck to make it safe.
Newcastle went on a lap of honour at the end to salute the fans who have had a difficult time of it this season.
They were going to be returning in August with renewed optimism but will have been depressed by what Keegan had to say in his after-match interviews.
Newcastle fans are eternal optimists. The club might never win anything but the dreamers believe all things are possible.
Keegan was seen as the Messiah who could take the club back to the promised land battling for the Premier League title again — but he has rather kiboshed that one.
The reality is going to hurt deeply.
PETR CECH: Czech stopper looked assured as ever. Brilliant close range save denied Martins on 28 minutes and had little to do after that. 6
WAYNE BRIDGE: Rare run-out for the full-back with Ashley Cole rested. Got forward well and was hardly tested defensivley with Newcastle playing without any width. 6
RICARDO CARVALHO: Helped form a rock-like central partnership with Terry. Was tested all afternoon by Martins and Owen but held firm in style. 7
JOHN TERRY: Skipper led by example and was dominant throughout. Relishes these type of games and smacked the bar early in the second half with a superb header. Booked. 8
PAULO FERREIRA: Just stuck to the task in hand and hardly put a foot wrong. Cool on the ball and always on hand to snuff out danger. 6
FLORENT MALOUDA: Patchy performance from the French winger who showed some nice touches but failed to really impose himself until clinical strike made the game safe. Booked. 7
JOHN MIKEL OBI: Kept the Blues ticking nicely in midfield by keeping it simple. Strong in the tackle and protected the back-four superbly well. 7
MICHAEL ESSIEN: Together with Ballack and Mikel helped Chelsea rule in the middle of the park. Contributed all over the pitch. 7
MICHAEL BALLACK: German midfield machine popped up with yet another vital goal to show how important he is for Avram Grant’s men. Played his part in second strike too. STARMAN. 8
NICOLAS ANELKA: French ace is not a right winger and showed it. Floated into the middle after the break but it was no surprise when he was replaced by Lampard. 6
DIDIER DROGBA: Hitman worked his socks off for the cause without any real end product. Found Taylor a very hard nut to crack. 6
SUBS:
Lampard (for Anelka, 65) 7, Carvalho (for Alex, 79) 6, Drogba (for Shevchenko, 85) 6. (yes I know !)