newcastle 0-2

Independent:

Battle-weary Chelsea fall to Cissé's classic brace

Chelsea 0 Newcastle United 2

Sam Wallace

Stamford Bridge

Roman Abramovich has always wanted to win the Champions League. Now, for the first time since he bought Chelsea, he has to win the damn thing.

Should Chelsea fail in the final in Munich on 19 May it looks like it will be farewell to the planet's most lucrative club competition and off to the relative backwaters of the Europa League for Abramovich's great project – approximate investment so far, £1bn and counting. Their league position will surely not be enough to save them after last night's defeat.

With two games to play, they are now in sixth place and four points adrift of Tottenham and Newcastle ahead of them who are much better placed to take fourth, or even third, place. As he stared gloomily through the rain from a seat in his executive suite last night, Abramovich will have recognised that his club has just one card left to play.

To reach the Champions League next season, after nine successive years in the competition, they must beat Bayern Munich in their own stadium and deny the fourth-placed Premier League team their place. It make 19 May the ultimate high-stakes night, encompassing Chelsea's past – their desire to win this trophy for the first time in their history – as well as their future.

Last night they were beaten by two exceptional goals from one of the Premier League's men of the moment, Papiss Cissé. He cost £9m from Freiburg in January and now has 13 goals in 12 games. Abramovich, who will remember the 10s of millions he shelled out on the likes of Adrian Mutu, Mateja Kezman and Andrei Shevchenko, must wonder why no-one recommended him the services of the 26-year-old from Senegal.

The first Cissé goal was technically superb; the second, in time added on at the end of the game, will be in the top five goals scored all season. He took the ball on the right-angle of the left side of Chelsea's area and lashed a shot with the outside of his right foot that dipped over Petr Cech's head and into the far corner. It was one of those goals that silenced the whole ground for a heartbeat, before the away end erupted.

To put Cissé's impact on Newcastle's season in perspective, his 13 goals in 12 games are one better than Torres' total contribution to Chelsea in the 64 appearances he has made for the club since he signed last January. To be fair to Torres, he looked sharp in the first half but this was a night that Roberto Di Matteo really needed a goal from him - and it did not come.

In the end, the Chelsea caretaker manager had to roll out the big guns he had hoped to keep fresh for Saturday's FA Cup final. Didier Drogba, Juan Mata and Frank Lampard all came off the bench for Chelsea but their best effort in the second half was a header by John Terry that was cleared off the line by Davide Santon.

The win for Tottenham last night gives them and Newcastle the greatest momentum of the four sides – including Chelsea and Arsenal – challenging for the two remaining Champions League places. Alan Pardew's team have a formidable task against Manchester City on Sunday at St James' Park but in this kind of form they have a chance.

Cissé's second goal came in 10 minutes of second half injury-time after treatment for Cheick Tioté who caught an elbow across the head from John Obi Mikel as they both went up for a header. Tioté had kicked Mikel before then and the Chelsea player was aware of another robust challenge coming in but there was nothing malicious about his challenge, and Pardew agreed with that.

The referee Mark Halsey did not even give a foul but he was soon waving the Newcastle medical staff on with some urgency. Tioté's head snapped back as he hit the turf, having fallen virtually horizontally. He was carried off with an oxygen mask on his face but recovered in time to watch the end of the game.

The substitutes' bench named by Di Matteo yesterday said a great deal about Chelsea's current punishing run of fixtures. Drogba, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Mata and Salomon Kalou were among those on it – all of them apart from Drogba played in Sunday's game with Queen's Park Rangers. Between then and Saturday's FA Cup final, they could not be expected to do it all over again.

It meant that Di Matteo left his team a little under-clubbed, especially in terms of the attacking creativity of Lampard, Mata and Cole, and it showed in the first half.

The best Chelsea offered in the first half came from Torres who worked hard right across the line of Newcastle's defence. It was his cross from the left, with the outside of his right boot that Daniel Sturridge scuffed wide of the goal. It was Torres' cross from the right that Florent Malouda headed wide of Tim Krul's goal on 38 minutes.

By then, Newcastle had taken the lead through Cissé who lifted the ball off the deck with his right foot and struck a firm shot past Cech with his left. It was a beautifully executed goal. Chelsea needed to respond quickly but, if anything, Newcastle looked the more comfortable. Pardew had them in a fairly orthodox 4-4-2 formation.

In the final two minutes of the first half, Cech did well to push away a low shot from Cissé that was hit to his left side. Then Demba Ba hit the bar from inside the area and suddenly Chelsea were feeling fortunate to go in at half-time just one goal behind.

At half-time, Di Matteo brought off Daniel Sturridge who had struggled to have any effect at all and Mata came on in his place. Drogba was on with 30 minutes left to play and by the time Chelsea got to 75 minutes, and were still a goal behind, Lampard was also summoned from the bench too.

It meant at the end, Chelsea had Drogba and Torres on the pitch which always hints at desperation. Newcastle were disciplined and Cissé's second goal meant there was no coming back for the home team. It is only the second defeat of Di Matteo's 17-game reign but he could not deny that it was a significant one.

Man of the match Cissé.

Match rating 6/10.

Referee M Halsey (Lancashire).

Attendance 41,559.


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Guardian:


Chelsea 0 Newcastle United 2
Cissé 19,
Cissé 90+4

Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge

Newcastle United moved four points clear of Chelsea in the pursuit of a Champions League place with this victory but the outcome was overshadowed. The visitors' midfielder Cheik Tioté suffered a head injury when the raised arm of Mikel John Obi caught him on the head. An oxygen mask had been applied before he was carried off in the 68th minute.
There was relief after the match when it was confirmed that Tioté was back on his feet. "A nine inch gash, 400 stitches," said his light-hearted manager, Alan Pardew, later, "but it's just a scratch to him. He'll have a little patch on him on Sunday [against Manchester City] and he'll play. I didn't think it was anything malicious."
Chelsea have Saturday's FA Cup final to prevent them from brooding but there must also be an examination of the factors that left them so unimpressive against Newcastle. While the lineup was altered, with midfielders such as Frank Lampard and Juan Mata both utilised as substitutes, the failure to build any intensity must still alarm Roberto Di Matteo.
Newcastle took the lead with a simple yet impressive goal in the 19th minute. Davide Santon rolled a pass to Papiss Cissé and the striker, showing fine control, gathered the ball and, with his second touch, fired home an excellent shot from just inside the penalty area.
Despite the angle Petr Cech could not stop the drive from going across him and into the top corner for his second goal. Newcastle, sharing Chelsea's desire for that Champions League opportunity, had pursued it with verve.
Di Matteo's side will most likely need to win the Champions League if they are to appear in it next season as they stand sixth in the table, four points adrift of Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur. A sequence of nine successive seasons in the elite European competition may soon end.
Di Matteo's immediate concern for Chelsea must lie in the meagreness of their play. Newcastle were never reduced to panic and the hosts discovered that their prominence this season is no quirk. Pardew sent out a composed and confident line-up that never surrendered complete control.
Chelsea at least opened the second-half with a little vehemence of their own, although the sedate approach that had preceded it was mystifying. Too much attention might have been paid to home advantage when the contest simply brought together two sides that the table declares to be evenly matched.
Di Matteo sought to tip the balance with the introduction of Mata for Daniel Sturridge. His side at least began to hold a territorial domination but Newcastle did not quake at a bolder approach from Chelsea that was inevitable. The visitors were still calm as Di Matteo's men pushed forward with intent, even if guile was not immediately detectable.
Di Matteo until now had made his mark with vigorous form. His team came to this occasion unbeaten over its past 11 games in all competitions. The visitors' mood would, at the very least, have been more complex. After reeling off six victories in the league they were beaten 4-0 by Wigan at the weekend.
Rather than traumatising the team, it galvanised them. They had no great cause for anxiety. Ramires did well to climb and meet a Fernando Torres cross from the right but the header went wide of the far post. Newcastle were not in the least concerned. Pardew's side carried more menace and just before the interval Demba Ba demanded a good save from Cech and, moments later, the striker hit the bar with a drive. Chelsea were shaken throughout the night.
This campaign has been a perplexing one. An effort is under way to restructure the squad as key figures such as Lampard move into the veteran stage. This disappointment revealed just how taxing it may be to bring into being a lineup fit for the sternest of challengers.
This outcome is not simply a setback. It shakes the entire vision that Roman Abramovich has for this club. The season was intended to be one of regeneration no matter who happened to be occupying the dug-out. That project is one that sets subtle challenges. Bringing it to fruition while switching managers is a complication. Although Di Matteo had enjoyed good results, he does not have the authority to reshape the task in its entirety.
That will alter in due course when a long-term appointment is made, if such a thing is feasible in the changeable environment that the owner has created at the club.

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 0 Newcastle United 2:

By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent, Stamford Bridge


On a night when Papiss Cissé scored a goal for Newcastle that defied physics, Chelsea realised their chance of qualifying for the Champions League almost defies mathematics. Chelsea probably now need to win the final against Bayern Munich to ensure their 10th successive involvement.

If Cissé’s opener was classy enough, a good first touch and then firm finish, the Senegal international’s second, his 13th in 12 games, was simply sensational. When the ball fell his way after determined work by the substitute Shola Ameobi, Cissé hit it first time with the outside of his right boot. The angle was relatively tight, the distance considerable.

Some people looked away, not contemplating the possibility that as good a goalkeeper as Petr Cech could be beaten from there. Yet from 25 yards out on the left, Cissé’s half-volley flew through the moist night air, totally catching Cech out and speeding into the net.

It was one of those moments when the silence of the disbelieving reigned. It was as if Newcastle fans, staff and players needed a split second to absorb what they had seen, to rub their eyes, realise it was not mere reverie and that the ball really was in the back of Cech’s net.

It was a special way to cement Newcastle’s first league triumph at the Bridge since 1986, a result that leaves Chelsea sixth, four points off the Champions League positions with two games remaining. Chelsea’s proud Champions League qualifying record all but rests on a battling night in Bavaria.

Cissé’s second was also a late entry to goal of the season vying with Robin van Persie’s volley against Everton, Peter Crouch’s volley against Manchester City, Luis Suárez’s long-ranger against Norwich City, Hatem Ben Arfa’s solo effort against Bolton and Sebastian Coates’ strike against QPR. Amongst others.

The only bad element to Cissé’s timing was that it came 48 hours after the Premier League closed voting for “best goal” of the 20 seasons.

That would have placed Cissé in august company, including Tony Yeboah’s volley against Liverpool, David Beckham’s 50-yarder over Wimbledon’s Neil Sullivan, Paolo Di Canio’s scissors kick against Wimbledon, Thierry Henry’s volley past Fabien Barthez and Dennis Bergkamp’s bemusing of Nikos

Dabizas and shot past Shay Given. Amongst celebrated others.
Cissé’s strike immediately earned a huge audience on YouTube. In truth, footage of the goal deserved a special screening at the Odeon Leicester Square with a red carpet outside and an invited A-list audience inside.

Signed for only £9 million from Freiburg, Cissé dominated last night’s show.
The build-up to Newcastle’s 19th-minute opener was as good as Cissé’s finish. No wonder Alan Pardew celebrated so passionately. No wonder the away bench went crazy. This was the type of precise, fast-moving football that Pardew has drilled and instilled in this Newcastle side, much to the delight of their vociferous support in the corner of the Shed.

The ball was manipulated at speed into the danger area. Davide Santon, the visitors’ left-back, darted down the flank, running on to a clever pass from Jonás Gutiérrez. The Argentine’s delivery was good, encouraging Santon to advance and pick out Cissé. The Senegal international still had much to do but his response was from the very highest drawer, totally in keeping with a forward in form. Controlling the ball instantly with his right boot, Cissé’s left did the rest, rifling an unstoppable shot past Cech.

There is a lithe athleticism to Pardew’s players, a pace and tactical discipline that makes them such significant opposition. Newcastle were effectively 4-4-2 with Ben Arfa running at young Ryan Bertrand and Gutiérrez taking on Jose Bosingwa. Cissé and Demba Ba looked to find gaps between Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry, who endured an uncomfortable night. The pace and movement of Pardew’s front pair was a constant thorn in Chelsea’s side.

Chelsea rallied, briefly reviving memories of their strong start when Fernando Torres really menaced Newcastle’s defence. After Cissé’s goal, Torres showed again, whipping in a great cross met by Florent Malouda. The Frenchman’s header flew well wide, eliciting sighs from the Chelsea faithful. Raul Meireles lifted in a corner but Ivanovic headed over.

Newcastle finished the half the better. Ba raced through, too quick for Meireles, too elusive for Ivanovic, but his low shot failed to beat Cech. Ben Arfa curled in the corner but Bertrand cleared. Ben Arfa changed the angle of his ensuing corner, playing it low to Yohan Cabaye, who failed to make significant contact. Fortuitously for Newcastle, the ball carried to Ba, who hit his near namesake. Still Newcastle pressed, Cabaye clipping in a cross that Mike Williamson headed over.

Even with Juan Mata pulling a few strings after the break, Chelsea were still not at the races. The most style seen from somebody with Chelsea connections was their former midfielder, Gus Poyet, the current Brighton & Hove Albion manager, who was presented to the fans at the break, wearing the most elegant coat witnessed here since Jose Mourinho was in town.

Drogba arrived on the hour for Malouda, triggering a huge roar. The ground soon fell to a hush as poor Cheick Tioté fell to earth, sent spinning by an aerial challenge from John Obi Mikel. His forehead cut open, Tioté leant forward but then fell back, and the medics rushed on. For seven minutes, they worked to make Tioté comfortable, putting on a neck brace and then lifting him gently on to a stretcher. As he was carried off, the whole ground broke into sympathetic applause.

When the game resumed, Terry met a Mata corner with a typically powerful header cleared off the line by Santon but then came Cissé, conjuring up some real magic. Pardew had hardly finished leaping about gleefully when he had more good news with Tioté returning to the dugout. Some night.




=========================


Mail:

Chelsea 0 Newcastle 2:
Cisse's magic show... striker hits double to floor Blues

By Matt Lawton

Papiss Cisse had already made a massive impact since arriving here in  England in January but two of the finest goals  anyone will see this season are hugely significant.
As well as reigniting Newcastle’s push for a Champions League place in what now looks like a straight fight with Arsenal and Tottenham, the Senegal striker turned an already difficult Champions League final into an altogether more daunting one  for Chelsea.
Unless something freakish happens and two of the three sides immediately above them suffer some kind of collapse in their final two Barclays Premier League games, Chelsea will have to beat Bayern Munich in Munich on May 19 to guarantee Champions League football for a 10th consecutive season.
If John Terry’s red card against Barcelona could yet prove costly, this defeat almost certainly will be.
It would seem harsh to criticise Roberto Di Matteo too much. He made six changes to the side that so convincingly beat QPR on Sunday but he did so because of the fatigue that has developed in his players after such a gruelling sequence of games — this was their sixth game in 17 days — and a sequence that continues with Saturday’s FA Cup final and another encounter with Liverpool on Tuesday.
But Chelsea were no match for a Newcastle side keen to recover from the defeat they suffered against Wigan at the weekend.
Where Chelsea stumbled Alan Pardew’s side excelled, Cisse’s 13th goal in 12  appearance, an outrageous strike from wide left with the outside of his right boot, crowning a terrific team performance.
At the front Cisse and Demba Ba provided a  constant threat, in midfield Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye dominated, while in defence Fabricio Coloccini was so commanding even David Luiz would declare him the best curly-haired centre half in the country.
It was a performance that had major implications for the title race too. Among the spectators were Roberto Mancini and David Platt and they certainly know they have a game at the Sports Direct Arena on Sunday.
After all, it will not be a Newcastle side deflated by back-to-back defeats. They will be revived by victory here and ready to fight for every ball in their bid to see off Arsenal and Tottenham amid concerns that Chelsea might yet snatch that fourth Champions League spot in Munich. For the team who do finish fourth, that final at the Allianz Arena will be unbearable.
That Tiote appears to have recovered from what had seemed a serious injury will only lift an already buoyant mood at Newcastle. The contact with John Mikel Obi’s elbow looked accidental, but it left him with what appeared to be a ‘nine-inch gash’ that needed, in Pardew’s words, ‘400 stitches’. He left the field with his neck in a brace and an oxygen mask on his face but when the final whistle arrived he was there congratulating his team-mates. ‘It’s just a scratch to him,’ said Pardew. ‘He will play on Sunday.’
Apparently it was more like two inches but it remained some recovery. He made light of that, just as Newcastle made light of a heavy Stamford Bridge pitch.
Chelsea laboured by comparison, only Fernando Torres  posing any kind of threat.
He was full of running, re- invigorated by the hat-trick against QPR and the goal against Barcelona and keen to demonstrate that he deserves to play in the two cup finals.
Torres started well, earning the free-kick that Raul Meireles then steered into the hands of Tim Krul before presenting  Daniel Sturridge with a chance to strike. Sturridge, however, scuffed his shot wide.
But when it comes to in-form forwards few are sharper than Cisse right now and after 19 minutes he scored a brilliant goal. This was certainly among the best he has scored, Cisse taking one touch to flick a pass from Davide Santon a few inches into the air with his right foot before driving a stunning volley past Petr Cech with his left. Wonderful.
Torres was alone in mustering an immediate response, bursting down the right flank before delivering a cross Florent Malouda probably should have scored from but headed wide.
For Krul, it was all a little too easy, for the keeper was barely tested in the first half. Di Matteo was already considering changes to his side, the Italian engaging in conversation with Juan Mata in the technical area.
That Ba went as close as he did to doubling Newcastle’s lead before the break only increased the sense of urgency for Di  Matteo. Ba forced a fine save from Cech with one effort and then met a corner from the excellent Hatem Ben Arfa with a shot that rebounded off the bar.
Mata was indeed sent on at the start of the second half, replacing the ineffective Sturridge, and Di Matteo made a further change when he sent on Didier Drogba as a replacement for Malouda in the 60th minute. Frank Lampard would also join from the bench.
Pressing hard, now, for an equaliser, Chelsea did go close when Terry had a header cleared off the line by Santon.

This was to be Cisse’s night  and in the fifth minute of the 10 added on for Tiote’s injury the striker beat Cech with a goal that might yet supersede Peter Crouch’s trap and volleyed cross-shot as goal of the season, his 25-yard half-volley curling beyond the Chelsea goalkeeper’s reach. Incredible.
Just incredible

====================

Mirror:

Chelsea 0-2 Newcastle:

 Cisse scores goal of the season as Magpies battle for fourth


They were always going to run out of luck at some stage.
After all, everything that could go right for Roberto Di Matteo, has gone right, for the past two months.
Last night, though, it was not fortune that went missing for Chelsea.
It was legs, inspiration, maybe even motivation. The qualities Newcastle had in abundance even before you add the instinctive brilliance of Papiss Cisse.
And suddenly, no matter what happens at Wembley on Saturday, it looks as if the entire season, perhaps the future direction of Stamford Bridge, will be determined in Munich on May 19.
As Cisse's sensational injury time stunner, dipping and swerving past Petr Cech from miles out on the Newcastle left, ripped into the back of the net to confirm a totally deserved triumph for Alan Pardew's men, the air seemed to be sucked out of the Bridge.
The last few weeks have seen a willing suspension of disbelief, a series of unnatural, at times inconceivable highs, the ultimate peak conquered in the Camp Nou last Tuesday.
Instead, now, another mountain, arguably larger than the rest, looms ahead of a Chelsea side without at least four first-choice starters.
If Spurs or Newcastle win on Sunday when they play Aston Villa and Manchester City - a victory which would draw the undying gratitude of Sir Alex Ferguson towards Pardew - respectively, Chelsea will be doomed to finish outside the top four for the first time in 10 seasons.
It means, surely, that anything less than a win over Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena will doom Chelsea to the Europa League, humiliatingly no longer a member of the continental elite, making it far, far harder to attract the players needed to rebuild and regenerate, more difficult still to land a managerial superstar.
And the need for new blood, if not a new hand at the tiller - the sheer demands of so many games have made Di Matteo, who inherited a mess of a club from Andre Villa-Boas, a master plate-spinner - was never more clear than last night.
Di Matteo made six changes from the side that had hammered QPR, seeking to refresh, but this was a Chelsea running on empty.
Only Fernando Torres, a player reborn, had anything like the spark and zest realise, and by the time Chelsea had Juan Mata, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard all on the pitch as the Seventh Cavalry, it was too late for the rescue attempt to work.
And neither, in truth, would it have deserved to.
Once Chelsea's initial spurt was extinguished, Pardew's men, with Cisse and Demba Ba unusually operating as a front pairing ahead of a midfield quartet including Cheik Tiote - fears over whose horror-looking second half injury were not realised - showed class and quality.
That was exemplified by the opener, 19 minutes in.
Davide Santon danced down the left and teased in to Cisse, who took one touch with his right foot, which lifted the ball into the air, before slamming into the top corner with his left before Branislav Ivanovic could even get close.
Torres tried to bring his team on top - the otherwise invisible Florent Malouda's wasteful header wide from a great cross by the Spaniard was inches wide.
But without Cech's reflexes to foil Ba, Ryan Bertrand's block on the line when Mike Williamson flicked on and then the crossbar as Ba thundered against it, the game would have been over by the break.
Di Matteo sent on Mata, then - after Tiote, caught by John Obi Mikel's elbow but who fell horribly and left on a stretcher with an oxygen bag - Drogba, finally Lampard.
It was to no avail, vain penalty shouts ignored by Mark Halsey, only really coming close when Santon was on hand to clear John Terry's flying header off the line.
And just as the home fans urged their men to make the most of the 10 minutes of stoppage time, Cisse struck again, lashing across the ball when Shola Ameobi knocked down and leaving Cech grasping thin air as he claimed his 13th in just 12 games since arriving from Freiburg.
Pardew leapt into the arms of his coaching staff, Chelsea slumped, Di Matteo stood there impassive.
Unlike Sunday, though, there were no smiles on Roman Abramovich's face.
Wembley against Liverpool will be important. What happens in Germany two weeks later, though, will be utterly crucial. Now everything depends on that one game.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 7; Bosingwa 6, Ivanovic 5, Terry 6, Bertrand 7; Meireles 6 (Lampard, 78, 6), Mikel 5; Ramires 5, Malouda 4 (Drogba, 61, 6), Sturridge 5 (Mata, 46, 6); Torres 8

Newcastle (4-4-2) Krul 7; Perch 7, Williamson 7, Coloccini 8, Santon 7; Ben Arfa 7, Cabaye 8, Tiote 7 (Taylor, 63, 6), Gutierrez 7; Cisse 9, Ba 7 (Ameobi, 74, 6)

Referee: Mark Halsey
Man of the match: Cisse - simply superb, making him the bargain of any January

=================


Sun:

Chelsea 0 Newcastle 2

By SHAUN CUSTIS

PAPISS CISSE’S sensational double kept Newcastle’s Champions League fire burning.
But it looks like Munich or bust for Chelsea.

The Blues have little hope of making the top four qualifying places after Cisse followed up his 19th-minute volley with an even more astonishing strike in added time with the outside of his boot from 25 yards.

And the result means Newcastle are right in the mix with Arsenal and Tottenham for third and fourth spots after their first league success at Stamford Bridge since 1986.

The Toon host leaders Manchester City in a titanic clash at St James’ Park on Sunday and City boss Roberto Mancini, who was in the stands here, will have good reason to be concerned after watching this.

There may still be hope for Manchester United too in the title race because Newcastle are perfectly capable of winning.

Chelsea still have the lifeline of making Europe’s top competition next season with victory in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in Germany on May 19.

If they triumph there it might yet rob the Geordies of their big prize.

But Newcastle can only look after themselves and, led by Cisse, they are doing it very well indeed, having recovered from that shock 4-0 rout by Wigan last weekend.

Cisse, signed for £9million from German club Freiburg in January, has been the signing of the season.

And he may have nicked the goal of the season crown too with his second stonker.

There have been some stunning strikes in the Premier League during this campaign but surely none beats Cisse’s extraordinary effort.

With the game in added time and Chelsea pressing for an equaliser, Newcastle relieved the pressure down the left touchline.

Sub Shola Ameobi knocked the ball down to Cisse, who was wide on the left in an area where no player in his right mind would try a shot. But Cisse is no ordinary player. The Senegalese striker took a quick look up and sent a dipping swerving volley over the despairing Petr Cech.

Manager Alan Pardew was open mouthed in admiration at the wonder of Cisse’s 13th goal in 12 games since his arrival.

Even Cech looked like he was ready to applaud.

Sometimes there is just nothing you can do.

We had thought Cisse’s opener was special enough.

Davide Santon got away down the wing, played it into the box and Cisse took one touch with his right foot to lift the ball off the ground before volleying into the top corner with his left.

“He scores when he wants,” sang the jubilant travelling fans with good reason.

Little did they know what was in store for them later on.

For a team which has rallied so impressively since Roberto Di Matteo took over, Chelsea were flat as your hat.

Maybe they had this Saturday’s FA Cup final on their minds even though the manager had warned this match was just as important.

Or maybe it is just the exertions of so many strength-sapping outings catching up with them.

Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Juan Mata and Didier Drogba were left out of the starting line-up with Wembley in mind.

Fernando Torres woke his team up with a quality turn and cross on 38 minutes which was begging to be finished off. But, while Florent Malouda found the height to meet it, he directed his header wide of the left post with keeper Tim Krul stranded.

The visitors, though, twice came close to a second just before half-time.

Demba Ba, the other member of the Senegal strike duo who is being overshadowed by Cisse, had the Blues defence backing off and his shot was pushed away at full stretch by Cech.

Then, from a Hatem Ben Arfa corner, Ba hit the crossbar with a rasping effort from 12 yards.

Cheick Tiote was always in the thick of it and clashed with John Obi Mikel after the break leaving the Blues man in a heap.

Then Tiote took the full force of another blow that left him flat out on the ground.

As both challenged for an aerial ball, the Ivorian landed heavily.

Initially, Tiote sat up holding his face but then had to lay down again.

The medical staff were on the field a good 10 minutes before the midfielder was carefully carried off wearing a neck brace.

It looked very serious but amazingly Tiote returned before the end to sit on the bench and enjoy Cisse’s finish.

Chelsea dominated possession in the second half but were far from composed in front of goal.

Torres should have done better when given time in the box but his attempt to curl a right-foot shot into the corner was high into the stand.

Santon though had to make a goal-line clearance from John Terry’s flick header to keep Newcastle ahead.

But, with time added on for Tiote’s injury, Cisse collected and unleashed his volley which beat Cech all ends up and sealed three points for Pardew’s men.

Scoring goals — it’s a Papiss of cake.

GAMES TO GO — CHELSEA: Tuesday Liverpool (a); May 13 Blackburn (h). NEWCASTLE: Sunday Man City (h); May 13 Everton (a).

DREAM TEAM RATINGS
STAR MAN - PAPISS CISSE
CHELSEA: Cech 7, Bosingwa 6, Bertrand 5, Ivanovic 6, Terry 6, Ramires 6, Mikel 6, Malouda 5, Meireles 6, Sturridge 5, Torres 7. Subs: Mata (Sturridge 46) 6, Drogba (Malouda 60) 6, Lampard (Meireles 78) 6. Not used: Turnbull, Cole, Essien, Kalou.

NEWCASTLE: Krul 6, Perch 6, Santon 7, Williamson 7, Coloccini 6, Cabaye 7, Tiote 7, Ben Arfa 7, Gutierrez 6, Cisse 8, Ba 7. Subs: R Taylor (Tiote 63) 6, Sho Ameobi (Ba 74) 6, Obertan (Ben Arfa 87) 6. Not used: Elliot, Gosling, Marveaux, Ferguson. Booked: Tiote, Cabaye, Krul.

REF: M Halsey 7