Newcastle United battled to the death and could have snatched a Worthington Cup semi-final place on Wednesday night - when bang the London jinx strikes again.

Bobby Robson's side had their chances at Chelsea, but a last-gasp goal from Jimmy Floyd Hasselabink sent the travelling Toon Army back north deflated and dejected.

Hasselbaink's strike, two minutes into injury time, condemned unlucky Newcastle to their 29th game without a victory in the capital. It also ensured a second unwanted run of never beaten the Blues in a cup competition in 70 years continued.

Nothing should be taken away from the visitors, they did everything to win the game but put the ball in the back of the net.

Robson was forced to make one change from the side that won 1-0 at Ipswich on Sunday. Frenchman Laurent Robert had a hip injury and Olivier Bernard was his replacement.

Shay Given kept his place between the posts despite rumours that reserve keeper Steve Harper was to get a rare start.

Robert Lee also started and in doing so set a new League Cup record when he made his 23rd appearance in the League Cup - taking him clear of Irving Natrass' total of 22.

Chelsea meanwhile had winger Boudewijn Zenden on the bench after he shrugged off flu but both Emmanuel Petit and Marcel Desailly were ruled out.

After a quiet opening the below capacity crowd had to wait until the quarter of an hour mark for a clear chance and it went Chelsea's way.

Celestine Babayaro's ball was deflected beyond Newcastle defender Nikos Dabizas into the path of Slavisa Jokanovic.

The midfielder was left with only Given to beat but his delicate chip rebounded off the bar and the visitors cleared.

Neither side settled particularly better than the other as referee David Elleray felt the need to blow his whistle for the slightest of nudges.

However it was the Blues who were looking the more dangerous.

Dutch full-back Mario Melchiot skipped his way past Bernard easily and whipped in a wicked low cross, but the ball just eluded the outstretched boot of Hasselbaink inside the six-yard area.

There was a sudden burst of life into the clash as Gary Speed's searching long ball set Craig Bellamy free. With only keeper Carlo Cudicini to beat, Bellamy took one too many steps and he scuffed his shot wide under pressure from William Gallas.

The look from the dug-out said it all from Robson, whose side were nearly made to pay for that dreadful miss.

Immediately afterwards an intricate one-two between Gudjohnsen and Hasselbaink led to the Icelandic striker firing wide from a tight angle.

It was by no means a typical blood-rushing, pulsating cup tie but there were signs that the match was beginning to pick up a few gears as the half-time whistle blew.

After the break a similar pace resumed and Nolberto Solano was first to fire a right-foot shot marginally over the up-right.

The battle between Bellamy and Chelsea centre-back was reaching boiling point. The pair, who had both been shown the yellow card in the first half for their behaviour, were at it again as the Newcastle forward was pushed over the advertising hoardings by his marker.

This seemed to spur on the hosts, who should have taken the lead but for more heroics by Given from a powerful Gudjohnsen effort.

With around 20 minutes to go both Robson and Ranieri threw on attack-minded individuals to try to create that little extra.

Kieron Dyer, making his second appearance as a substitute in four days, came on for the St James' Park club, while Zenden entered the fray for Chelsea.

With time filtering out Newcastle had a glorious opportunity to snatch victory from an unlikely source.

But from Solano's outswinging cross centre-back Andy O'Brien headed over when he went up unchallenged.

And weren't Newcastle to rue that miss.

Former Newcastle target Zenden burst clear on the left and perfectly crossed to the advancing Hasselbaink who volleyed in from close ranged past a helpless Given. Game over Newcastle.

Goals: Hasselbaink (1-0, 90)

Bookings: Bellamy, Terry (conduct); Babayaro, Dabizas (foul); Bernard (ungentlemanly conduct);

Sent off: None

Attendance: 27,631

Referee: David Elleray (Harrow on the Hill)

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cudicini 7, Melchiot 6, Terry 6, Gallas 6, Babayaro 6; Lampard 5, Dalla Bona 6, Jokanovic 6 (Stanic 46, 7), Le Saux 6 (Zenden 68, 6); Gudjohnsen 8 (Zola 77), Hasselbaink 7. Subs not used: Forssell, De Goey.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Given 8; Hughes 6, O'Brien 6, Dabizas 8, Elliott 6; Solano 7 (Lua Lua 90), Speed 6, Lee 7 (Ameobi 90), Bernard 7 (Dyer 71); Bellamy 6, Shearer 6. Subs not used: Harper, Distin.

MAN OF THE MATCH: NIKOS Dabizas - A tower of strength at the back.

Read more about Newcastle here.