Christian Bassedas' first goal for Newcastle was not enough to prevent his team suffering another defeat in London.

The Magpies' winless run in the capital now stands at 23 games and despite going ahead in the 22nd minute they always looked vulnerable to Chelsea's greater guile.

A wonderful equaliser by Gianfranco Zola, a sweet strike by Gus Poyet and a third goal in two games for Jesper Gronkjaer were just reward for the home team's sharper attacking edge.

The match began promisingly enough for Bobby Robson's men, despite the loss of the injured Robert Lee and Kevin Gallacher.

In came Kieron Dyer after suspension and as early as the fourth minute he tried his luck from 20 yards.

But it was the team's other new face, Bassedas, who broke the deadlock after both sides had created half chances.

Nolberto Solano, working like a Trojan rather than a Greek, won the ball in his own half from Celestine Babayaro and released Dyer down the right.

The makeshift striker beat Frank Lebeouf, and although Shola Ameobi could not reach the cross Bassedas stayed cool at the far post to slot home.

Chelsea reshuffled on the half hour, Gronkjaer replacing the injured Graeme Le Saux, and the home team came back strongly, with Zola prominent.

Aaron Hughes and Alain Goma stood firm at the back, but there was little they could do about the equaliser.

Zola received the ball from Babyaro, skipped past two challenges while running parallel to the 18-yard line, then hit a beautiful curling shot into the top left corner of Shay Given's net.

The first half closed with Poyet heading wastefully wide and Dyer almost accepting a return pass from the disappointing Ameobi.

After an impressive display of pace and skill in front of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, Dyer and Newcastle faded in the second period.

Ameobi struggled either to control the ball or hold it up and Chelsea had already looked menacing before Poyet gave them the lead.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink found room on the right, just outside the penalty area, and whipped in a low cross which Poyet.

For once he got in front of the Newcastle defence and steered past Given's right hand.

Newcastle now looked like a spent force, with Gronkjaer in particular causing them problems down their right-hand side.

In the 78th minute Mario Melchiot flicked on Dennis Wise's corner and Danish winger Gronkjaer finished in style at the far post.

A minute before the third goal Robson had replaced Ameobi and Dyer with Daniel Cordone and Lomana Lua-Lua, but the new strikeforce had even less impact on the home defence.

The win moved Chelsea into sixth place ahead of Newcastle and Robson's hopes of European football next season look ever slimmer