AFTER witnessing a scratch Newcastle United side run Premiership champions Chelsea close at Stamford Bridge, manager Glenn Roeder was brimming with pride over his players' outstanding defensive performance.

The Magpies, including teenage central defender Paul Huntington making his full debut at right-back against Arjen Robben, came within 16 minutes of earning a remarkable point against the Blues.

It would have been a result that leaders Manchester United - now just five points ahead of Chelsea - would have dreamed of, and one Newcastle can count themselves unlucky not to have achieved.

An injury-ravaged Magpies succumbed in the end after the introductions of both Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko - the former's goal ending a three match winning league run for Roeder's side.

It was Shevchenko's poorly hit effort on goal that caught Newcastle out and ended with Drogba edging ahead of Peter Ramage to side-foot beyond Shay Given.

"I'm very proud. But I would rather have been proud and have an extra point on the board. That could have been achievable," said Roeder.

"It's unusual for a player of Shevchenko's ability to have scuffed it. It's a shame because I would have expected Shay from than angle to have stopped it. Instead he scuffed it straight to a player who doesn't miss from six yards. It was a scruffy goal.

"I thought the game would go the way it did. You could hardly expect us to go to Chelsea and play a lot of football in their half. They are the double champions, a very powerful side and we have a dozen injuries.

"We had a young lad making his debut at right-back playing against a world class player who is a very difficult customer to play against. The big lad did well.

"Matty Pattison had to come on because Charles N'Zogbia got injured and he only has a couple of appearances behind him. I am proud. It's amazing that our dressing room is disappointed."

And Roeder feels that Jose Mourinho - who claimed before the game that Chelsea would do nothing other than win - was forced to make substitutions because of the way Newcastle played.

"I have to respect Jose's opinion," said Roeder. "He had to bring on players like Shevchenko, Makelele and Drogba who I'm sure he'd have rather kept on the bench all night. That's the mark of our performance.

"We came here with a rearguard action and the boys were magnificent. It would be unfair to say anything other than that."

Now the Newcastle boss - already shy of 12 players through injury - must assess Charles N'Zogbia's knee ligament injury this morning to find how long he will be out. Antoine Sibierski also hobbled away from the Bridge.

"We don't know how bad it is," said Roeder, who should have Emre, Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer available for Saturday's visit of Watford. "It's a knee ligament injury."