Chelsea 1 Newcastle United 0 OF all the gifts Glenn Roeder received on his birthday, few could have been as precious as what he was on the verge of receiving as Newcastle United boss at Stamford Bridge last night.

After an incredible defensive performance against the reigning Premiership champions, a scratch Magpies line-up looked for 74 minutes as if they were going to hand further impetus to Manchester United in the title race.

Over an hour had elapsed before Chelsea had forced Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given into a serious save but, 14 minutes later, Didier Drogba arrived to deliver the cruel, cruel blow to Roeder and his men who had performed so admirably in adversity.

Roeder, who turned 51 yesterday at a time when he claims to be working within the worst injury crisis in the club's history, could have actually taken the lead prior to the winning goal.

But, in the end, Newcastle's eight game unbeaten run has reached an end.

And Jose Mourinho's claim that the eight point gap between Chelsea and Man United would become five by close of play Wednesday night rang true. Newcastle, though, did their level best to prove him wrong.

Roeder pinned, or was forced to, all his hopes on one of the youngest backlines in Newcastle's Premiership history.

Had it not been for the experience of former Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro, Newcastle had to rely on young centre-backs Peter Ramage and Steven Taylor, with teenager Paul Huntington asked to make his first Premiership start as a right-back.

Their task was helped by the news Mourinho had rested £50m-plus strikeforce Drogba and Shevchenko - both of whom entered the fray to change the course of the game after the interval - and reverted to a three pronged attack that brought back-to-back league titles.

That in itself looked to be to the detriment of Newcastle, but a forward personnel consisting of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Salomon Kalou, alongside Arjen Robben, could not have been weaker considering Chelsea's embarrassment of riches.

Yet, even if Wright-Phillips was like an over-excited schoolboy desperate to impress every time possession fell his way, there was still an overwhelming tide of Blue that surged forward for the opening half an hour.

And had it not been for the former Manchester City winger snatching at a clear opportunity in front of the posts Chelsea would have been in front within two minutes.

Geremi, the former Middlesbrough player, threw long into the box. Kalou's athletic frame outjumped the Newcastle defence but Wright-Phillips connected with fresh air four yards out when it looked easier to score.

While Mourinho could afford to tinker, Roeder had little alternatives. With 12 first team players out through injury, including midfielders Emre and captain Scott Parker, he was at least boosted by Nicky Butt's recovery from a virus.

A sign of Newcastle's dearth of options was the sight of striker Giuseppe Rossi playing on the left of midfield; and it was the American-born Italian's pass that opened the door for Obafemi Martins to run and shoot wide from 20 yards.

There was no mistaking the divide in class, with Chelsea capable of keeping the ball for long periods without Newcastle getting anywhere near.

Yet Chelsea - who had managed no more than one goal in their previous four matches - distinctly lacked a cutting edge.

That was highlighted when, after promising forays forward, Lampard and latterly Kalou missed the target with similar efforts, and Newcastle almost made them pay.

A corner that was forced by Martins' running behind the defence ended when James Milner's kick was headed against the bar by Antoine Sibierski, who had worked free of John Terry.

And as the half matured, and Chelsea became more wasteful with the final pass, Newcastle had the nerve to threaten Hilario's net on more than one occasion.

The stand-in goalkeeper was never forced into a save but the way Rossi, who went close with a half volley, and Milner provided danger down both flanks gave Roeder and the travelling support plenty encouragement.

And it was into the second half before Given was forced into making a serious stop, illustrating how effectively Newcastle's defensive gameplan operated.

That was tested, however, shortly before the break when Milner had to move inside to fill in for N'Zogbia, stretchered off after colliding with Lampard, and Matty Pattison was introduced.

And even more so after the break, when Mourinho had to change things and, inevitably, he did.

Off went the nervous Wright-Phillips and the injured Ricardo Carvalho; on came Drogba and Claude Makelele, highlighting the gulf between the two squads.

And within 12 seconds of the restart, Robben's clever cross was headed down by Drogba and dropped inches wide. Then Robben's trickery on the edge of the area led to him rolling a shot into Given's arms.

Still, though, the Irishman was not being asked to make a meaningful stop. A frustrated Mourinho finally emerged from the dug-out to strike fear into his men and Chelsea stepped up a gear.

Robben's free-kick from the right eventually forced Given into a save with his leg. The onslaught started, particularly after Shevchenko effectively became Chelsea's fourth forward with 23 minutes remaining.

And, after Sibierski had gone close with a header at the other end which Hilario stopped, the opener arrived, involving the dream team forward line.

Robben's pass inside was struck into the six yard box by Shevchenko and Drogba, edging ahead of Ramage, side-footed beyond Given at the near post.

Given was then asked to make an exceptional save from Robben as the minutes ran down, but that could not affect the result. Chelsea stutter on, Newcastle look to Watford with growing heart.