Newcastle United 0, Chelsea 1

TWO years ago, Jose Mourinho introduced a couple of substitutes to ensure Chelsea edged past Newcastle United in the Carling Cup - last night he repeated the trick.

But where the Blues had to wait until extra-time before celebrating victory in November 2004, in December 2006 it was all done and dusted inside 90 minutes, despite the Magpies' gallant efforts.

For the heroes of '04, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Arjen Robben, read Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack.

Ballack played his part in the breathtaking, match-winning free-kick that Drogba, only on four minutes earlier, curled high into Shay Given's top corner 12 minutes before full-time.

It was the second time in a week - after he emerged as a substitute to do exactly the same at Stamford Bridge in the Premiership - Drogba had stunned the Magpies.

But it could have been so differently had referee Chris Foy and his assistants judged that Obafemi Martins' exceptional first-half strike bounced over the line, instead of on it, after crashing off the underside of the bar.

And this morning manager Glenn Roeder, as his predecessor Sir Bobby Robson, in the stands last night, found so often before him, will be contemplating what might have been, with Wycombe one of those teams to have made it to the last four of the competition.

If Roeder is going to end a 37-year wait on Tyneside without a major trophy, he is going to have to deliver either the UEFA Cup or the FA Cup, something he will feel is achievable given the recent run of good form.

This result came a day after Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd insisted there had been no formal offers for the club at the AGM in London, and Roeder just wanted the Geordie folk to consider football matters.

The Jersey-based Belgravia group are yet to put anything on the table after a process of due diligence, while American finance company Polygon have only informally contacted Shepherd about the possibility of buying the club.

If Shepherd does, as seems likely, continue in his role for the foreseeable future at least, cash does need to be spent in the January transfer window, and everyone connected with the club knows it.

Roeder's priorities remain new faces at the back and up front, with reports of a £10m New Year transfer bonus on the lips of many inside St James'.

Yet there was another opportunity for the Academy products to stake their claim for the future against Chelsea for the second time inside seven days.

On the first occasion Paul Huntington, Steven Taylor and Peter Ramage's rearguard action came within 14 minutes of shutting out the expensively assembled Blues.

Last night, on home soil and with the likes of Kieron Dyer, Emre, Scott Parker and Nolberto Solano in action again, there appeared to be an even better chance of success. Mourinho signalled his own intentions for the Carling Cup, however, by naming a relatively strong starting line-up.

And it was the athletic frame of £12m teenager Jan Obi Mikel that belied his price-tag when he shot ten yards over Shay Given's bar within a minute of the first whistle. Unmarked, he should have at least found the target.

Among the other attractions on display were Andriy Shevchenko and Mikael Essien. Both tested the young Newcastle defence early on but were thwarted by solid goalkeeping and an impressive block.

Chelsea illustrated a willingness to press but with the efficiency of England defenders John Terry and Ashley Cole missing, there were plenty signs of encouragement for Newcastle.

Dyer's tame roll into Hilario's hands was as difficult as it got for the away keeper in the opening 25 minutes, although hesitancy from Ricardo Carvalho and Khalid Boulahrouz was to Newcastle's gain.

That rubbed off on right-back Paulo Ferreira, the first player booked on the night for hauling down James Milner after the winger rounded him with ease.

Moments after that, and following Essien's poor drive wide, Martins' exceptional volley from 25 yards, that crashed off the underside of the bar, lit up the encounter.

The row over whether or not it crossed the line will rumble on but the fact a goal wasn't given would have mattered little had Butt scored from the resultant corner.

Milner's kick from the left was volleyed towards goal by the rejuvenated former Manchester United midfielder and Hilario, resembling a volleyball expert rather than a goalkeeper, dived forward to punch clear.

Parker had a shot saved comfortably by Hilario and on the stroke of half-time, Shevchenko very nearly opened the scoring but his low strike struck the foot of the post and rolled wide.

As was the case a week earlier, Mourinho was unimpressed by the first-half showing and took immediate steps to alter things with the introduction of Lampard for Claude Makelele.

One of chances of the game, though, fell to Newcastle. Emre's delightful sliding pass caught the Chelsea defence out. Dyer ran through and was denied by the onrushing Hilario.

Lampard was wasteful again from close range and that led to the call up of Drogba - the match-winner at the Bridge in the league.

Butt's trip on Robben on the edge of the area brought the free-kick. Up stepped the Ivorian who, after Ballack stopped the striker's short dead ball, struck the sweetest of right-foot shots high into Given's net.

Lampard hit the post with an audacious chip but Drogba's world-class strike was sufficient to deny Newcastle a semi-final place.