Six defeats from their opening 16 Premier League fixtures effectively removed Chelsea from the title race before the season had reached the halfway stage, but the Blues still had aspirations to win a cup competition, with possibilities remaining in both the FA Cup and Champions League.
Gianluca Vialli's team eventually bowed out to Barcelona in the quarter-finals in Europe, but they remained favourites to lift the FA Cup for the second time in three years when they played Newcastle United in the semi-finals on this day in 2000. Chelsea's route to the last four had been comfortable, with Gillingham having being thrashed in the previous round, while Newcastle had edged past Tranmere Rovers as they targeted a third successive appearance in the final.
After stringing together a run of 15 games unbeaten in the Premier League and already recording two 1-0 wins over the Magpies earlier in the season, Chelsea were expected to see off their North-East opponents but right from the early stages of the game at Wembley Stadium, it was clear that they wouldn't have it all their own way against Sir Bobby Robson's team.
Alan Shearer, who had already netted 26 goals in all competitions, took the ball past Didier Deschamps before firing straight at Ed de Goey, while strike partner Duncan Ferguson was provided with an opening after good work from Nolberto Solano, but the Scot couldn't find the target after scuffing his effort.
However, just after the quarter-hour mark, Chelsea opened the scoring with a superbly worked goal. After receiving a pass from Chris Sutton, George Weah provided the deftest of touches to float the ball over the Newcastle defence for Gus Poyet, who ran onto the ball before directing it over Shay Given and into the far corner for his fifth goal of the competition.
Newcastle were aggrieved with an incident in the build-up to the goal, but they channelled their frustration effectively to have the better of the game before the break. Warren Barton fired over the crossbar after the ball had fallen invitingly for him on the edge of the penalty area, before Solano also blazed off target from a promising position inside the 18-yard box.
However, Newcastle were forced to shuffle their pack shortly before half time when Ferguson, who despite his height and strength, was ineffective due to a lingering knee injury and he made his way down the tunnel as Robson opted for a change in formation.
The substitution failed to hinder Newcastle though, and after Kieron Dyer had wasted an opening when firing straight at De Goey, the Tyneside giants equalised through a bullet header from Robert Lee, who rose above the Chelsea defence after getting on the end of a cross from Shearer, who had skilfully worked his way past Frank Leboeuf on the right flank.
However, Newcastle's jubilation was short-lived, and with 18 minutes remaining, Chelsea regained their advantage thanks to a second from Poyet. A deep, floated cross from the left from Jon Harley left the Uruguayan with plenty to do, but he rose delightfully at the back post to power the ball past a sprawling Shay Given and into the far corner.
Newcastle pushed for another equaliser, but after Dyer had been denied by the impressive De Goey from 12 yards, Chelsea were able to hold on to secure a place in the final against Aston Villa, whom they would beat 1-0 thanks to a late effort from Roberto Di Matteo.
CHELSEA XI: De Goey, Ferrer, Leboeuf, Desailly, Harley, Di Matteo, Deschamps, Wise, Poyet, Weah, Sutton
NEWCASTLE UNITED XI: Given, Barton, Dabizas, Howey, Hughes, Solano, Lee, Speed, Dyer, Shearer, Ferguson
Darren Plant
