Chelsea failed to set a new club record of 24 games unbeaten by going down 2-1 at Newcastle United this afternoon.
Papiss Cisse came off the bench to score both goals for the home side, making it three home wins in a row for the Magpies over Chelsea.
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The visitors had far more shots than Newcastle in the opening half but they were largely restricted to efforts from distance.
Willian, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas all tried their luck, but none of them really tested Rob Elliot in the Newcastle goal.
At the other end, the Magpies had the clearest chance of the first half when Ayoze Perez fed Jack Colback, who couldn't beat the onrushing Thibaut Courtois from close range.
The second half started slowly before Newcastle broke the deadlock in the 57th minute.
Just moments after John Obi Mikel fluffed his lines with a header in the opposite box, Papiss Cisse stabbed home from close range after Gary Cahill had let Sammy Ameobi's low cross through his legs.
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The Magpies almost doubled their lead soon after when a game of head-tennis resulted in Moussa Sissoko heading wide under pressure.
Chelsea substitute Andre Schurrle tested Jak Alnwick, who replaced the injured Elliot at half time, before the Blues were inches from equalising when Branislav Ivanovic cut the ball back for Hazard and his low shot pinged back off the foot of the post.
Newcastle raced down the other end and doubled their lead on the counter-attack. It was Cisse again who applied the finishing touch after Sissoko had raced clear and managed to poke the ball over to his teammate.
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Chelsea's hopes of a late comeback were boosted when Steven Taylor received a second yellow card and they halved the deficit in the 83rd minute through Didier Drogba, who flicked home Fabregas's free kick.
Six minutes of injury time were added but Chelsea were unable to salvage a point despite plenty of late pressure.
Jose Mourinho is still yet to beat Newcastle as Chelsea boss and Manchester City can now close the gap to three points if they beat Everton later this evening.
Newcastle climb up to seventh and are just two points off the top four.
Pascal Lemesre
