Everything went pretty much to plan as Chelsea won a place in Saturday lunchtime's Carling Cup semi-final draw.

 

That was according to Steve Clarke who summed up the 1-0 win at St. James' Park after the game.

 

'It has been a good night for the club,' said the Chelsea assistant manager, 'because we have had the chance to rest some players with some important matches coming up yet is was a good solid performance at a difficult place to come.

 

'We have played some players who haven't had much time to play and they got some minutes on the pitch. It was a good night for the squad.

 

The second-half we were always looking to take players off. We didn't want any players who play regularly to play 90 minutes with a possibility of extra-time so we balanced it.

 

'We had always planned to give Makelele 45 minutes,' he explained. 'It was just a question of whether we brought Frank Lampard or Michael Ballack on.'

 

The vote went to Lampard who replaced initial stand-in captain Claude Makelele at the break. Ballack came on for John Obi Mikel 20 minutes later when the young Nigerian hobbled off - the only real blemish on a foggy night on the Tyne.

 

But it was the third substitute who takes all the headlines. Didier Drogba entered the action on 72 minutes and six minutes later banished the spectre of an additional half-hour of play and possibly a penalty shoot-out.

 

After the final whistle, Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder lamented the fact that his keeper Shay Given had next to nothing to do in the past week's two games against Chelsea yet had twice been on the losing side.

 

Drogba, rising from the bench to score the winning goal in both games, had simply given the keeper no chance with his free-kick on Wednesday night.

 

So much has been said all ready this season about the country's leading scorer but as he reached a Chelsea career best 17 for the campaign, his coach had further words.

 

'Everything he seems to hit at the moment goes in,' said Clarke. 'There has been a lot of praise but it's good for the team. We are pleased with his contribution.

 

'At the moment, on current form, it is difficult to find a striker better than Didi. Not just for his goals, but for his all round contribution.

 

'You saw it at the end when we were under a bit of pressure and he was back there, heading balls away, fighting for the team.

 

'Sometimes it doesn't always work that if you have someone who scores lots and lots of goals you are automatically champions. Sometimes it is better if the goals are shared around like they have been for the last couple of seasons.

 

'But Didi's goals are very important for us at the moment. We are hopeful that over the course of the season other people will chip in. It is dangerous to rely on one man to score most of the goals.

 

'The other three competitions will take care of themselves,' added Clarke.

 

'We said at the start of the Carling Cup we would take it seriously. We have played some difficult matches and it would be silly to be at the semi-final stage and not think you can win the competition.'