PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: NEWCASTLE UNITED V CHELSEA

WE HAVE HISTORY
Chelsea are looking to extend our unbeaten league run against Newcastle to nine games since the 1-0 defeat at St James' Park the end of our Premier League-winning 2005/06 season. That was Newcastle's only win in our last 12 league meetings.

Momentous games between our two sides on Tyneside have occasionally revolved around the return of a former Newcastle player. That was certainly the case when the Pensioners visited with legendary striker Hughie Gallacher (pictured below) upfront.

The Scots striker had arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer, and such was the interest in his swift revisit on 3 September 1930 that 68,386 spectators came along to see him. That remains a record crowd for the stadium.

Twenty-four years later in September 1954 the story of the game was wrapped around the contribution of Roy Bentley, another who'd plied his trade in the Geordies' forward line, albeit six years earlier.

Chelsea's elusive no.9 had scored four in ten and was just three short of his century of league goals. The Blues were also defending an impressive record of just one defeat in 17 away games carried over from the previous season.

Bentley masterminded his side's comfortable win with two expertly crafted goals, the first a fizzing, swerving drive, the second his 99th. Another ex-Newcastle man, Johnny McNichol, added the third in a vital 3-1 win in front of 45,640. (Chelsea have never scored more than three on Tyneside in the league.)

Bentley grabbed his 100th in the next game, at home to West Brom, and of course Chelsea went on to win the championship that season.

Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda were the scorers the last time Chelsea beat Newcastle in April 2009 at St James' Park. Last season both games were drawn.

Our last 10 league meetings at St James' Park
2000/01 - Drew 0-0
2001/02 - Chelsea won 2-1
2002/03 - Newcastle won 2-1
2003/04 - Newcastle won 2-1
2004/05 - Drew 1-1
2005/06 - Newcastle won 1-0
2006/07 - Drew 0-0
2007/08 - Chelsea won 2-0
2008/09 - Chelsea won 2-0
2010/11 - Drew 1-1

Other matches last season
League Cup third round 22 Sep 2010 Stamford Bridge
Chelsea …………….3 Newcastle………..……4
Van Aanholt 6                Ranger 27
Anelka 70, 87 pen        R Taylor32
                                         Ameobi 49, 89
                      Att: 41,511

Barclays Premier League, 15 May 2011 Stamford Bridge
Chelsea ……………2 Newcastle...……………2
Ivanovic 2                      Gutiérrez 10
Alex 83                           S Taylor 90+2
                     Att: 41,739

Chelsea v Newcastle in all competitions
Games played 149
Chelsea wins 62
Newcastle wins 48
Draws 39

Head to head in the League at St James' Park
Games played 66
Chelsea wins 15
Newcastle wins 34
Draws 17

Biggest league win at St James' Park for each team
16/11/1974 - Newcastle 5-0 Chelsea
25/03/1961 - Newcastle 1-6 Chelsea

DAYS SINCE
Chelsea lost at St James' Park: 2,036
Newcastle lost at home: 273
Arsenal won a trophy: 2,387
Liverpool won a trophy: 2,030

Newcastle United v Chelsea