Blues held by stubborn Newcastle

Chelsea dominated the game but could not find a way to break the deadlock as goalkeeper Shay Given saved superbly to deny Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole went agonisingly close with a header.

But Newcastle, who failed to trouble Chelsea keeper Petr Cech all afternoon, held on for a deserved point.

Chelsea should have taken the lead in the seventh minute but Given made a tremendous save to prevent Lampard scoring. Florent Malouda had picked out the England midfielder with a delightful chip into the penalty area but Given guessed correctly and dived to his right.

Malouda created a fine opening in the 16th minute when he left Fabricio Coloccini flat-footed and burst into the penalty area - but Given dived low to his right to save.

In the 23rd minute, some clever work on the left flank from Nicolas Anelka ended with Branislav Ivanovic heading his cross over the bar. Moments later John Terry and Lampard just failed to carve out an opening inside the Newcastle area.

In the 31st minute, Ashley Cole sent a header inches wide of the far post after a curling cross from Jose Bosingwa had beaten the United defence.

Deco supplied a through ball for Joe Cole two minutes later but the England international just failed to apply the finishing touch.

Anelka was unlucky not to put Chelsea in front in the 48th minute when he got on the end of Lampard's pass but his angled drive hit the chest of Given.

Chelsea had a goal ruled out for offside in the 54th minute. Lampard's through-ball allowed Malouda to fire in a shot which Given stopped, with Joe Cole bundling the loose ball over the line from an offside position. Lampard then burst into the penalty area but curled his shot just the wrong side of the upright.