Chelsea 5: Johnson 25, Crespo 38, Lampard (pen) 39, Duff 77, Gudjohnsen 84
Newcastle Utd 0: O'Brien s/o39

United: Given, O'Brien, Jenas, Speed, Hughes, Bramble, Ameobi, Bowyer, Robert (LuaLua78), Bernard, Viana (Caldwell 43) Subs (not used): Harper, Solano, Chopra, Caldwell

Chelsea: Cudicini, Johnson (Huth) Makelele, Mutu (Cole 63), Lampard, Duff, Gallas, Bridge, Veron, Crespo (Gudjohnsen), Terry Subs (not used): Ambosio, Gronkjaer

SIR Bobby Robson had to go into the game against Chelsea without the services of inspirational skipper Alan Shearer, who was suffering from flu.

Shearer was replaced by Hugo Viana, while Lee Bowyer came back into the side at the expense of Nobby Solano. In Shearer's absence, Gary Speed skippered the team.

Viana saw a shot fizz wide after two minutes, then at the other end Given got down well to block a low shot from his Irish international team-mate Duff.

Lampard's 30-yard drive then flew wide of Given's left hand upright before Crespo was not too far away from getting on the end of Duff's teasing cross.

On 20 minutes an ambitious 40-yard free kick from Robert was easy for Cudicini, then four minutes later the home side took the lead when Bridge's deep cross ended up faling to Johnson, and the young full back controlled the ball with his chest before drilling the ball into the net.

Chelsea started to turn the screw after getting ahead, and they doubled their lead on 38 minutes when Duff's miscued effort fell nicely to Crespo to give the Argentina star a simple tap-in.

It got worse for United a minute later when O'Brien tugged back Crespo as he raced clear on goal. The referee pointed to the spot, and after showing the defender the red card, Lampard made it 3-0 when he fired past Given from 12 yards.

Viana was immediately sacrificed by Sir Bobby as Steve Caldwell came off the bench to fill the void left by O'Brien.

United made life difficult for Chelsea after the break and defended well, but with Ameobi isolated up front on his own a comeback of any sort was increasingly unlikely as the half wore on.

Duff and Robert traded long range efforts around the hour mark, then Lampard fired high and wide from 30 yards he he looked to increase Chelsea's lead.

But 13 minutes from time United gifted their ho9sts goal number four, with Given's poor kick falling to Duff. The nippy midfielder quickly skipped around Caldwell and fired low into the net.

And the rout was completed seven minutes from time when Bridge whipped in a cross from the left after a superb move from Ranieri's side and substitute Gudjohnsen rose unchallenged to head past Given.