NEWCASTLE UTD 0 CHELSEA 2
NEWCASTLE UTD: Harper, Beye, Taylor, Faye, Jose Enrique (N'Zogbia 77), Geremi (Duff 71), Butt, Barton, Viduka (Smith 46), Owen, Martins.
Subs Not Used: Forster, Cacapa.
CHELSEA: Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho (Alex 79), Bridge, Essien, Obi, Ballack, Anelka (Lampard 66), Drogba (Shevchenko 86), Malouda.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Joe Cole.
Goals: Ballack 61, Malouda 82.
Att: 52,305
Michael Ballack was again Chelsea's hero as the Londoners took the Premier League title race down the final game of the season after a 2-0 victory over Newcastle on Monday.
The German, whose double against Manchester United last week took them level with their rivals at the top, broke a stubborn Newcastle with a crucial 60th-minute opener at St James' Park.
But it was not until Florent Malouda added a second eight minutes from time that the points were safe as the spirited Magpies did their best to preserve a seven-game unbeaten run.
They had needed the help of the crossbar to keep out John Terry's 53rd-minute header, but had it not been for the Chelsea skipper's goalline clearance 16 minutes before the break, Michael Owen would have fired the home side ahead.
Kevin Keegan: "You usually have one exceptional side - I think this year, you have got two, and one of them has got to lose.
"I think it will be Man United as champions. Cristiano Ronaldo has had such an outstanding season and that, along with the other great players they have just gives them the edge.
"Despite the [state of the JJB] pitch I can't see them going to Wigan and losing. If you asked Avram Grant, he will go more in hope than expectation that they will.
"You would be mad in my position to say we can get into the top four next year.
"You have got West Brom and Stoke coming up and it's tough for them as well.
"None of those managers are going to say what I said 12, 13 years ago: 'Watch out, Alex, we are after your title.'.
"If they do, they will think they have been drinking something.
"Even if someone gives you a barrow-load of money you have got to be honest and say you are not going to get the very best players.
"All the great players, the big players, the top players potentially, will go for where the honours are, and then if they don't make it there, they will drop down to a Newcastle or any of those other clubs."