Newcastle Utd 0 Chelsea 0

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Solano, Bramble, Taylor, Carr, Milner, Butt, Dyer, Emre, Sibierski (Carroll 78), Martins.

Subs Not Used: Srnicek, N'Zogbia, Ramage, Babayaro.

CHELSEA: Cech, Ferreira, Essien, Terry, Bridge, Wright-Phillips (Joe Cole 55), Makelele (Shevchenko 76), Lampard, Ballack (Mikel 18), Drogba, Kalou.

Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz.

Att: 52,056

It was an opportunity they hoped to grasp, but Glenn Roeder's boys were hardly going to lie down and let the steamroller grind them into the turf.

The Mags have now tipped the title race back into Manchester United's favour although Jose Mourinho must be bitterly disappointed the chance to put the title in their own hands has gone.

But, at the end of the day, Man Utd probably deserve title because they are by far a more entertaining side. Chelsea spent 94 minutes with one thing in mind - not to concede a goal - and hardly got out of the blocks.

It was a game of nothingness. Only one save all game; not a moment to make the heart miss a beat; but at least Glenn Roeder's side were cheered off rather than booed.

Mourinho's side may live to regret misses from Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou and substitute Joe Cole, but noway did the Blues deserve anything more than a point.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech made the one save of the match, when he got down to block Kieron Dyer's 59th-minute shot, and that was your lot.

Steven Taylor did well, as did James Milner, but to me Nobby Solano did the job of two players as he received nothing in the way of help on the right flank from Kieron Dyer, who strolled through a match at half pace.

Perhaps the England international isn't match fit after yet another injury lay-off, but I'd have substituted him after half an hour, as Solano covered every blade of grass coving him.

The current champions look distinctly ordinary, and rarely threatened goalkeeper Steve Harper. The Easington-born keeper didn't have anything thrown his way and must have had his easiest game of the season.

John Terry's wayward 36th-minute header and a wild long-range striker from full-back Wayne Bridge on the stroke of half-time were as near as the Blues got.

Obafemi Martins went close twice but he looked totally one dimentional all game. He was always willing to shoot, but never on target, and his passing was woeful.

Mourinho replaced Wright-Phillips with Cole on 55 minutes, but it did nothing to worry the Magpies.

However, Cole might have snatched victory in the final seconds when he got a touch on Paulo Ferreira's cross, only to see his effort spin agonisingly wide of the far post.