Chelsea thump Newcastle

Zola and Gudjohnsen proved an effective partnership

Chelsea 3-0 Newcastle

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Eidur Gudjohnsen rediscovered his scoring touch to grab two goals as Chelsea maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable win over Newcastle.

Veteran Italian Gianfranco Zola completed the scoring as Newcastle failed to record the first win at Stamford Bridge since 1986.

Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri opted to leave the out of form Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on the bench and his decision reaped dividends as the partnership of Zola and Gudjohnsen proved fruitful.

Our central defenders were like extra-terrestrials

Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri

Newcastle rarely threatened the Chelsea goal and remain one off the foot of the table.

Chelsea started brightly, with the recalled Gudjohnsen hitting a weak shot at Shay Given when well-placed after six minutes.

The Icelandic international was denied again by Given before he gave the hosts the lead.

Boudewijn Zenden curled in a cross from the left and Gudjohnsen rose high to loop his header in off a post for his first goal of the new campaign.

Carlo Cudicini in the Chelsea goal collided with Kieron Dyer as the Newcastle midfielder chased a through ball, but referee Barry Knight rejected calls for a penalty.

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Almost immediately, Chelsea doubled their lead after Zola was brought down on the edge of the box.

He picked himself up and saw his free-kick take a wicked deflection off Gary Speed in the wall and leave Given stranded for his fifth goal this season.

  Key incidents

14 mins: Gudjohnsen heads Chelsea in front

26 mins: Zola's free-kick deflects past Given

58 mins: Gudjohnsen doubles his season tally

It was tough on Speed who had been booked what looked like an innocuous tackle on the 36-year-old Italian.

At the other end the Chelsea defence was largely untroubled by Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy who was making his first start since February.

Shearer was one of three Newcastle players booked in the first half and several of them confronted Knight at half-time after he failed to award a penalty when Dyer appeared to be held back in box.

Shearer headed over after the break as Newcastle endeavoured to get back into the match, but they were then left exposed at the back.

I don't know why we often play so poorly in London but we've done it again

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson

Zola broke free on the left and his low cross cut out Given and found Gudjohnsen who sidefooted into the empty net.

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson made a triple substitution with 15 minutes left, but there was no way back for the visitors.

It was left to Gudjohnsen and Zola to revel in the applause when both were brought off with the Blues coasting to a comfortable victory.

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Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Gallas, Desailly, Stanic, De Lucas, Morris, Lampard, Zenden (Keenan 89), Gudjohnsen (Hasselbaink 81), Zola (Gronkjaer 81).
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Huth.

Booked: Gallas.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Dabizas, O'Brien, Bernard, Solano (Jenas 77), Speed, Dyer, Robert (Viana 77), Shearer, Bellamy (Ameobi 77).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Bramble.

Booked: Shearer, Speed, Solano, Bernard.

Attendance: 39,746

Referee: Barry Knight (Kent)