15/05/2005  Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1
 
Newcastle ended a disastrous season with a morale-boosting draw against runaway champions Chelsea to give their long-suffering fans a glimmer of hope for the future.

Geremi's own goal - just the 15th the Blues had conceded all season - had given Graeme Souness' men a 33rd-minute lead, although Frank Lampard levelled from the penalty spot within a minute after former team-mate Celestine Babayaro was adjudged to have fouled Eidur Gudjohnsen.

The Magpies might have taken all three points had Carlo Cudicini not clawed away Patrick Kluivert's 70th-minute header, but Shay Given had to produce an even better save seven minutes from time to keep out Jiri Jarosik's deflected drive.

The draw denied Chelsea a 30th league win of the season, although they picked up another record, that for the lowest number of goals conceded, beating Arsenal's record of 17.

Newcastle were left to reflect upon a campaign which promised much, but delivered little, although the point they picked up meant that they at least avoided setting a new points low in their time in the Premiership by equalling the 44 they collected under Kenny Dalglish in 1997-98.

The players thanked a crowd of 52,326 for their support throughout a difficult campaign after the final whistle - Frenchman Laurent Robert apparently taking his leave by throwing all but his underpants into the Gallowgate End - but they left the field knowing that much, much better is required next season.

Alan Shearer and his team-mates provided a guard of honour for the newly-crowned champions as the walked out, with Babayaro, who made the switch from Stamford Bridge to St James' Park in January, among their ranks in his black and white shirt.

The plan was to respect the visitors' achievement and then to remind them that, just two seasons ago, they were left trailing in the Magpies' wake and that they would be back.

As a ploy, it was successful in part as a game which had the smell of a pre-season friendly about it unfolded in mildly entertaining fashion.

Newcastle had little for which to play other than pride, and only another record was at stake for the Londoners.

They started the afternoon having conceded only 14 league goals, but that became 15 after 33 minutes, although Newcastle could take only part of the credit.

Shearer got up well to flick on Charles N'Zogbia's inswinging corner, and as Titus Bramble prepared to pounce at the far post, Geremi could only help the ball into his own net.

The home side, who have spent much of the season bemoaning their luck, were almost too embarrassed to celebrate. But they need not have worried - further misfortune was just around the corner.

Just seconds later, Babayaro was adjudged, perhaps harshly, to have dragged back Gudjohnsen, who needed no persuasion to go to ground, and referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot.

Lampard slipped as he ran up to the ball, but he made good enough contact to send it over Given and into the net to level.

Both sides were trying to play enterprising football, but Given had little to do before the break and opposite number Cudicini was troubled only by a James Milner corner which almost crept under his crossbar.

With full-back Stephen Carr failing to re-appear through injury after the break, Souness sent on youngster Steven Taylor in his place, although it was down the other flank that Chelsea launched their first attack of the half with Lampard firing straight at Given after being set up by Tiago.

But the home side should have regained the lead with 48 minutes gone when Darren Ambrose found space in the box and pulled the ball back for Jermaine Jenas, only for him to miss his kick in front of goal.

It was Milner providing the ammunition on 54 minutes when, after N'Zogbia and fought well for possession, he rounded Glen Johnson and crossed to the far post, only for Kluivert to be penalised for a push on Geremi, the Dutch international's protests earning him a booking.

Tiago and Ricardo Carvalho were to follow him in quick succession after the former lashed out at Taylor and the latter prevented the resulting free-kick from being taken quickly, and Chelsea were looking decidedly rattled.

Jenas became the seventh player to be cautioned for a tug on Claude Makelele's shirt on 59 minutes, but the impetus was with the Tynesiders and the home crowd responded to it as the game entered its final half-hour.

Milner was causing all kinds of problems as he switched from wing to wing and Babayaro lashed a 20-yard volley just wide on 65 minutes.

Given had to pull off a good one-handed save to keep out Gudjohnsen's 73rd-minute left-foot drive as the visitors rallied, but as Kluivert, perhaps for the final time, made way for Michael Chopra 15 minutes from time, the Toon Army sensed an opportunity.

Geremi rescued Cudicini with eight minutes remaining when he cleared off the line after the keeper had punched an N'Zogbia corner straight at Johnson, but it took a superb save from Given to keep out Jarosik's deflection drive seconds later.