Two terrific goals from Papiss Demba Cissé gave Newcastle United their first win in the league at Stamford Bridge since 1986, but Alan Pardew’s men remain outside the top four on goal difference after Tottenham Hotspur also won away from home for the first time since December.
Receiving Davide Santon’s ball infield, Cissé rifled a stunning shot beyond Petr Čech with 19 minutes gone at Stamford Bridge. The Senegal forward’s second, his 13th in 12 Premier League appearances for the Magpies, came in the fourth minute of added time, when he found the net with a swerving strike from a position wide out on the Newcastle left.
Chelsea’s are now four points behind Tottenham with two league games to play following Spurs comfortable 4-1 victory at relegation-threatened Bolton Wanderers.
Luka Modrić scored the pick of Harry Redknapp’s team’s goals with a dipping half-volley from outside the penalty area.
Looks more and more likely that if Chelsea are to play in the Champions League next season, they will have to do it the hard way and beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final later this month in Munich.
If that doesn’t happen then the battle for fourth seems to be between Spurs and Newcastle now. This weekend, Spurs play Aston Villa on Sunday, when Newcastle host league leaders Manchester City.
Chelsea play Liverpool on Saturday in the FA Cup Final at Wembley.