Chelsea hand Magpies a mauling

Chelsea 5 Newcastle 0

Claudio Ranieri still refuses to tip his team for the title – but Bobby Robson, whose side were condemned to their heaviest defeat for three years at Stamford Bridge today, has no doubts about Chelsea’s championship credentials.

Blues boss Ranieri rewarded his heroes of Rome by shelving his tinkering for the first time this season – and his players responded by dishing out the Lazio treatment to Newcastle.

Just as the Italian giants were emphatically beaten on Tuesday, losing 4-0, the 10-man Tynesiders were torn to shreds by the buoyant Blues at Stamford Bridge today in a 5-0 rout.

This crushing victory, Chelsea’s ninth from 12 league games this season, keeps them alongside Arsenal and Manchester United in the thick of the Barclaycard Premiership title race.

But Ranieri will not back his players to end the Londoners’ 48-year wait for the crown.

“I’ll believe the title when I touch it, not before,” he said. “Players can dream but the manager must have the right balance.

“We were very close to Arsenal and Manchester United on Christmas Day last year but then said goodbye.

“It was important for us to win today because it’s not easy when Arsenal continue to win.

“I’m pleased, our foundations are good and it’s important I have a lot of champions in my team.”

Robson, however, has no doubts over Chelsea’s ability to wrestle the Premiership silverware from the Old Trafford trophy cabinet.

“I think Chelsea are good enough,” he said. “They’re a tremendous threat to Manchester United and Arsenal because they have fine players and play with nice shape and style.

“Stamford Bridge is full of excitement so good luck to them.”

Robson gained first-hand experience of the momentum of the Chelsea juggernaut today as his side slumped to their widest margin of defeat since the 5-0 battering by Arsenal at Highbury in December 2000.

Embarrassingly for Robson, this game was over as a contest before referee Paul Durkin had even put the half-time whistle to his lips.

United were toothless in attack in the absence of Alan Shearer, a late withdrawal with a chest infection which robbed him of his voice.

Glen Johnson started the Chelsea landslide today, hammering home his first ever league goal in the 25th minute.

Further Chelsea goals in the 39th and 42nd minutes effectively clinched victory.

Hernan Crespo tapped in from six yards and Frank Lampard drilled home from the penalty spot after Adrian Mutu was tugged back by Andy O’Brien – who was sent off for a professional foul.

The rout was completed by Damien Duff, in the 78th minute, and Eidur Gudjohnsen six minutes later.

Robson was fuming about O’Brien’s dismissal. “It cost us the game,” he said.

“Andy’s very unhappy about the decision. He felt it was harsh as Mutu overran the ball.

“The linesman gave the penalty and Andy’s convinced that, if there was a slight tug, it was outside the box. Andy swears by it.

“I had a word with Mr Durkin at half-time and told him, politely, I was unhappy with his decision.

“It was a double blow for us as it was a penalty and a sending-off. We had no chance than and it killed the game for us as it was 3-0 at half-time.

“So it’s been a miserable, nightmare afternoon. I hate the sound of 5-0.

We thought we might turn them over but they did it to us.”

Today was the first time this season that Ranieri, dubbed ’The Tinkerman’, had named an unchanged starting XI – meaning William Gallas made his 100th Chelsea appearance – in a move which paid off handsomely.

“Everyone was waiting for me to change my team but I didn’t,” Ranieri added.

“I wanted to see the attitude and performance of my players after the Lazio game.

“I wanted to check if my players had their feet on the ground. They did and I’m very pleased.

“We recovered well from playing in Europe but Newcastle didn’t. And not having Shearer was a tremendous thing for Sir Bobby Robson.”

The presence of Sven-Goran Eriksson, who speculation continues to link with Ranieri’s job, in the Stamford Bridge directors’ box today would have given Ranieri a further source of satisfaction on a day to remember for the Blues.