Newcastle (UK) - Chelsea and Nigerian ace midfielder, Mikel Obi’s hopes of wrestling the titke away from premiership rival, Manchester United, was kept alive with goals from Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda which handed Chelsea a deserved win against Newcastle, and ensured the title race will go down to the final day.

The win moved Chelsea level on points with Manchester United, though their goal difference is vastly inferior.  Manchester United, travel to Wigan on Sunday knowing a victory will see them retain their Premier League crown bar a freak scoreline for Chelsea, while the Blues play Bolton at Stamford Bridge.

Blues boss Avram Grant will be buoyed by Wigan’s recent run of results - they are unbeaten in five - and the current form of his own team, who have not lost in the league since 16 December.

Chelsea arrived at St James’ Park fully aware that defeat would effectively end their title hopes but it took them more than half an hour to establish any sort of rhythm and Newcastle will rue their failure to take their chances during that period. Newcastle’s big opportunity arrived in the 28th minute when Obafemi Martins worked his way into the box and, after the on-rushing Chelsea goalkeeper, Peter Cech foiled Mark Viduka, Owen’s follow-up was cleared off the line by a perfectly positioned John Terry.

In the 52nd minute Drogba flicked Mikel’s pass into the path of Ballack and only Steven Taylor’s last-ditch challenge prevented the German a clear sight of goal.

From Malouda’s resultant corner, Terry thumped a header against Harper’s bar but the hosts’ reprieve would only be temporary.

On the hour mark Abdoulaye Faye committed a reckless foul to prevent Malouda driving into the box and Ballack rose completely unmarked to head home Drogba’s free-kick from the right. Martins saw a fierce drive deflected narrowly wide and then Butt’s miscued shot was met by Owen, who’s connection was insufficient to divert the ball past Cech.

Punishment almost came in the form of a blistering Ballack drive that stung Harper’s palms, but then it did when a neat exchange of passes between Ballack and Essien allowed Lampard to release Malouda for a precise finish that kept Chelsea’s title hopes alive.

Source: BBC Sports

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