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Alan Pardew limbered up for his latest meeting with José Mourinho by issuing such a gushing ode to Chelsea's manager that he seemed in the grip of a bit of a "man crush". The good news for Newcastle fans was, on the privacy of the practice pitches, such public flattery evidently gave way to forensic detail as Pardew choreographed a win that has offered him significantly increased job security at a moment when he really needs it.
After spending the first half thwarting Chelsea and provoking Mourinho into the questionable decisions to haul off Fernando Torres and Juan Mata, Newcastle inexorably gained control of the tempo with goals from Yoan Gouffran and Loïc Rémy securing an ultimately much-deserved victory.
The less said about a first half played in swirling rain and beneath slate grey skies the better. All about containment and frustration the nearest it got to a goal was a couple of John Terry headers, one that bounced off the bar and the other cleared off the line by Davide Santon.
Despite his side enjoying the greater share of both possession and chances, Mourinho cut a damp, disgruntled technical area figure. The grim weather alone probably felt sufficient to vindicate the Portuguese's decision to reject his mentor Sir Bobby Robson's offer to join him as his assistant at St James' Park back in the late 1990s.
If at times Mourinho seemed lost in thought Pardew simply looked anxious and a little uneasy, for all that his players were succeeding in keeping Chelsea on a reasonably tight rein, little cameos from Fernando Torres indicated that the Spain striker really has finally rediscovered his old sharpness and devastating change of pace.
Equally ominously for Newcastle's manager, Yohan Cabaye's playmaking style was being cramped by Frank Lampard whose early habit of making vital interceptions – although this diminished as Lampard tired, faded and was eventually substituted – prevented the home side from establishing any sort of sustained passing rhythm.
Even so Moussa Sissoko should have done better than shoot across the face of goal when cleverly set free by Mathieu Debuchy and Rémy might have done better than shoot straight at Petr Cech after finding himself clean through.
Those two reprieves signalled the time for change on Mourinho's part. For all his industry and high calibre movement, Chelsea's manager decided it was not Torres's day and replaced him with Samuel Eto'o before also withdrawing Mata – surprise, surprise! – and sending on Willian.
Within a minute Pardew had hauled Shola Ameobi off in order to offer Papiss Cissé yet another chance. If Ameobi had reason to feel slightly hard done by, Hatem Ben Arfa, dropped from the starting lineup, did not look overly impressed as he continued to warm up on the touchline.
Pardew, though, was about to silence his critics. When Newcastle won a free-kick and Cabaye stepped forward to take it, he summoned the France midfielder for a quick touchline chat. Whatever Pardew said clearly paid off because Cabaye unleashed a fabulous dead ball headed into the bottom corner by Yoan Gouffran with Terry eluded.
A prolonged period of half-chances punctuated by home pressure soon had Mourinho shaking his head and muttering to himself. He may have tired of Torres but Newcastle had clearly been so terrified of Chelsea's supposedly renascent striker that his departure appeared to have liberated them mentally, instantly removing all their earlier attacking inhibitions.
Indeed the only man wearing black and white without a smile on his face was Ben Arfa, who had to endure the sight of Gabriel Obertan trotting on for Gouffran as Pardew made his final substitution.
Once again managerial vindication came quickly. Obertan's pace enabled his pass to pick out Vurnon Anita. On for the injured Cheik Tioté, the underrated Anita dropped a shoulder before crossing for Rémy whose crisp first time shot flew past Cech.
Pardew's happiness was presumably completed when Mourinho, showing off his more pleasing, generous, side, greeted the final whistle by throwing his arms around Newcastle's manager and hugging him long and hard.
via Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com http://feeds.theguardian.com/c/34708/f/663845/s/3338f2ec/sc/13/l/0L0Stheguardian0N0Cfootball0C20A130Cnov0C0A20Cnewcastle0Eunited0Echelsea0Epremier0Eleague/story01.htm
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