Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea: Barclays Premier League as it happened

Newcastle will be disappointed to have blown that two-goal lead, but Chelsea's dominance for great swathes of that second half makes a point a more than credible return.

McClaren's side were almost unrecognisable from the one that slipped to four consecutive defeats before tonight and supporters showed their appreciation for that added commitment at full-time. If they can carry that sort of application over to their next few matches, then a first league win of the season will surely come very soon.

As for Chelsea, they rallied well after the break and the decision to introduce both Ramires and Willian essentially won them that point. Mourinho will still be concerned with his team's defending for both goals, however.

That is all we have time for tonight, as attention focuses to the oval ball for England's huge Rugby World Cup Pool A clash with Wales at Twickenham. Until next time, goodnight.

Full-time

Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea

A late booking for Pedro as he prevents a Newcastle counter attack by scything down Mbabu.

A nasty collision between Ramires and De Jong leaves the latter in a crumpled heap and leads to a delay for treatment.

McClaren bellowing at Sissoko to walk off the pitch slowly as he is taken off and replaced by De Jong.

Ramires has made a real impact since coming on and he comes so close to grabbing the winner as Krul parries away his header from another dangerous Willian delivery.

Four minutes of added time for Newcastle to hold onto a point.

Real heartbreak for Newcastle as Chelsea erase their two-goal lead and grab the equaliser. Willian is fouled out on the left flank and dusts himself down to float in a free-kick that goes straight in without taking a touch off anyone in a crowded penalty area.

Ramires' attempt to get his head on the ball certainly distracted Krul.

Goal: Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea (Willian)

A change in the final third for Newcastle as Mitrovic is replaced by Ivan Toney, who is making only his second appearance for Newcastle and his first in the Premier League since joining from League Two side Northampton Town in August.

More confident defending from Mbabu as he stops a determined Hazard in his tracks. The Swiss then shows a bit of naivety in allowing Pedro to slip in behind, but he can only blaze over the bar when one-on-one with Krul. That was a real opportunity for the champions to pull level.

A fine, incisive attacking run from Hazard as he skips past both Anita and Coloccini before seeing a shot well blocked by Mbebma.

12 minutes left to play and Chelsea have a lifeline. Zouma sweeps the ball brilliantly out to Hazard on the left and he takes a touch before cutting inside Janmaat and rolling the ball across to Ramires.

The former Benfica man then rifles a right-footed shot into the top corner from all of 25 yards. Excellent strike.

Goal: Newcastle 2-1 Chelsea (Ramires)

Hazard is furious not to have been awarded a free-kick in a good position as Mbabu steps across him. The same two men also came together earlier in the second half, when Chelsea thought they might have been awarded a penalty.

Meanwhile, Fabregas is currently receiving treatment for a head gash. He returns to the pitch sporting a Terry Butcher-esque bandage.

The substitute's first involvement is to float a cross towards Falcao, who cannot beat Krul from close range. Luckily for him, the flag is up for offside.

One final throw of the dice from Chelsea as Oscar jogs off to be replaced by fellow Brazilian midfielder Ramires.

Hazard tees up Oscar from the left but he curls a shot wide under pressure from a sliding Coloccini.

The notoriously rash Mitrovic has kept his head and proved a handful for Ivanovic and Zouma tonight and the former has now drawn a yellow card for a wild swing of the boot into the midriff of his compatriot.

Mourinho was preparing to make two changes before that goal and those substitutions have now happened with Radamel Falcao and Willian replacing Remy and Matic. Just under 30 minutes plus injury time remaining for Chelsea to avoid a fourth defeat in seven Premier League games this season.

Well, I suppose that is one way to relieve the pressure. Newcastle have struggled to get a touch on the ball since the restart, but they have now doubled their advantage as Wijnaldum easily breaks clear of his marker Fabregas to head home Perez's corner.

Goal: Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea (Georginio Wijnaldum)

It will be interesting to see what sort of system change occurs as a result of Newcastle losing one half of their battling midfield axis. Chelsea are dominating the ball at the moment and 35 minutes is a hell of a long time to be camped on the edge of your own penalty area, particularly against players of Hazard's quality.

A first change for Newcastle eight minutes into the second half sees the determined Colback finally withdrawn and replaced by Obertan.

Chelsea are beginning to monopolise possession here as Fabregas has a shot blocked and Pedro draws ironic cheers from the crowd after botching an ambitious attempt at a volley.

Oscar's left-footed cross towards Remy is headed over by the Frenchman.

A great reflex save from Krul at point-blank range as Remy connects with a cross from Fabregas. The offside flag is raised, so it would not have counted anyway.

The respective teams are back out on the pitch and the second half is underway. No substitutions from McClaren or Mourinho at the break.

Ivanovic and Zouma clearly exchanged words after the goal, but it is plainly obvious that one of them, surely the latter, should have sensed the danger and dealt with it accordingly. Mourinho will be furious with such a lack of defensive nous.

The half-time whistle sounds and Newcastle have just reward for their application and aggression throughout an impressive opening 45. Supporters will struggle to recognise this energetic and committed team, who have belied their lowly position in the bottom three to confidently restrict Chelsea and take a deserved lead.

Half-time

Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea

Diabolical defending from Chelsea and the hosts edge in front with only three minutes left until half-time. Vurnon Anita sends in a deep, looping cross from the left and Zouma makes the inexplicable decision to leave the ball before watching on helplessly as Perez produces a magnificent first touch and fires a half-volley in off the inside of the post.

Two minutes of added time signalled by the fourth official.

Goal: Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea (Ayoze Perez)

Mbemba, he of the stylish tuxedos, loses the ball deep in Chelsea's half and that leads to a swift Hazard counter attack. The Belgian finds Fabregas and his shot on the run is pushed over the crossbar by a diving Krul.

Chelsea have struggled for fluency thus far and their latest attack comes to nothing as Remy neglects to pick up Oscar's pass in a bid to avoid being flagged for offside.

A first yellow card of the evening as Colback enters the referee's notebook for a clear foul on Remy that stops Chelsea from breaking forward.

Colback has been very busy for Newcastle in this opening half an hour but he has clearly been struggling for the last few minutes and now sits on the pitch requiring treatment.

Assistant manager Paul Simpson readies Obertan to come on, but it looks as if the former Sunderland midfielder is content to carry on for now.

Begovic forced into two saves in quick succession as Janmaat feeds Perez and the 22-year-old fires straight at the goalkeeper.

Zouma clears but the attack is kept alive and Janmaat brings another solid stop from the man filling in for the injured Thibaut Courtois.

Mbabu does not look out of his depth here, it has to be said. The Swiss defender joined Newcastle from Servette in January 2013 but makes his Premier League debut today after failing to make a single appearance during a three-month loan at Rangers last term.

Strong defending from the masked Cahill as he prevents Mitrovic from racing to collect a through ball on the edge of Chelsea's penalty area. Newcastle are understandably keen to remain on the front foot here.

A good tackle from Daryl Janmaat on Hazard leaves the latter in some discomfort after he takes an elbow to the midriff.

Newcastle are coming forward with a bit of purpose now as Wijnaldum shows good pace to surge past Ivanovic down the left before providing a good cross that Mitrovic glances over. Moussa Sissoko also slashes a low shot wide.

A real chance for Remy to silence his detractors goes begging as he can only send a fast ball wide of Asmir Begovic's post. That is after Oscar had found Ivanovic down the right-hand side of the penalty area and the Serbian defender beat Georginio Wijnaldum before passing inside.

An eager Colback gives away a needless free-kick in his own half following a foul on Matic. It is some distance from Tim Krul's goal, but that does not stop the confident Zouma from lashing an effort at goal that rises well over the crossbar.

Loic Remy, who scored 14 goals during a season-long loan from QPR in these parts and is currently deputising for the suspended Diego Costa, is being roundly booed by the home supporters.

We are underway at St James' Park. Martin Atkinson is the man in the middle this evening.

For Newcastle, Fabricio Coloccini resumes his partnership with Chancel Mbemba at centre-half as 20-year-old defender Kevin Mbabu starts at left-back and Mike Williamson and Jamal Lascelles drop to the bench.

Florian Thauvin, Gabriel Obertan and Siem de Jong are also replaced by Jack Colback, Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Just over 15 minutes until kick-off.

So, Chelsea ring the changes after cruising past League One Walsall in the Capital One Cup earlier this week. Kurt Zouma is restored alongside Gary Cahill at centre-back as John Terry makes way, while Cesar Azpilicueta, Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Pedro, Oscar and Eden Hazard all return to the starting XI.

Baba Rahman, John Obi Mikel, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ramires, Kenedy and Radamel Falcao drop out.

Chelsea: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Pedro, Oscar, Hazard, Remy

Subs: Blackman, Terry, Mikel, Ramires, Willian, Kenedy, Falcao

Newcastle: Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Mbabu, Sissoko, Anita, Colback, Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrović

Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Lascelles, Obertan, Thauvin, De Jong, Toney

Hello and welcome to IBTimes UK's live coverage of the Premier League's latest teatime kick-off between Newcastle and Chelsea at St James' Park.

The defending champions have shown signs of recent recovery from their worst start to the season in 27 years with three consecutive wins in all competitions, but this has never been a particularly happy hunting ground for Jose Mourinho.

As for the Magpies, Steve McClaren's honeymoon period barely got underway before the familiar rot set in and no league wins so far this season coupled with an awful run of four straight defeats - the latest at home to Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday - has resulted in yet more anguish for long-suffering fans.

Team news and confirmed line-ups for this one are imminent and we will keep you abreast of all the action as it happens.