Watching Brief

It's amazing what a little talent and a £9m price-tag will do to immediately win over a player's new supporters.

The match-day sponsors awarded the England centre-back the man-of-the-match award for his display. Perhaps that was a little over the top but he certainly had a big enough impact on his home bow.

Commanding, yes; Comfortable, yes; Strong in the tackle, yes. In fact the only blip on his first display in a Newcastle shirt was he was arguably at fault for Chelsea's equalising goal.

His pass to Gary Speed missed its intended target and instead fell to the feet of Jody Morris.

The Chelsea midfielder turned defence into the attack that ended with Frank Lampard volleying hime.

But Woodgate already looks an assured defender. He may be only 23 but considering his former Leeds teammate Rio Ferdinand cost Manchester United £30m, Sir Bobby Robson has got a bargain.

On Saturday it was a case of the one Robson got versus the one that got away - John Terry.

In the blue corner stood the strapping frame of Terry and in the black and white corner the uncompromising Teessider.

Terry, targeted by the Newcastle boss earlier in the season, shone on Tyneside alongside William Gallas at the heart of the Chelsea defence.

And it is little wonder Claudio Ranieri was keen to keep hold of the Englishman. Terry and Gallas both made life hard for Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy.

At the other end the combined talents of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen never really threatened Woodgate et al. Hasselbaink's threat was limited to a diving header past his own keeper that Shearer would have cherished.

Robson made the right choice in pitting Woodgate straight into the side. But it was always going to be a tough choice who to leave out.

Titus Bramble was the unfortunate absentee with O'Brien getting the nod alongside the new man.

The Woodgate-Bramble combination is predicted as the one that emerges over the coming months, possibly years.

There was also one other battle on the Tyneside turf, the one between two prospective England midfielders - Kieron Dyer and Lampard.

Both are good friends and Dyer had warned his opposite number he was due a beating - Newcastle obliged.

But, while the Magpies schemer shone with some dribbling runs, Lampard also enjoyed a good day.

At first it was Dyer who got the upper hand but as the game progressed the Chelsea star showed his true worth with an exquisite goal.

Woodgate Watch

1min: Gets off to great start when he beats Mario Stanic in the air after Jimmy Flloyd Hasselbaink's corner.

5mins: Woodgate chests down a long Chelsea punt and then passes coolly to Aaron Hughes.

8mins: Eidur Gudjohnsen plays in Jesper Gronkjaer down the right. Olivier Bernard struggles to match the flying Dane for pace but Woodgate is on hand to chase back and put in a superb block tackle.

17mins: Allowed Hasselbaink to go clear after Stanic's long ball.

22mins: Showed his quality when he ran over to the left touchline and stopped Stanic in his tracks.

29mins: The former Leeds man tried to pick out Alan Shearer with a right-footed long pass, but flew yards past.

35mins: Early communication problems perhaps as Andy O'Brien and Woodgate allow Gudjohnsen space and the Icelandic international's shot had to be saved by Shay Given.

36mins: Woodgate's attempt at a short pass misses Gary Speed and is picked up by Jody Morris. Chelsea broke, won a corner and Frank Lampard then scored.

49mins: Hugo Viana's free kick was headed goalwards by Woodgate and then cleared by Mario Melchiot.

52mins: Corner breaks down and Woodgate puts ball back into box with good cross and Craig Bellamy shoots at goal.

55mins: Hasselbaink's corner was dealt with by Woodgate, who headed behind for a corner.

56mins: Had to be alert to stop Gronkjaer and cleared well.

90mins: Woodgate caps a promising debut by shepherding Chelsea substitute Carlton Cole as he looked for a late equaliser.