JACK COLBACK is the only player to have been on the winning side against Chelsea twice this calendar year.

He was in the Sunderland team that beat the Blues at Stamford Bridge late last season, and was man of the match for Newcastle on Saturday as the Magpies inflicted defeat on Jose Mourinho’s side for the first time this campaign.

In fact, it was Chelsea’s first defeat in the Premier League since losing to Sunderland. Colback is the common denominator in both defeats, and is testament to the quality of player Newcastle picked up on a free in the summer from the Black Cats.

The Killingworth-raised midfielder was at the heart of everything against Chelsea, leading by example with his tough tackling and excellent positioning.

And Colback himself revealed that he revelled in the combative role at St James’ Park at the weekend, after Papiss Cisse’s brace put Chelsea 2-0 down before Steven Taylor was sent off and the visitors reduced the deficit through Didier Drogba.

“It was a great win,” said Colback. “And great for the fans to be the first team to beat Chelsea this season. That's a great achievement and we were deserving of it.

“We were confident coming into it and it was important getting back to winning ways. To come here against the best team in league is a great credit to us.

“I enjoyed it. It is good to test yourself against the best team in the league and was tough at times but we showed our quality as well.”

Chelsea had been unstoppable in the Premier League, looking like champions as early as September, and Colback agrees that Saturday’s win was more of an achievement than Sunderland’s win in April.

“It is a bit different to (the Sunderland game) last season as Chelsea are a different team with a lot more quality,” explained Colback.

“Going forward they are a lot stronger. Defensively they have been strong as well and have brushed away most teams so it is a fantastic win for Newcastle.

“They were strong in April when I beat them but have added that bit more quality with Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Didier Drogba off the bench. He shows how good he is despite his age.

“They have quality all over the pitch and it is difficult to see a weakness. We matched them and didn't give them too much respect, which if you do, you can get caught out by them.

“A lot of people will look at that result and will probably be shocked to see it.

That's what this league is all about and what makes it such a good league. No game is predictable and you never know what is going to happen.”

Colback is hoping for more of the same at the weekend when Newcastle visit Arsenal, adding: “We showed today we can match it with the best. We go to Arsenal with confidence and they are a similar team to Chelsea in the way they play.

“We have just got to settle down like we did at the weekend and we can be dangerous.”

Newcastle did not look like potential winners over Chelsea early on, with the visitors dominating possession - Willian, Oscar and Fabregas all going close in the opening exchanges.

Newcastle were made to wait half an hour before registering their first chance on goal, when Colback collected Ayoze Perez’s pass only to be denied by Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The two combined again on 37 minutes when Colback fired over from range after Perez’s block-tackle on Gary Cahill, as Newcastle finished the first half the better side.

Rob Elliot was a half-time casualty, limping off the St James’ Park pitch at the interval, which led to Jak Alnwick’s first competitive action for Newcastle.

And the youngster’s first touch of the ball wasn’t a bad one, wiping out Diego Costa to clear Fabregas’ free-kick.

Jon Obi Mikel headed wide for Chelsea, Fabregas again the provider, but moments later it was Newcastle who scored, ending Chelsea’s eight-hour clean sheet in the process.

Sammy Ameobi collected Moussa Sissoko’s pass, swung a ball in that took a deflection for Cisse, who was on as a substitute for the ineffectual Remy Cabella, to poke past Courtois.

It was almost two, moments later when Sissoko headed over Courtois’ bar, before Chelsea went on the prowl again.

But Newcastle, to a man, defended doggedly, repelling attack after attack, and nicked their second goal on the counter-attack.

Colback slotted in Sissoko, who superbly pulled it back for Cisse to stroke into an unguarded net on 78 minutes.

But in the space of two minutes, the Magpies went from comfortable to hanging on when Taylor received his marching orders for a second yellow card, the second challenge on Andre Schurrle particularly poor.

Fabregas whipped in a free-kick which Drogba nodded past Alnwick to set up a tense final seven minutes.

Alnwick made a fine save to stop Diego Costa on 89 minutes with Chelsea camped in the Newcastle half, and it was backs to the wall even further when referee Martin Atkinson added six minutes on at the end.

But Newcastle stayed strong and hung on to secure a famous – and deserved – victory.

Alnwick, despite his rush of blood to the head that resulted in Chelsea’s goal, put in an assured performance on his Newcastle debut, and admitted to be on the winning team against Chelsea was a dream come true.

“I prepare every single week as if I’m going to play,” explained Alnwick. “Most of my family were here, my mum and dad and my girlfriend. It was amazing for them.

“My dad grew up in Gateshead with my mam. It’s a dream. I grew up supporting Newcastle and to play for them in front of 52,000 and beating Chelsea at home, that’s what dreams are made of.”