A STIRRING second half display from Newcastle United ensured that their first match of the season against Chelsea did not end in defeat.

Bobby Robson's United side had to cope with a barrage of attacks from the hosts for much of the game, but Clarence Acuna popped upto grab a deserved equaliser 13 minutes from time.

Chelsea's flying winger Boudewijn Zenden had earlier given the home side an early lead, as the only result that looked on the cards was a win for the Stamford Bridge outfit.

However, despite the attempts of former Newcastle target Zenden and right midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer, Newcastle rallied and escaped from London with a point.

The Geordies may still not have won in the capital for the past 25 occasions, but Robson will return north considering plenty of positive signs.

Frank Lampard, Boudewijn Zenden and Emmanuel Petit were all making their Premiership debuts for Chelsea but their import from Marseille, William Gallas, had to settle for a pace on the bench, and that quartet represented a total cash outlay of £32.2m from boss Claudio Ranieri.

Magpies manager Bobby Robson spent nearly half that sum but his £16m was wisely spent with the addition of Robert, Craig Bellamy and Gerdie Robbie Elliott.

And Newcastle knew that the clash was going to be a tough opener against the Blues who are hoping the season ends by gaining a Champions League place at least.

With a crippling injury list that includes Alan Shearer ad Kieron Dyer, Robson was also without influential midfielder Gary Speed and he was replaced by Argentinian Christian Bassedas.

The most notable absentee from the match-day squad was Nolberton Solano. The Peruvian was late returning from international duty and it was understood to have annoyed Robson, but the player was in attendance to warm up with the rest of the Newcastle team beforehand.

There was a tremendous atmosphere arund the ground for the clash as first match excitement reached fever pitch.

Two minutes had not even been clocked when the first over-enthusiastic challenge was evident and it left Bassedas needing treatment. Le Saux was the culprit when hs high tackle was penalised.

Newcastle started brightly with Robert looking sharp on the left, but when Petit broke with the ball and fed Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink danger signs were there. The Dutchman's cross deflected off Nikos Dabizas for a corner.

The flag-kick was quickly taken to Zenden, who cut inside Clarence Acuna and shot straight into the arms of Given but the Irishman let the ball straight through his legs and behind the line for the game's first goal on eight minutes.

Given made amends from that mistake moments later when he saved incredibly from defender John Terry from inside the six-yard box.

A Robert free-kick and a Bellamy shot were both well saved by Ed de Goey as Newcastle pressed, but Chelsea continued to look dangerouson on the break.

Gallas was given an early introduction on 26 minutes when he replaced injured Terry, but it was debutant Zenden who was continuing to impress.

The left-midfielder, who turned down the chance to move to Newcastle, was provng a tricky opponent and his his play led to both Robert Lee and Aaron Hughes being shown the yellow card.

Shortly before half-time the visitors were given a rare respite and nearly snatched an equaliser, but Dabizas could not get on the end of a Robert cross.

But normal service soon resumed with Zenden and Dane Jesper Gronkjaer causing any amount of problems down their respective flanks.

Newcastle, with one eye on Tuesday's InterToto Cup final with Troyes at St. James' Park, suffered more pressure during the early exchanges of the second half, but it was in fact they who went closest to scoring.

Robert, not having a major impact on the clash, showed his class to beat both Gallas and Melchiot close to the goal-line and the Frenchman's low cross was cleared only as far as the advancing Lee, but the skipper's right-foot shot went narrowly wide.

Newcastle began to enjoy more of the possession and they were given even more encouragement when impressive Zenden was replaced by Slavisa Jokanovic on 65 minutes.

Clear-cut opportunities were hard to come by as the minutes ticked by, but Newcastle were pushing for that equaliser and Chelsea had to make do with counter-attacks.

United's pressure finally paid off in the 77th minute when Acuna pounced on a spilled Robert shot from distance after Bassedas had taken a short free-kick.

Chelsea stepped up their interest and first Warren Barton had to be alert to clear close to the line with Petit breathing down his neck, and then Hasselbaink fired a volley the wrong side of the post.

But Newcastle deserve credit for the way they clawed their way back into the clash, after Ranieri's men dominated for the first hour.

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