Frenchman Olivier Bernard was Newcastle's hero as Sir Bobby Robson finally shattered his Chelsea hoodoo.

Full-back Bernard fired home a 53rd-minute winner to put the Magpies level on points with second-placed Manchester United and hand Robson his first victory over the Londoners since he took over at St James' Park.

But perhaps more significantly, it extended the gap over fellow Champions League aspirants Chelsea to seven points with a game in hand.

However, they had to fight all the way for victory as the visitors ensured that debutant Jonathan Woodgate was not allowed a gentle baptism in a game they could not afford to lose.

The £9million new boy was a tower of strength, but he was not alone as the Magpies turned in a spirited defensive display to extend their record of not losing in the Premiership immediately after a European tie to 20 games.

Ironically, it was Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who put them in front with a 31st-minute own goal, and although Frank Lampard levelled within five minutes, Bernard ensured that the points went to Tyneside.

The Newcastle faithful among a crowd of 52,157 turned up determined to give Woodgate a rousing welcome, but Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen had different ideas.

He was not about to be allowed to stroll through his debut, and nor were his team-mates as the visitors arrived intent on extending the stranglehold on the Magpies under Robson's charge.

While the Magpies enjoyed the greater share of possession before the break, it was Claudio Ranieri's men who looked the more likely to score, and so it transpired with 31 minutes gone.

Hasselbaink met the ball at the near post with a glancing header which flew into the back of the net, although sadly for him, it was his own as his attempt to clear Nolberto Solano's cross proved disastrous.

It was hard luck on Chelsea, who had managed largely to nullify the threat of Kieron Dyer and Craig Bellamy, although their fortunes were to improve.

Shay Given saved well from Gudjohnsen after he slipped away from Andy O'Brien to collect Mario Stanic's cross, but the Irishman will not have been pleased with his part in the equaliser on 36 minutes.

Given came for but missed Hasselbaink's deep right-wing corner, and although Aaron Hughes cleared to the edge of the box, Lampard was able to steer a shot into the roof of the net with the keeper still scurrying back.

Things could have been worse for Newcastle and Given redeemed himself with a good save from Jesper Gronkjaer five minutes before the break.

The home side returned knowing that they would have to be better after the break, and despite their exertions in Europe, they upped their workrate and reaped the rewards within eight minutes.

Portuguese international Hugo Viana, who had received a knock to his injured shoulder during the first-half, found space on the left and delivered a perfectly-weighted ball into the path of overlapping full-back Bernard, who lifted his shot over the advancing Carlo Cudicini to restore his side's lead.

Given denied Chelsea a second equaliser two minutes later when he pulled off a fine reaction save to keep out Lampard's header after William Gallas had returned Hasselbaink's corner across goal.

Ranieri opted for all-out attack as the game entered the final stages, sending on Gianfranco Zola, Boudewijn Zenden and Carlton Cole, and Zenden whistled a 72nd-minute shot just wide to keep Newcastle on their toes.

Robson responded by replacing wide men Viana and Solano with defenders Titus Bramble and Andy Griffin, and the result was an enthralling conclusion as the pattern of the first half was reversed with the visitors surging forward and their hosts defending tigerishly and countering on the break.

But a spirited United held out to clinch the points and maintain their charge up the Premiership table.

Teams

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Woodgate, Bernard, Solano (Griffin 79), Dyer (Ameobi 88), Speed, Viana (Bramble 72), Shearer, Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: LuaLua, Caig.

Goals: Hasselbaink 31 og, Bernard 53.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Gallas, Terry, Babayaro (Cole 77), Gronkjaer (Zola 67), Morris, Lampard, Stanic (Zenden 67), Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen.

Subs Not Used: Evans, Huth.

Booked: Cole.

Goals: Lampard 37.

Att: 52,157

Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).