Newcastle's manager Shearer tastes defeat as Chelsea keep Premiership title hopes alive with 2-0 win

New manager Alan Shearer was unable to inspire Newcastle in his first game in charge as Chelsea emerged with a comfortable 2-0 victory to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.

Chelsea's Frank Lampard celebrates his goal against Newcastle on Saturday. pics/ap

Two goals in nine second-half minutes sealed a deserved win for the visitors, who closed the gap on Manchester United to a single point.

Frank Lampard broke Newcastle resistance in the 56th minute, the England midfielder heading the ball into an empty net after a mis-hit drive from Nicolas Anelka came back off the bar as Chelsea kept up the pressure at the top of the table.

Florent Malouda sealed the win after 65 minutes. Anelka flicked on a long clearance from goalkeeper Peter Cech to Lampard, whose ball released the midfielder to slide his shot past a stranded Steve Harper and leave Newcastle without a home victory for approaching four months.

Michael Owen had a deflected late effort cleared off the line by Ashley Cole TV replays suggested the ball was in but that was as close as Newcastle came to marking the start of Shearer's reign with a goal.

EPL results
Blackburnu00a0 2-1u00a0u00a0u00a0 Tottenham
Arsenalu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 2-0u00a0u00a0 Man City
Boltonu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 4-1u00a0u00a0u00a0 Middlesbrough
Hull Cityu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 0-0u00a0u00a0 Portsmouth
Newcastleu00a0 0-2u00a0u00a0 Chelsea
West Brom 0-2u00a0u00a0 Stokeu00a0
West Hamu00a0u00a0 2-0u00a0u00a0 Sunderland