Newcastle bewitched by genius of Zola

Still unbeaten, still riding high, Chelsea had their manager, Claudio Ranieri, stretching his command of English to its limit, deeming this "a magnificent match" and adding "I want to continue this way". Having already faced Manchester United, Arsenal and now Newcastle at home, Ranieri is entitled to expect, looking forward, as he says, to opposition like Fulham, that the joyful moments may last longer.

This emphatic victory was achieved, their manager noted with a glow, by teamwork and commitment. It began at the back, where Marcel Desailly, ably abetted by William Gallas, was in commanding form, denying Newcastle even the sniff of a chance. Mario Stanic, filling in at left-back, did so with distinction, and the midfield, with Boudewijn Zenden scampering to much effect on the left, laid the groundwork for Gianfranco Zola to show why, at 36, he is currently Chelsea's sharpest striker. The diminutive Italian scored again – his fifth of the season – and provided ample explanation for the strange sight of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink relegated to the bench. It was, said Ranieri reasonably enough, a question of playing the man in form. And that man is Zola.

In the second half Newcastle laboured in pursuit of some sort of consolation to a jeering chorus from the Chelsea fans of "You're worse than Sunderland". On yesterday's showing, it was a comment not far wide of the mark. Craig Bellamy's first start since 24 February was hailed as some form of Messianic happening by the North-east faithful, but it was a happening which never happened and a crestfallen Bellamy was withdrawn a quarter of an hour before the end. Titus Bramble, the £5m close-season buy from Ipswich, paid the penalty for indifferent play in midweek by losing his place to Nikos Dabizas, the Greek international being restored to full fitness. However, the change did little to stiffen the Newcastle back-line, who, it is to be hoped, learned much from the way Chelsea defended as a unit.

The early exchanges between Desailly and Alan Shearer might have benefited from the addition of boxing gloves and, to his undisguised fury, ended with the Newcastle captain being shown the yellow card. The frantic pace and bludgeoning tackles were overtaken, however, by the first Chelsea goal, which brought praise from Newcastle's manager, Sir Bobby Robson.

Having combined a little earlier, only to be foiled by Shay Given's save, Zenden and Eidur Gudjohnsen did the trick in the 14th minute. Zenden, cutting back on to his right foot, delivered a centre to the far post and Gudjohnsen rose well to head towards the far corner. Given's fist and the upright merely delayed the progress of the ball over the line.

The speed of Bellamy and Kieron Dyer fully stretched Chelsea at times, but they were never breached. Bellamy, in particular, attracted a posse of blue shirts every time he gathered pace, and whenever Newcastle managed to get in a cross, which was not often, Desailly and Gallas took command.

Newcastle's hopes of a comeback were undermined with 26 minutes played by a second Chelsea score. Zola, cutting across the face of the penalty area, was tripped by Gary Speed. Zola got up to take the invitingly positioned kick himself. His effort struck Speed, stationed in the wall, and the deflection left Given stranded.

At half-time Robson said he urged his team to "try to think it's 0-0 and try to get a goal to give yourselves heart". It was admirably optimistic and for a while Newcastle did indeed threaten to pull one back, with Shearer's head directing an Aaron Hughes cross just too high. But, in the 58th minute, they were undone by a third Chelsea goal, which Robson called "comic". It was difficult to disagree.

Given, the ball at his feet and under pressure from the eager Zola, opted to make a short pass to Hughes near the right touchline. The full-back's kick was charged down by Zenden and rebounded, to Newcastle's deep misfortune, straight to Zola. With Given still yards from his net, Zola crossed low for Gudjohnsen to roll the easiest of goals into an unguarded net.

"That was the goal which absolutely killed us," said Robson. "You can't concede goals like that in the Premiership." But he managed a smile, adding: "I would have scored that one." It could have been four almost immediately, with Zola sending Frank Lampard clear with a glorious ball. But Given made amends, rushing out to pull off a blocking save.

"We lost miserably," concluded Robson. "It was a bit of a battering at the end of the day. We always play so miserably in London and we have done it again."