CHELSEA 0, NEWCASTLE 0

DENNIS WISE has got more front than Morecambe.

A Petr Cech punt away from his London office, Stamford Bridge tempted him out of hiding.

BALLET HIGH - there's no winner in this challenge between Michael Owen and John Obi Mikel

And how proud he must have been. After all, the fans eulogised him in chant for the first time this season and his team did everything but score.

But even Wise must have felt a twinge of admiration for Newcastle as well. Of course, demonised Dennis was at hospitality's length from the Tyneside deputation.

Bodies

And if they spotted the executive director, they certainly did not acknowledge his presence.

Because this was a game for men who put their bodies on the line - not for men who keep their heads below the parapets.

This was about sweat not suits. It might be held up as evidence, albeit flimsy, of Chelsea's creeping uncertainty at home.

It might be used as proof that Phil Scolari needs owner Roman Abramovich to blow a raspberry at the recession and recruit extra personnel.

If Wise continues to have the nerve to draw a salary from St James' Park, he might even be useful in the transfer window. But what this team does not appear to need is heart.

Congratulations

Yes, there appeared to be a trace of scorn in Scolari's declaration that Newcastle had arrived with only a draw in mind.

And the sincerity in his congratulations to Joe Kinnear might have been strained.

But the bruiser in Big Phil must have looked a touch fondly at the commitment of every one of the Newcastle players.

Centre-halves Fabricio Coloccini and Sebastien Bassong defended beyond their limits, Habib Beye proved himself a bona fide rival to Jose Bosingwa as the Premier League's best right-back and the midfield two of Nicky Butt and Danny Guthrie must have blistered up from their relentless spadework.

And as Kinnear morphed a 4-4-2 into a 4-6-0, Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen left their instincts in their kitbags and joined the resistance movements.

World-class

And the final repellent was one of the finest in the business.

No wonder Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has been tipping the wink to Serie A clubs about Shay Given.

"Shay made two world-class saves," said Newcastle boss Kinnear, referring to a Gordon Banks-from-Pele imitation when Frank Lampard connected with Florent Malouda's cross and a point-blank effort from the same French winger's stretching volley.

"But the entire defence was excellent. They got everything in the way and, apart from those two saves, Chelsea didn't really create many clear-cut chances."

And this despite Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Lampard all refreshed from a midweek break while their England colleagues battled wonderfully in Berlin. At least the two Coles could go home and watch their partners on reality TV.

Performance

For Kinnear, this almost made for surreality TV.

"This was the best team performance we have had away from home," he announced. "To me, this feels like a victory. And to those lads in the dressing room, it feels like a win.

"We knew it would be a difficult match and we set up deeper - I asked Michael Owen to play a lot deeper than he is used to. And everybody was magnificent."

Well, not quite.

But there was certainly a togetherness, a bond, a unified determination that reflects well on Kinnear. Alas, there were certainly no Newcastle chances. Not one.

Helmet

Cech did not need his helmet - in fact, his helmet could have kept goal without its owner.

Given needed a tin one.

But for all their bombardment, Chelsea always looked in danger of fattening their point-loss account at Stamford Bridge to nine.

Ashley Cole wasted a gorgeous Bosingwa cross, Joe Cole bundled one in, but after a linesman's flag, and Given very nearly carried a Lampard free-kick over the whitewash.

But that moment of inspiration never arrived.

"They were better than us in that they came for a draw and got it," said Scolari. "We came for a win and didn't get it. So their strategy worked.

Buyers

"We did not win one point, we lost two. Sometimes, it is easier to win away from home because that team's supporters put pressure on them to attack.

"Newcastle did not try to get a win but congratulations to them and to their manager."

Kinnear later revealed that he has an extra month in charge and, with buyers still reluctant to dig deep, owner Mike Ashley could yet give him a long-term run at things.

On this evidence - and with Dennis watching - that would be the only wise move he has made for some time.

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