So the question that has been asked increasingly, if somewhat prematurely, has been answered: Chelsea will not go unbeaten this season.

For the second time in a week they visited north-east England and were unable to win — the only difference this time was that the home side could.

The stats might show that the visitors had 26 shots to Newcastle’s nine but this was no smash-and-grab raid. The home side defended resolutely, counterattacked with pace and not a little imagination and in Papiss Cisse have a forward able to take his chances.

“It was about character and discipline against the best team, probably in Europe at the moment,” said Alan Pardew.

“My team were outstanding. We don’t have the crown jewels that Chelsea have so we had to play a tactical game. We stuck at it and we were always a threat. It was a special day for us.”

It was a particularly special day for 21-year-old keeper Jak Alnwick, who made his Premier League debut coming on for the injured Rob Elliot at half time.

Newcastle made a lively start to the second half and it was the introduction of another substitute, Cisse, that brought almost instant dividends.

Gary Cahill was at fault, failing to clear the cross from Sammy Ameobi which fell invitingly into the path of the onrushing Cisse for a relatively easy tap after 57 minutes.

From that point it was a case of whether Newcastle’s defence could survive the inevitable bombardment that would follow.

However, while Chelsea pushed forward they became vulnerable. With 12 minutes left, Jack Colback, imperious throughout, burst forward and found Moussa Sissoko who managed to toe poke the ball across to Cisse who again tapped home into an empty net.

Minutes later the mood changed. Steven Taylor saw red for a foul on Andre Schurrle and Didier Drogba was able to head home the resulting free kick from Schurrle to bring the visitors straight back into the game.

There was some consternation when the fourth official showed six minutes of injury time. Although Jose Mourinho felt that wasn’t enough, complaining about what he saw as delaying tactics from the home side. But he was still able to be philosophical.

“If you ask the other 19 teams in the Premier League if they want to swap places with Chelsea they would say Yes, but the leader is only one, and the leader is Chelsea.”