Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has admitted that he has studied Chelsea’s approach, and is wary of the west London side’s momentum ahead of Wednesday night’s clash between the sides.

The Blues have been rejuvenated under Roberto Di Matteo, losing only one game in their last 16, whilst Newcastle have exceeded all expectations this term to compete for a top four finish.

Ahead of the clash at Stamford Bridge, where fifth play sixth, the Tyneside boss knows that the hosts are on a roll.

“Before I got this job, Chelsea was perhaps the team I visited most,” Pardew told The Independent.

“I know them well. I did a big study of Mourinho, how he played and how he got that record at home. I know those players very well. Their record at home, particularly under Mourinho, was just incredible, and I wanted to get my head around that.

“They’re re-motivated now and the fact it was reported that they needed to be replaced because they lacked legs has now worked on the other side of the coin. They’re proving everybody wrong, and that’s what great players do.

“The whole of the Chelsea team now has momentum, and that’s a key ingredient of success. But like us, it can just bite you every now and then, as Man United found out when they travelled to Wigan and got beat 1-0 and Tottenham found when Norwich beat them at home. We’re not the only good team that has come unstuck.

“This is a big night for that Champions League position. Tottenham go to Bolton and we play Chelsea. But there are still two games left where things can change again,” he confessed.

By Gareth McKnight

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