Claudio Ranieri had said before yesterday's match that his Chelsea side were not capable of winning the title and it is hard to argue after this performance. In the past two seasons the fans have been treated to four goals here on the opening day and then seen everything go downhill. This at least gives them a clearer idea of what to expect.
Despite a strong debut from Emmanuel Petit and flashes of brilliance from Boudewijn Zenden, who was substituted to boos of disapproval just after the hour, Ranieri's much changed team need time to blend.
"I think one month or two months," the head coach said when asked how long he expected his players will need to settle. Ken Bates must be in charitable mood these days.
The portents for the new-look Chelsea had hardly been promising from lunchtime. Electrical problems in the lavishly rebuilt West Stand delayed kick-off by 10 minutes. And the longer the game went on the more disjointed Chelsea became, a failure in Ed de Goey's brain handing Clarence Acuna a 77th-minute equaliser.
After Zenden had taken advantage of an equally elementary error by Shay Given to give Chelsea an eighth-minute lead, Ranieri's team had seemed set fair. Emmanuel Petit was imposing in midfield, Zenden lively on the left, and Newcastle were desperately short of penetration without the injured Alan Shearer, Carl Cort and Kieron Dyer.
But a couple of opportunities were wasted and, as Ranieri said, in the second half Chelsea "suffered". They created little and could hardly complain at the result, the Italian putting their decline and their opponents' improvement down to InterToto Cup involvement. "Today was the very first game for Chelsea," he said, "and Newcastle had played six games."
If Chelsea supporters went home disappointed with a draw, their team's approach promises entertainment. With Zenden on one flank and Jesper Gronkjaer on the other, Ranieri seems intent on using width and speed on the counter-attack.
The coach said afterwards that he would add Robbie Fowler to his squad given the chance. The striker, who has now made his peace with Liverpool, had been lined up by Chelsea for £12m sterling last December. "If he wants to come I'll take him," Ranieri said, though Chelsea's managing director Colin Hutchinson has indicated that the spending is over for the time being.
Some £7.5m went on Zenden, who turned down Newcastle, and much of the Dutchman's skill was impressive. His best cross, though, was wasted and Ranieri said he felt the former Barcelona player was tired when he came off. Gronkjaer, for all his pace, offered little end product.
How soon Petit and Frank Lampard form a partnership that can overwhelm opponents and dictate play will do much to determine Chelsea's season.
The Frenchman played several excellent passes from deep, particularly in the first half, and showed his defensive value. Lampard was quiet and seemingly nervous, outshone by Robert Lee. His passing barely caught the eye and he failed to produce a shot.
The effort with which Zenden scored will haunt Shay Given for some time, the goalkeeper allowing a 20-yard shot to squirm through his fingers and between his legs after a short corner.
Bobby Robson, though, was charitable. "A one-in-a-trillion chance," said the Newcastle manager. "He has been and is a good goalkeeper." Given must have taken solace in the fact that it seemed to be contagious. De Goey, surprisingly selected ahead of Mark Bosnich for his first start since St Stephen's Day, had already fumbled a free-kick by the lively Laurent Robert when he managed to cost Chelsea the win.
He failed to hold a shot by Robert, and Acuna nipped in.
"It happens," said Ranieri. More points dropped to a team they might have beaten. New season, same old Chelsea.
CHELSEA: de Goey, Terry (Gallas 26), Le Saux, Melchiot, Desailly, Lampard, Petit, Zenden (Jokanovic 65), Gronkjaer, Zola, Hasselbaink. Subs Not Used: Stanic, Gudjohnsen, Bosnich. Booked: Melchiot, Desailly, Gallas. Goal: Zenden 8.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Barton, Elliott, Dabizas, Hughes, Lee, Acuna (O'Brien 82), Bassedas (Griffin 84), Robert, Ameobi (Lua-Lua 71), Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Harper, Quinn. Booked: Lee, Hughes, Robert, O'Brien. Goal: Acuna 77.
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).