Chelsea stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points after beating Newcastle United 4-0 in an early kick-off at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Goals from Frank Lampard (63 minute), Didier Drogba (69th), Arjen Robben (89th) and Mateja Kezman, with a stoppage time penalty, took Chelsea to 39 points, eight clear of champions Arsenal, who play Birmingham City at Highbury later on Saturday.

After an evenly fought opening hour, Chelsea went ahead when Lampard cushioned a header from substitute Drogba on his chest before volleying the ball past Newcastle keeper Shay Given from eight metres out.

Lampard then set up Drogba's goal with an accurate 30-metre long pass. The Ivory Coast international let the ball bounce, shook off a challenge from defender Titus Bramble and then curled his left-foot shot beyond Given's reach.

"I'm back, I'm back," he shouted at his delighted fans following his first goal after a long injury layoff.

Robben made it 3-0 with a brilliantly executed goal after evading two defenders just before the end, and there was still time for substitute Kezman to score his first league goal for Chelsea with a chipped stoppage time penalty after Given brought down Damien Duff.

Kezman also hit a post while skipper John Terry had a goal disallowed for offside after 14 minutes.