The Blues' current run of success will be tested on Tyneside as we make the longest league trip of the season. Chelsea arrive in Newcastle on the back of two morale-boosting successes over big rivals and with a record of taking 13 from the last 15 possible points in the Barclays Premier League. Another three would place us at the pinnacle, if only for a few hours.

After last weekend's home triumph over Manchester City Chelsea are just one point down on results in last season's equivalent fixtures. The Blues stumbled to a 2-3 defeat on the last visit to Tyneside, so victory on Saturday would put the 2013/14 side in credit.

This is Newcastle's third successive weekend of lunchtime engagements, with the recent loss at Sunderland about as palatable as a stale stottie. The week before, at home to Liverpool, the Magpies led twice and held on for a 2-2 draw with 10 men. Chelsea's early starts so far this season have been at Tottenham, a 1-1 draw in which Fernando Torres was harshly red-carded, and the 3-1 win at Norwich.

Up to now Jose Mourinho's only victory at St James' Park came in the 2006 League Cup. Outplaying Arsenal in their own back yard in that same competition on Tuesday has handed a huge psychological boost to players and supporters ahead of this trip.

There were 10 changes in the Emirates starting line-up for Chelsea, eight for Arsenal, with the difference in the respective depth of quality laid bare. It should not come as a surprise that the team selected seamlessly showed the usual marks of a Mourinho collective: intensity, desire, belief.

No players encapsulate that better than Juan Mata, who instigated the move that led to Cesar Azplicueta's opener by winning the ball from an Arsenal corner then fired the decisive second with a fierce right-footed volley, and artful dodger Azpilicueta himself. With others in such good form the Spaniards have demonstrated complete professionalism and commitment when handed the shirt.

The result, loudly hailed by the 9,000-strong Chelsea support, was a fine way to mark Mourinho's 200th game in charge. It was his fifth victory in nine unbeaten meetings with Arsene Wenger, who is one of 11 current Premier League managers in the same boat.

The only incumbents to have bettered the Portuguese over the course of his career are Mark Hughes, Martin Jol, Robert Martinez and Manuel Pellegrini, all with one win apiece. Sir Alex Ferguson tasted success twice over 14 meetings.

The Special One has 100 per cent records against Chris Hughton (one match), Malky Mackay (one), Mauricio Pochettino (four) and this weekend's adversary, Toon boss Alan Pardew (four).

Tuesday brought the sixth successive win in all competitions for Mourinho's Chelsea in October. The Blues have hit 18 goals since the draw at Spurs, conceding just three. Roll on 'Mouvember.'

The quarter-final draw will send us away to either Sunderland or Southampton, whose showdown in the Stadium of Light was rescheduled to 6 November at the request of Northumbria Police anxious to avoid a clash with Newcastle-Man City.

Chelsea's next match in the competition will be on Tuesday or Wednesday, 17 or 18 December, presenting supporters with the prospect of two midweek trips to Wearside over a fortnight should the Mackems prevail at home next week.

Alan Pardew warned that fatigue was again a factor in Newcastle's loss to Manchester City and Chelsea have had an extra day's rest since the midweek cup exploits. The Magpies' manager claimed tiredness had played a part in their derby downfall last weekend, when Gus Poyet's Sunderland ground out a 2-1 win over their rivals.

Pardew made five personnel changes for the City match on Wednesday, but full-backs Massadio Haidara and Paul Dummett went off early with muscle strains and the extra time required will not have helped those who remained on the pitch. Chelsea have scored a league-best six goals in the final 15 minutes of matches to date, and conceded none.

The Gunners again face a test of their title credentials on Saturday evening when they host Liverpool, who are unbeaten in three Emirates visits. Tottenham have returned pointless from each of their last three trips to Goodison Park.


- Match preview by chelseafc.com