EPL: 6 Things We Learned from Chelsea vs. Newcastle

The race for fourth place just got a lot more interesting.

Oh, and that title race is looking pretty tasty right about now.

Newcastle United defeated Chelsea 2-0 on Wednesday in the English Premier League behind two wonderful goals from Senegalese striker Papiss Cissé.

The victory, which was Newcastle's first at Stamford Bridge since 1986, kept the Magpies level with Tottenham for fourth place and the English Premier League's final Champions League qualification spot.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are four points off the pace with two matches left. The Blues will play Liverpool in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Newcastle host league leaders Manchester City the next day—and if Cissé repeats his heroics from Wednesday night, this season's chaotic title race will receive its mightiest jolt yet.

The FA Cup Final Will Be a Well-Rested Affair

Chelsea rested several key squad members for their league match on Wednesday, much like fellow FA Cup finalists Liverpool rested several key squad members for their league match on Tuesday.

Both teams lost. Both teams deserved to lose.

Both teams should at least be well-rested heading into this weekend's final, though.

Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Juan Mata started on the bench for Chelsea on Wednesday. Mata (46'), Drogba (61') and Lampard (78') entered the match as second-half subs, but even so, they should be able to contribute Saturday at Wembley.

The strategy cost Chelsea on Wednesday, possibly even ending the Blues' hopes for Champions League qualification via their league finish.

But it could yet prove valuable this weekend.

Champions League Jeopardy

After Wednesday's loss, Chelsea now trail Newcastle and Spurs (who defeated Bolton away) by four points with two matches left.

The Blues are still mathematically alive for fourth place and Champions League qualification, but their chances are slim.

In fact, Chelsea's best chance of qualifying for next season's premier European competition is by winning this year's final.

It's a possible scenario, of course—Chelsea face Bayern Munich in the Champions League final later this month.

But they won't win it if they play like they did Wednesday.

Europe or Bust

Newcastle have reason to believe they'll play in Europe next season—even if Chelsea win the Champions League final.

The latest league table shows Newcastle sitting four points clear of Chelsea for fifth place. They're level on points with Tottenham for fourth and the final Champions League spot, but Spurs have a superior goal differential.

Forget about fourth place momentarily. A fifth-place finish would still earn Newcastle a spot in next season's Europa League.

Think about that for a moment. Newcastle were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2008-09 season and returned to the top flight for the 2010-11 campaign.

In their second season back, they're on the verge of Europe.

That's more than anyone could have expected...possibly even themselves.

Hey, Hey, Cissé

Alan Pardew shook his head. Didier Drogba, too. Roberto Di Matteo just grinned.

Their reactions to Papiss Demba Cissé's second strike were genuine, spontaneous and warranted. What they had just seen is probably the favorite for the Premiership's goal of the season.

Amazingly, it came not long after Cissé had scored another goal that will find itself in the end-of-season lists.

Here's the first...

And here's the second.

Alone, Cissé's presence in the Newcastle front line makes Newcastle dangerous next season. With his freely scoring international buddy Demba Ba also around, Newcastle's front line is title challenge-worthy.

Now for the rest of the squad…

Watch Out for Newcastle

Mark it down now.

If Newcastle manage to hold onto their best players this summer, they could challenge for the title next season.

Now, that's not to say they'll win the title, and that's not to say they'll push the leaders all the way.

But look at some of these names (and consider how little some of them cost Newcastle in transfer fees):

Papiss Cissé. Demba Ba. Hatem Ben Arfa. Cheick Tiote.

That's the core of a squad that can challenge the top sides in England. And with Alan Pardew at the helm, they might just do it.

Hard Men, Hard Challenges

Who says modern football is all finesse and flair?

Newcastle's Cheick Tiote—who was rather good throughout—and Chelsea's Mikel came together for two absolutely filthy and physical challenges in the second half.

In the first, Tiote put a forearm in Mikel's face. In the second, Mikel's aerial elbow knocked Tiote to the ground and out of the game.

Both were challenges that old-school hard men would have been proud to watch. Both, however, escaped punishment entirely.

Tiote landed awkwardly and wrenched his neck before lying on the pitch for several minutes. He was stretchered off wearing an oxygen mask, and the commentators expressed concern that he had suffered a concussion.

In fact, commentator Tony Gale kept saying Mikel "knew exactly what he was doing." Perhaps.

There can be no doubt, however, that Mikel's challenge warranted at least a yellow card—and I'm certainly not the only one who thinks so.

"

OK, seen replay of Tiote-Mikel. Really bad. Mikel should have been sent off. Tiote also landed really badly. Strapped to stretcher.

— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) May 2, 2012"

Tiote's forearm probably warranted a yellow card, as well (he had been booked early in the first half).

Maybe the FA should take a second look. None of us, however, will be holding our breath.

Follow @MikeCummings37