Some super work from Perez sets up Joselu who can only drag his effort wide. Pedro comes on to replace Hazard who has been far from his best today.
82'
Substitution
Pedro (on). Eden Hazard (off). (Chelsea)
79'
LONG TRIP HOME
Willian and Alvaro Morata enter the fray now with just over ten minutes remaining. Can these two heavy hitters salvage something for Chelsea here? This is their longest away day of the season in terms of miles travelled, and many of the Blues faithful will be wondering why they bothered.
Chelsea pour forward, hunting for a consolation goal, but its nothing doing at the moment with Newcastle standing firm.
72'
Substitution
Isaac Hayden (on). Matt Ritchie (off). (Newcastle United)
72'
CROSS
Victor Moses flashes a cross towards the back post where Giroud meets it but he can only steer the ball over the bar.
62'
Yellow Card
Tiemoue Bakayoko (Chelsea)
60'
FINAL NAIL
That looks to be the final nail in Chelsea's coffin, a deft flick from Perez sending Shelvey's speculative drive past the hapless Courtois.
59'
Goal
Ayoze Perez (Newcastle United)
59'
GOOOAAALLL!!!
Ayoze Perez makes it 2-0 to Newcastle!
49'
POOR
Chelsea's poor performance in the first half is notable not only for the fact they are nominally chasing Champions' League participation, but the players are also playing for a place in the FA Cup final next week. Surely there will be a improvement in the second half against a Newcastle side who have essentially been on the beach for the last few weeks.
That was not a goal Chelsea will look back on fondly, not at all. A cross to the back post found Perez, who flicked the ball up and over Courtois. The keeper got back in time to knock the ball away from goal but Gayle showed a true poacher's instinct to rush in and head home.
23'
Goal
Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United)
23'
GOOOAAALLL!!!
Dwight Gayle makes it 1-0 to the home side!
8'
CAGEY
It's a cagey start to the game, with neither side able to assert themselves on the early stages.
70'
EXCELLENT
Newcastle have been excellent today, and it is performances like this that show just what they are capable of. Home fans will be wishing their side could play like this every week, although it must be said that they will rarely face a less interested opposition than today's Chelsea.
66'
CRAZY
Crazy scenes here, as Newcastle bag another. Only a minute earlier, Dubravak made a super save from Ross Barkley who really should have scored. In the next attacking phase, Newcastle won a free-kick on the right. Lejeune met the set-piece and knocked the ball back across goal, where Perez lay in wait to prod home his second, and Newcastle's third, and surely put the game to bed.
63'
GOOOAAALLL!!!
Perez gets another and the home fans go ballistic. 3-0 Newcastle!
63'
FORGET
It really has been an afternoon to forget for Chelsea here, with Newcastle continuing to pile on the pressure. If you didn't know better, you'd think the home side were the ones chasing the top four.
88'
BYEDARA
Massadio Haidara comes on to a hearty ovation. The young Frenchman's Newcastle career never really got going, thanks in part to a horrendous challenge by Callum McManaman several years ago. Haidara is due to leave the club over the summer and its a nice touch from Rafa Benitez to give him a send off.
Ayoze Perez. Assist by Florian Lejeune (Newcastle United)
57'
BETTER
Much better from Chelsea now, as Ross Barkley skips past a challenge and attempts to cut the ball back to Hazard. Dubravka is there to clear up for the home side.
54'
SUPER SAVE
A super save from Dubravka keeps Chelsea out. The Slovakian stopper had to be at his best there to deny Giroud a clever goal after the Frenchman flicked the ball on from a right-sided cross.
51'
ON A HIGH
As bad as Chelsea were in that first half, it has to be said that Newcastle were excellent, winning battles all over the field and looking much more like the side with something to play for. They have started the second period in the same vein and look to be ending the season on a high.
40'
TOP FOUR
Considering that Chelsea are playing for a top four spot, they aren't really pulling up any trees here so far.
35'
DEFLECTION
A deflected Perez effort trickles just wide of the post with Courtois helpless. If Newcastle can snatch another one here it may well be game over for Chelsea here.
33'
RAFA
With half an hour gone, its Rafa Benitez's men who are looking the stronger of the two sides on display here. That will please the ex-Chelsea boss no end you would imagine.
29'
SAVE
A super save from Courtois keeps a Matt Ritchie effort out and its all Newcastle at the moment.
27'
ROCKING
Chelsea are rocked back on their heels after that goal, although it has to be said it has been Newcastle who have had the better of the game so far. The Tyneside outfit have a very decent record against Chelsea in recent years, and it may well be another decent result for them based on this start.
4'
INCONSISTENT
Newcastle have had a frustrating campaign it has to be said, having shown that they are capable of brilliance and utter dross all within a short period of time. Chelsea have been similar in fairness, although not quite to the same degree. Which version of these sides will we see today?
90'
GAME OVER
In the immortal words of Private First Class William L. Hudson - game over man, game over! Newcastle thoroughly deserve their three points today, and Chelsea were dreadful. They will hope a victory in the FA Cup final next week can rescue some pride from what, by their lofty standards, has been a dreadful season. Thanks for joining us.
90'
INJURY TIME
We're into injury time now.
46'
UNDERWAY
We're back underway for the second half.
45'
HALF-TIME
The half-time whistle goes and its Newcastle who have the lead at the break. Chelsea's faint hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are fading fast. Can they rescue something in the second half?
45'
CHANCES
It gets worse for Antonio Conte's men now, as news comes though that Liverpool are ahead in their game with Brighton. It looks all but certain that Chelsea will be playing in the Europa League next season, rather than the Champion's League.
20'
FORAYS
Chelsea are making a few forays forward but getting nowhere at the moment. Its Newcastle who are crafting the chances here at the moment,
14'
INSIPID
Newcastle have only scored once in their last four games, that goal coming in a insipid defeat to Watford last time out. They've started well here though and look fairly threatening going forward.
10'
SHELVEY
Jonjo Shelvey stings the palms of Thibaut Courtois with a rasping drive from 25 yards. Its a simple save for the Belgian stopper but Shelvey has that in his locker.