The first goalless draw at Stamford Bridge since February means home form continues to fall short of the Blues' perfect away record.
Against a Newcastle side who never once looked like finding a way past the returning Petr Cech, Felipe Scolari's side camped in the opposition side throughout the game but were denied the breakthrough by the offside flag on one occasion, a matter of a centimetre on another and a couple of good saves by Shay Given.
Matches following internationals are notorious for dropped points and it was a Chelsea display that lacked penetration too often, even with some important players returning.
Lampard was fit to start and Joe and Ashley Cole returned. There was still no Alex so Ivanovic played alongside Terry and the round-trip to Brazil didn't worry Scolari when it came to selecting Deco and Bosingwa.
Newcastle welcomed captain Michael Owen back into their attack and Damien Duff was back at the Bridge. Geremi however was missing.
It was an unhurried start by Chelsea, allowing Newcastle territorial advantage in the opening five minutes without any attempts on goal.
Deco began the Chelsea pressure with a crisp low cross that Malouda couldn't connect with, and Bosingwa hit the danger zone at the far post with another cross but with no-one there to capitalise.
Then on seven minutes came the first true chance, Malouda turning and clipping the ball forward to unmarked Lampard. It took a very good reflex save from Given to prevent a fourth headed goal of the season for the Chelsea vice-captain.
On 13 minutes, Anelka hit a tame effort at the keeper after Terry's quality had sent Chelsea onto the attack.
Three minutes later a centrally-placed Malouda skipped away from Coloccini and into the area following a Deco pass but under pressure from two defenders, the Frenchman hit the floor before getting his shot away. He appealed briefly to referee Dowd, but a penalty award never looked likely.
The pressure by now was all on the visitors although Chelsea had yet to find a high gear. A stretching Ivanovic looped a header onto the roof of the net from an Anelka cross midway through the half.
A swift counter-attack failed to pay dividends when a Joe Cole back-heel fell just behind Lampard, who had moved to within ideal shooting range.
Lampard was beginning to dominate the game and when Deco declined to shoot from 25 yards, instead chipped into the box, Frank's volley on the tumble was caught by Given.
On 30 minutes, the Blues came the closest yet, Bosingwa drilling a ball to the far post and his opposite full-back, even further forward, headed back across goal. Ashley's attempt went spinning agonisingly wide of the far post.
Bosingwa's deliveries were looking one of the most likely ways of breaking down an edgy Newcastle defence. However the next chance was an Ivanovic header from a Lampard free-kick. He connected well enough, but directed the ball wide.
Newcastle, in a conventional 4-4-2, were lining up with little space between midfield and defence but seven minutes before the break, they made their first advance into the Chelsea area for a considerable length of time. Gutierrez played the ball back to a near-post hanging Martins but Chelsea had the bodies close by to cope.
So the teams went in goalless at the break, with just a little concern this might be panning out into one of those afternoons of frustration.
The start to the second-half was promisingly brisk. Anelka had an early shot from an acute angle that deflected off a Newcastle foot, forcing Given to save with his chest.
Then on 53 minutes the ball was finally in the net, Joe Cole bundling in after Given had blocked a Malouda shot, but the afternoon of frustration continued. The flag was up. The linesman had correctly spotted Cole was a yard offside when the initial shot was struck.
Three minutes later, Lampard scooped a first time effort wide after penetrating Anelka play. For our number 8, although not for a standard midfielder, it was a good chance missed.
Frank was one of two main players in the next incident - one of the game's major talking points. His free-kick from the left, struck with typical power, caught Given back-peddling fast and although the keeper caught and eventually floored the ball, it will take some very well-positioned cameras to confirm he didn't carry it over the line.
Malouda's last contribution was an over-hit cross as he became the first player withdrawn by Scolari, Kalou entering the action on 71 minutes.
The Ivorian did well to find Ashley Cole three minutes later who flashed a cross behind the Blues shirts in the box. Before that, Cole had made an important tackle on Owen as Newcastle threatened the Chelsea area for the only time in the half.
With nine minutes remaining, Michael Ballack was brought on for Joe Coleand eight minutes later Stamford Bridge was collectively throwing hands on heads as the German smashed a volley into the side-netting after a deep ball had skimmed off the Newcastle defence.
A speculative Terry shot won a corner midway through the three minutes stoppage time but initially cleared, Kalou diverted the returned ball wide and the final chance had gone.
Liverpool were the opposition the last time it ended 0-0 here and today's result was mirrored up at Anfield where Fulham were the visitors - but Chelsea's home performances against sides with limited ambition continues to look the major obstacle on the road to success this season.
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel; J Cole (Ballack 81), Deco, Lampard, Malouda (Kalou 71); Anelka
Newcastle(4-4-2): Given; Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, José Enrique; Gutiérrez (N'Zogbia 76), Butt, Guthrie, Duff; Martins (Ameobi 60), Owen.
Booked Guthrie 85.
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