LIVE - Football match-day blog (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

7:20pm

88: Time ebbing away here. Cech made a decent save from Ba, but Chelsea not really troubled as they defend their 2-0 lead. Roberto Di Matteo has just replaced Meireles with Lampard.

7:08pm

77: Last Newcastle change. Perch for Cabaye.

7:06pm

75: Newcastle have probably enjoyed the better of this second half, but without ever really looking like they might trouble the Chelsea back four. Cisse should have done better with a header from Ryan Taylor's free-kick, but this looks like it could limp to a conclusion with Chelsea not really exerting themselves too much.

Another Newcastle change - Marveaux for Santon.

6:59pm

6:58pm

67: Chelsea sub. Ramires for the impressive Juan Mata.

6:55pm

64: Newcastle sub. Ryan Taylor for Danny Simpson.

6:46pm

55: Newcastle have started the second half reasonably brightly, with Ben Arfa shooting wide from 20 yards. However, it's going to be an awfully long way back in this game. 2-0

6:37pm

6:37pm

Back under way for second half at Stamford Bridge - both teams unchanged.

6:21pm

Half-time and Newcastle trail 2-0. Scoreline might be a little bit harsh on them, but I don't think anyone can quibble that Chelsea have been the better side.

6:09pm

40: Chelsea very much in control now. Hazard and Ivanovic have both gone close since the goal, and Newcastle are struggling to hold the ball up in attack in order to relieve some of the pressure on their back four. Suspect the visitors would probably take half-time now. 1-0

5:59pm

5:59pm

5:58pm

Replays suggest there was minimal contact between Anita and Torres, but it was an unnecessarily rash challenge on the edge of the area. Hazard now boasts five assists and a goal for Chelsea this season.

5:51pm

Penalty to Chelsea. 

5:40pm

10: Fairly tight start. Chelsea dominating possession, but Newcastle offering a threat when they attack. Ben Arfa looking especially composed. 0-0

5:34pm

Early indications are that Anita isn't going to be afraid to mix it in midfield - thumping challenges on Cole and Mikel in first five minutes. 0-0

5:23pm

5:19pm

Warms up completed at Stamford Bridge - teams heading back into the tunnel for final instructions. Lovely night here now, but the surface should be nice and slick after earlier rain.

As expected, no Cheik Tiote for Newcastle, so it'll be interesting to see how Vurnon Anita fares alongside Yohan Cabaye on his first league start.

5:07pm

5:07pm

4:55pm

FT. Boro 2-1 Crystal Palace. Boro rode their luck a bit towards the end, but their first-half performance was too much for Palace to handle. Boro goals for Hines and Zemmama, Easter from the spot for the visitors.

4:54pm

What a bizarre afternoon that was then. Sunderland and Hartlepool both saw their games postponed, with the Stadium of Light pitch waterlogged and Pools' team coach stuck in traffic for more than an hour-and-a-half on the M11.

In the games that did go ahead, Middlesbrough built on their midweek win over Burnley with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, while Darlington maintained their 100 per cent record in the Northern League with a 3-0 win at Consett.

Next up? Newcastle versus Chelsea here at Stamford Bridge. This game was briefly in the balance about half-an-hour ago when torrential storms were sweeping across west London, but the pitch has stood up well and now, with half an hour to go until kick-off, the sun is shining.

4:50pm

4:49pm

4:48pm

INCREDIBLE day. Back from the Sunderland v Reading game - or lack of it.

The rain had stopped as well, but the Stadium of Light pitch still looked saturated. 

Reading boss Brian McDermott claimed afterwards that had the same conditions fallen on the Madejski Stadium that the game would have gone ahead today.

Sunderland are looking in to the situation. They are clearly concerned by the fact that, however heavy the rain fell, it could happen again.

Chief executive Margaret Byrne has vowed to launch an investigation. After all it's August 25, the first game of the season, so the surface should be in the ideal condition to drain downpours away. 

4:36pm

80 minutes gone and Danny Mellanby is on for Darlington, replacing Steven Johnson who receives a huge ovation from the travelling fans. Still 3-0 to Quakers.

4:36pm

80 minutes gone and Danny Mellanby is on for Darlington, replacing Steven Johnson who receives a huge ovation from the travelling fans. Still 3-0 to Quakers.

4:19pm

As for the build-up to that goal, it was Amar Purewal who tried to find an opening on the edge of the penalty area, played the ball into Johnson who rifled home his second goal this week.

4:19pm

As for the build-up to that goal, it was Amar Purewal who tried to find an opening on the edge of the penalty area, played the ball into Johnson who rifled home his second goal this week.

4:15pm

What a waste by Reay. Had both of the unmarked Amar Purewal and Johnson to pass to, both in better positions, but he tried an audacious effort from 30 yards close to the touchline and he was nowhere near. He raised a hand to apologise, but it’s just as well Darlington are 2-0 up.

4:14pm

Jeepers. Strong challenge by Marc Ellison on Consett’s Craig Robson results in a free-kick, but no booking for the Darlington midfielder. He’d already been booked after the penalty incident.

4:05pm

Awful decision by the referee. Consett keeper Peter Jameson hauled down Marc Ellison in the penalty area as he latched on to Shaun Reay’s pass, but the referee somehow said no. Still 2-0 to Darlington.

3:47pm

HT: Consett 0 Darlington 2. Blistering start to the game by Darlington in damp conditions. Was 2-0 after 23 minutes through Amar Purewal and Shaun Reay. Had Quakers maintained the tempo they would've had more goals.

3:46pm

HT: Consett 0 Darlington 2. Blistering start to the game by Darlington in damp conditions. Was 2-0 after 23 minutes through Amar Purewal and Shaun Reay. Had Quakers maintained the tempo they would've had more goals.

3:33pm

Consett goal ruled out for offside. Former Hartlepool striker Michael Mackay whipped in a free-kick that Quakers keeper Jack Norton pawed away, allowing Calvin Smith to convert the loose ball. But a linesman’s flag was raised. Still 2-0 to Darlington.

3:29pm

So nearly a third goal for Darlington. Emms and Reay and worked the ball across to Johnson who was about to pull the trigger six yards from goal when Consett defender David Scorer executed a fine challenge.

3:16pm

GOAL: Darlington take the lead after 12 minute 1-0 up at Consett with a header from Amar Purewal. Chris Emms’ free-kick into the penalty area was cleared only as far as Steven Johnson whose cross fund Purewal.

3:14pm

Positive start from Boro. Beautiful cross-field pass from McEachran played in Miller. He teed up to shoot but Palace defender did enough to put him off. Shot wide.

3:11pm

3:06pm

Consett are unchanged from the side which defeated Celtic Nation 2-0 on Tuesday while Darlington make three changes.
Of the XI that beat Marske United 3-0 in midweek, there is no Stephen Harrison, Adam Nicholls or David Dowson. In their place Adam Clough, Amar Purewal and Steven Johnson.

3:01pm

2:57pm

Here’s the starting XIs from Belle Vue Park:
Consett: Jameson, Bell, Davidson, Pearson, Scorer, Piecha, Smith, Cuthbertson, Teasdale, Mackay, Robson.
Darlington: Norton; Clough, Brown, Arjun Purewal, Smith; Scott, Ellison, Emms; Johnson, Reay.

2:53pm

Tannoy announcement at Orient: "We are hopeful the game will still go ahead.''

2:52pm

Crystal Palace team to play Boro: Speroni; Parr, Martin Ramage, Diklagoi; Garvan, Jedinak, Zaha, Easter; Blake, Bolasie.

Subs (not used): Price, Ward, Wilbraham, Moxey, O’Keefe, Appiah, Moritz.

2:45pm

Ismael Miller makes his Boro debut after completing his season-long loan from Nottingham Forest. Jonathan Woodgate a notable absentee with Seb Hines coming in to partner Rhys Williams.

Mowbray also opts to play Merouane Zemmama ahead of Emanual Ledesma, who starts on the bench.