Chelsea [ Images ] stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points after beating Newcastle United 4-0 in an early kick-off at Stamford Bridge [ Images ] on Saturday.

Goals from Frank Lampard [ Images ] (63 minute), Didier Drogba [ Images ] (69th), Arjen Robben [ Images ] (89th) and Mateja Kezman, with a stoppage time penalty, took Chelsea to 39 points, eight clear of champions Arsenal [ Images ], who play Birmingham City [ Images ] at Highbury later on Saturday.

After an evenly fought opening hour, Chelsea went ahead when Lampard cushioned a header from substitute Drogba on his chest before volleying the ball past Newcastle keeper Shay Given [ Images ] from eight metres out.

Lampard then set up Drogba's goal with an accurate 30-metre long pass. The Ivory Coast international let the ball bounce, shook off a challenge from defender Titus Bramble and then curled his left-foot shot beyond Given's reach.

"I'm back, I'm back," he shouted at his delighted fans following his first goal after a long injury layoff.

Robben made it 3-0 with a brilliantly executed goal after evading two defenders just before the end, and there was still time for substitute Kezman to score his first league goal for Chelsea with a chipped stoppage time penalty after Given brought down Damien Duff [ Images ].

Kezman also hit a post while skipper John Terry [ Images ] had a goal disallowed for offside after 14 minutes.