Robson counting on defences as Champions League race heats up

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson believes a vastly improved defence can help his side close the gap on Premiership leaders Arsenal to five points at the expense of Chelsea.

The two sides meet in a 1230 GMT showdown at St James' Park which could have a profound impact on their respective seasons.

Newcastle still harbour ambitions of forcing their way back into the title race while Chelsea need to get their bid for a place in the Champions League back on track.

"We're in a good seam," Robson said. "We're far more competent in defence away from home now than we were, or appeared to be, in October and November. I think we've blown those blues away and our defence looks solid. We're very pleased with the way our defenders are playing."

Newcastle are flying high after a 3-1 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen and Robson has Jonathan Woodgate available for the first time since his nine-million-pound January move from Leeds.

Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink admitted he was desperate for the west London club to clinch at least a fourth-placed finish to ensure he could play in the Champions League for the first time in his career.

The Dutch forward has only ever won the Portuguese Cup with Boavista and has never played in Europe's premier club competition.

"We will see at the end of the season whether we have improved. I want to win something though.

"That would be the FA Cup this year, but I want to be in the Champions League as well. It's been a long time since I won something.

"If you lose a major final, it's always hurtful. Professionals don't want to lose and losing the FA Cup final to Arsenal last season was painful for everybody.

"When I won the cup with Boavista, it was a big event in Portugal, the stadium was full and we beat Benfica. It's time for another one."

Chelsea's biggest rivals for the fourth and final qualifying spot for the Champions League are Everton, who travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Striker Tomasz Radzinski, whose two late strikes gave Everton a crucial 2-1 home win over Southampton last weekend and took his tally for the season to 11, described the match as one the Toffees could not afford to lose.

"Everyone will be flying. We have to go there and get a win, because Europe is what everyone has been chasing for the whole season."

"Now the dream is in front of our eyes. There's only 10 more games and we cannot drop many more points."

"Going to Middlesbrough will be hard, but if we cannot take on games like this we won't get into Europe. We must do the job and get the points."