The first recorded expression of regret from José Mourinho did not pre-empt an apologetic performance by his Chelsea team last night. The sorrow was all Newcastle United’s; that the holy grail of a meaningful trophy remains elusive, that Glenn Roeder did not buy Didier Drogba for West Ham United many moons ago and that, where Chelsea have a Russian owner, Tyneside could not conjure a Russian linesman.

For the second time in the space of a week, Drogba stepped from the shadows to propel Newcastle to a late, deflating defeat. A 73rd-minute substitute for Andriy Shevchenko, who endured another miserable evening, the Ivory Coast striker earned his side a berth in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup. In the stands, tears flowed.

There was anger amid the disappointment. Mourinho may have withdrawn his accusations of diving against Andrew Johnson, the Everton striker, yesterday but the majority of a 37,000-strong crowd at St James’ Park twice vented its fury at Arjen Robben for similar reasons, although the verdict was harsh. The first, when Nicky Butt was penalised, allowed Drogba to curl a sweet, 18-yard free kick beyond Shay Given.

In the circumstances, Mourinho’s contrition was suspect. When Butt hurled himself at Robben — a clear foul still provoked a magisterial dive — the Chelsea manager again brandished an imaginary yellow card and an admonishment followed from his counterpart.

Roeder was insistent, however, that the conversation was merely “an exchange of pleasantries”. By the final whistle, Chelsea had hit the woodwork on two occasions — during injury time, Frank Lampard, another replacement, glanced a post — but Newcastle could point to a debatable first-half decision when Obafemi Martins’s shot cannoned off the underside of the bar and bounced down. Even television replays could not determine whether a goal was warranted.

“I trust the people who have seen it again and they say it’s impossible to tell whether it crossed the line or not. The consensus is that it probably didn’t,” Roeder, more perturbed with Chris Foy’s placing of Drogba’s free kick, said.

“Referees have 101 jobs to do, but that’s what they’re there for,” he said. “The ball should have been four yards back and I don’t think Drogba would have beaten Shay.”

Drogba has become a particular menace to Geordies, a relationship that began when the forward, then with Marseilles, ousted Newcastle from the last four of the Uefa Cup in 2004. He has mustered five goals in his six appearances against them and 17 in all competitions this season. “It would be difficult to find a better striker than Didier at the moment,” Steve Clarke, Chelsea’s assistant manager, said.

Re-energised in the Barclays Premiership and involved in the Champions League, a quartet of trophies is still a target for Chelsea, albeit a distant one. “We’re taking the Carling Cup seriously,” Clarke said. “It would be stupid to get this far and not try to win it. The other competitions will take care of themselves.”

Mourinho’s best-laid plans for last night were eventually realised. Lampard, Drogba and Michael Ballack were initially rested and Claude Makelele withdrawn at half-time, Ashley Cole had the evening off and the “lesser lights” enjoyed valuable playing time.

Newcastle were competitive, energetic and resolute, but their chances were sporadic aside from Martins’s thunderous drive and there was a pass from Emre Belözoglu that set Kieron Dyer galloping clear for a glimpse of goal. Hilário narrowed the England international’s angle of attack, forcing him to strike his torso.

Chelsea found no more penetration until Lampard’s arrival initiated a series of speculative shots from distance.

On the cusp of half-time, they offered something more substantive. A deft touch by Michael Essien gave Shevchenko space to exploit on the right and a rapid surge inside the area was followed by a low shot across the face of goal. Given was beaten, the left post was more resolute and Newcastle were left to acknowledge ruefully that luck had been shared.

It did not feel like that.

“We’ve been beaten by a small margin but there isn’t any relief about that in our dressing-room,” Roeder said. “We’re absolutely sick. Another opportunity to progress in a cup has passed us by. On another night, we could easily have won 1-0.”

It is a common refrain against Chelsea. For all their faults, remorse does not suit them. Remorseless is more their style.

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): S Given — N Solano, S Taylor, P Ramage, P Huntington — S Parker, N Butt — K Dyer, Emre Belözoglu, J Milner (sub: A Sibierski, 86) — O Martins. Substitutes not used: A Luque, G Rossi, P Srnicek, D Edgar. Booked: Solano, Emre.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Hilário — P Ferreira, K Boulahrouz, R Carvalho, W Bridge — M Essien, C Makelele (sub: F Lampard, 46), J O Mikel (sub: M Ballack, 66) — S Kalou, A Shevchenko (sub: D Drogba, 73), A Robben. Substitutes not used: M Hedman, A Cole. Booked: Ferreira, Boulahrouz.

Referee: C Foy.

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