When The Beautiful South announced that they were splitting up this year, the pop group cited “musical similarities” as the primary cause; perhaps, in a similar vein, peace does not suit Chelsea. Creative tension has accompanied José Mourinho’s quest for the quadruple this season, but the recent truce at Stamford Bridge was extended to Manchester United yesterday.

United and Chelsea had cause to berate the “cursed North” over the course of the weekend, with Middlesbrough’s gallant draw at Old Trafford on Saturday followed by a fine performance by Newcastle United at St James’ Park. At its conclusion, the race for the Barclays Premiership title remains unaltered, but momentum now returns to Sir Alex Ferguson’s team. Probably.

United must face their title rivals on hostile territory next month, but a three-point gap is preferable to a one-point lead and after Mourinho’s rant against biased officiating, which he said favoured Ferguson’s players, has been forgotten, the Chelsea manager will be left searching for other contributory factors to explain their off-key afternoon. He will recall that Steve Harper, the Newcastle goalkeeper, did not have a strenuous save to make.

Impressive defending by Steven Taylor and Titus Bramble repelled Chelsea, but the likes of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Andriy Shevchenko, who came on as a second-half substitute, have swatted away fiercer opposition. Mourinho spoke of his frustration, although he had the grace to acknowledge that Newcastle “were fresher and more dangerous”.

Liverpool at home in the Champions League sem-final, first leg on Wednesday evening will surely bring an upswing in Chelsea’s tempo, although Michael Essien is suspended for the match, Ricardo Carvalho suffered an injury in training and “can’t play”, according to Mourinho, and Michael Ballack was replaced in the first half because of an ankle problem. It was symptomatic of an ailing display.

Chelsea were disrupted by the destructive excellence of Nicky Butt, who later received a congratulatory text message from Ryan Giggs, his former United teammate.

The early departure of Ballack, after a fair challenge by Bramble, did not assist their attempts to settle, but that setback could not explain the dearth of attacking impetus. Aside from Mourinho’s phantom penalty — after an alleged handball by Stephen Carr — a tame header by John Terry, who claimed to have been impeded by Antoine Sibierski, was the sum of their first-half efforts.

Newcastle were the more accomplished team. Carr twice prompted palpitations in the Chelsea defence when tearing inside from the left, yet what followed proved less incisive; the full back’s first cross was cleared and his angled pass to Obafemi Martins resulted in a bobbling shot that went wide.

Chelsea’s strengths lie in a formidable spirit, but their methodical approach looked laboured. Increasingly, Mourinho made furious moves to the touchline, often to berate Shevchenko.

Newcastle attacked with the hectic pace of Martins, James Milner and Kieron Dyer, who was set free by Butt’s intuitive pass in the 59th minute. Petr Cech responded admirably, closing down the midfield player.

Newcastle’s sturdiness was exasperating. While they have not scored in seven of their past ten matches, they are unbeaten at home against the leading four clubs, a record that contrasts grotesquely with their supine defeats by Fulham, Sheffield United, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic. Michael Owen is expected to return against Reading a week today.

“I’m proud of them today,” Glenn Roeder, the Newcastle manager, said. “They’ve taken a bit of flak over the last month or so and they’ve shown bravery against the double champions. We haven’t picked up enough points, but there are reasons for that.”

Unlike Mourinho, he did not hint at a conspiracy.

Is José spot on?

José Mourinho complained yesterday that Manchester United are not conceding penalties while his own Chelsea team are not being awarded spot-kicks, but the bare facts support him only partially. Three penalties have been awarded to visiting teams at Old Trafford compared with none at either Stamford Bridge or Anfield