Chelsea are still top of the league but their previously unbeaten 23-match run came to an end at St James Park, going down 2-1 to Newcastle United.
The Londoners will rue the missed chances and having the advantage of playing against 10 men for the final nine minutes when Steven Taylor was given a second yellow card.
Newcastle have beaten Chelsea in the past two encounters in the North East and after a goalless first half went two goals behind from substitute Papiss Cisse. On both occasions, the Blues had just missed gilt-edged chances and were suckered into not dealing with quick counter-attacks.
With Taylor sent off, the Blues got a toe-hold back into to the game through the head of substitute Didier Drogba, and despite pounding the Newcastle rearguard, the home side held out.
Jose Mourinho made two changes from the midweek win over Spurs, an enforced one with Mikel replacing suspended Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa returning after his one-match ban, replacing Didier Drogba who reverts to the bench.
It was a tentative start by both sides, with Newcastle marginally ahead on possession and closing down of their opponent.
But the first effort of the game came after 10 minutes and it went to the visitors. Excellent set up play, eventually saw Willian the edge of the Newcastle penalty area. He tried his luck, but he struck his right-footer just wide of Rob Elliot's left upright.
A brilliant run by Eden Hazard two minutes later, following a quick throw out by Thiabut Courtois. Saw the Belgium midfielder run the full length of the pitch, on the left before cutting inside and letting fly. The result was the same as Willian's seconds before.
Gary Cahill, who Mourinho had said in midweek was afraid to head the ball following a clash of heads with Jan Vertonghen was back to his best, inching over a bullet header from a Willian corner on 15 minutes.
Another inspired run and pass by Hazard two minutes later saw Willian curl a beauty of a left footer around Elliot from just outside the penalty area, but the ball was just the wrong side of the goal from the Chelsea fans' point of view.
As the Blues took control of the game, another incisive attack from the Blues saw Cesc Fabregas's goal-bound shot deflected away for a corner.
A howler of a misplaced pass in midfield from Cheick Tiote, on 25 minutes, saw the Newcastle player pass direct to Hazard who needed no encouragement to attack. The ball was given to Costa who forced a fine diving save out of Elliot.
Newcastle's first effort on goal, on 32 minutes, saw Sammy Ameobi pass the ball into the Chelsea area, in-running Jack Colback was quickest to react to the ball and managed to het a quick left footer away. But Courtois was equal to the task, and used his feet intelligently to hack the ball clear.
An audacious overhead kick by Costa from eight-yards out, with seconds of the half remaining, was never seriously going to threaten Elliot's goal but it did give the home fans palpitations,.
Elliot failed to turnout for the second half, due to a hamstring injury. Hexham-born Jak Alnwick, 21, makes his debut after just six games for local side Gateshead.
Mousse Sissoko was yellow-carded for a foul on Cesar Azpilicueta three minutes after the restart.
From the resultant free-kick, Alnwick showed a clear head and courage by forcefully punching the ball clear, taking a piece of Costa with him.
Alan Pardew was the first to blink in the tactical substitution stakes, Papiss Cisse replacing Remy Cabella.
Steven Taylor was next in referee Martin Atkinson book for hacking down Willian on 57 minutes. Mikel should have put the Blues ahead but from the free kick, the midfielder could only screw a header wide from close range.
Sixty seconds later and Chelsea went behind. Gary Cahill failed to clear a left byline cross from Ameobi, instead inadvertently knocking the ball into a free Cisse who tucked home comfortably past Courtois from three yards.
Mourinho took off Oscar to be replaced by Andre Schurrle.
Alnwick did well to get down to a daisy-cutter from Schurrle two minutes later as the league leaders went in search of an equaliser to keep their previously unbeaten record alive.
In his desperate attempt to affect the game, Schurrle entered the ref's book for a needless foul on 64 minutes.
Mourinho decided on a double change to beef up his attack, on 67 minutes, bringing on Drogba for Azpilicueta and Filipe Luis for Willian.
Chelsea responded accordingly, retaining excellent possession and forcing the home side back, but not creating any clear cut chances.
With 13 minutes of the match to go, a low pass from Ivanovic, saw Hazard free in the Newcastle penalty area. The midfielder took an instant shot which beat Alnwick but ricocheted off his left post. Again, as soon as a chance went begging, the Blues went further behind to a quick counter attack which saw Colback and Sissoko combine to feed Cisse, who slotted home to double the home side's goal advantage from close range.
Newcastle centre back Steven Taylor then received a second yellow and red card for hacking down Schurrle, with seven mi Utes left in the click
Pardew replaced Ameobi with defender Mike Williamson to shore up the defence.
Fabregas took the free kick and Drogba was alert enough to get his head to the ball and direct it pass Alnwick to score and give Chelsea some belief the game could be saved.
Mourinho pushed Ivanovic forward for the dying minutes with Schurrle taking over right-sided duties.
Alnwick thwarted Costa by tipping over the forward's shot a the Blues went full out for the equaliser.
They must have got a boost when six minutes were added to the full 90.
An Ivanovic shot high and wide, a John Terry effort just wide and a wayward header by Drogba were not enough.
Teams: Newcastle Unites, Elliot, Coloccini, Sissoko, Colback, Perez, Cabella, Janmaat, Tiote, Taylor, Ameobi, Dummett
Subs, Williamson, Anita, Gouffran, Haidara, Rivière, Alnwick
Chelsea: Courtois, Ivanovoc, Fabregas, Oscar, Hazard, Mikel, Costa, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta
Subs, Cech, Luis, Zouma, Ramires, Drogba, Schurrle, Remy
Referee, Martin Atkinson