However, at this stage Chelsea were already 3-1 down after Nile Ranger's volley had cancelled out Patrick Van Aanholt's opener before Ryan Taylor and Shola Ameobi put Newcastle in control.
Stevenage's first-half performance forced a change of formation from Newcastle at the break, as they brought on Nile Ranger for Leon Best and switched to a 4-2-3-1 set-up.