Ameobi's pride at Toon's rearguard action.

Byline: By LEE RYDER

SHOLA AMEOBI has revealed his pride after helping Newcastle United "park the bus in front of the goal" against one of the world's best sides in Chelsea.

United snatched a point from a team which cost over pounds 200m to construct and who went into the game as top scorers in the Premier League, after rattling in 32 goals already this term.

However, their goal rush was halted for 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge.

Ameobi, who shrugged off being relegated to the bench to accommodate Michael Owen, told the Chronicle: "Chelsea are a world-class side and arguably the best team in the world.

"To play them at their ground and get a point is fantastic.

"We're proud of it, but we have to keep on working now. We knew when we went down to Chelsea that we would be up against a high-quality side.

"We had our backs to the wall for most of the second half and we knew we would have to dig deep."

But the result at Chelsea was certainly one that can lay some solid foundations for the Magpies.

Ameobi said: "Not many teams go there and get a point - we're just delighted with it.

"It is a fortress at Chelsea and we've snatched a point from them.

"To take a clean sheet from the top scorers in the Premier League gives us a lot of confidence."

Ameobi's cameo role came at a time when Chelsea were on top, but Newcastle simply sucked in everything that was thrown at them and spat it back out.

Shola's contribution in the closing stages was Shearer-esque in terms of holding up the ball, and when it was suggested to the striker that he'd put in a Big Al-style performance, the Academy product said: "The times that we did get out of our half, we tried to keep it up there!

"It was always going to be difficult when you are playing against four or five defenders.

"We just tried to do everything we could to get the clean sheet.

"Fortunately for us, we got it.

"This can help us get up the table now."