Chelsea progressed to the Fourth Round of The FA Cup with Budweiser after finally breaking down a resolute Derby County.
It took 66 minutes of pressure before John Obi Mikel headed them in front, with Oscar providing the two-goal cushion five minutes later, to set up a home tie with fellow Premier League side Stoke City.
Jose Mourinho’s side had the better of the first half with Oscar their liveliest player. Three times the Brazilian managed a long-range effort on goal, one a free kick, that whistled just wide of the Derby goal.
Derby County 0-2 Chelsea
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Third Round Proper
Sunday 5 January 2014
Ramires also drove inches wide as the Derby defence stood firm to restrict the visitors to long range efforts.
The Championship side had half chances of their own with Simon Dawkins firing wide and John Eustace shooting from distance into the arms of Mark Schwarzer.
Chelsea started the second half as they ended the first with a succession of long-range efforts blocked by the Derby defence.
But they finally broke the deadlock in the 66th minute. Willian delivered a curling free-kick from the left into the box and Mikel found the net with a glancing header at the near post.
Then Oscar got the goal he deserved five minutes later. Receiving a pass from Eden Hazard he skipped into the box and fired a hard, swerving shot that blasted into the net despite Lee Grant getting a hand to it.
The two goals in quick succession knocked the stuffing out of Derby, who up until that point had frustrated their opponents with some stubborn defending.
But they still didn’t give up, with Chris Martin forcing an instinctive save from Mark Schwarzer. And substitute Mason Bennett’s shot rolled inches wide with Schwarzer beaten.
Derby were by no means a pushover, and can be proud of how they played, but ultimately the Premier League side’s class proved to be too much.
Derby County
Grant; Wisdom, Keane, Buxton, Forsyth; Eustace, Hughes, Hendrick; Ward (Sammon 69), Martin, Dawkins (Bailey 83).
Substitutes not used: Freeman, Bennett, Legzdins, Whitbread, Cissé.
Chelsea
Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Cahill, David Luiz, Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Oscar (Baker 87), Essien (Hazard 55), Willian; Eto'o (Torres 64).
Substitutes not used: Cech, Mata, Terry, Kalas.
Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 32,110
