CHELSEA OVERCAME IN-FORM Championship side Derby County 2-0 in the FA Cup third round this afternoon.
Derby have won 10 of their 15 league games since former England manager Steve McClaren took over, but they fell to second-half goals from John Mikel Obi and Oscar as Chelsea set up a fourth-round meeting with Stoke City.
José Mourinho’s side enjoyed the best of the first half at Pride Park but they were largely restricted to pot shots from distance.
Oscar went close on three occasions, while Ramires saw a low shot come back off the base of the left-hand post in first-half stoppage time.
As Chelsea continued to labour in the second period, manager Jose Mourinho introduced Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres from the bench, and in the 66th minute the visitors made the breakthrough.
Hazard’s trickery wide on the left yielded a free-kick and from Willian’s wicked, in-swinging cross, Mikel glanced home a header to mark his 300th Chelsea appearance with his fourth goal for the club.
Oscar got on the score-sheet shortly afterwards, gathering a pass from Hazard and beating Lee Grant at his near post with a powerful shot.
Torres should have added a third but after rounding Grant he got the ball caught under his feet, while Ramires also saw a deflected shot skim the bar.
This win means Chelsea will host Mark Hughes’ Stoke in the next round of the FA Cup.
