Champions Chelsea cruised into the English League Cup quarterfinals with a thumping 4-0 win over sorry Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in London on Wednesday.
The Blues must now fancy their chances of winning back the trophy they lifted for the third time in 2005, Jose Mourinho’s first prize as Blues boss.
Stand-in skipper Frank Lampard scored the first goal and set up the second for the hosts as Villa slumped to only their second defeat of the season under new boss Martin O’Neill.
The unmarked England midfielder headed the opener in the 32nd minute and laid on the second for Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko in the 65th on his return to the side after four games out.
Ghana midfielder Michael Essien made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute before Côte d’Ivoire striker Didier Drogba completed the rout two minutes later.
Both English Premiership sides fielded strong line-ups in the fourth-round tie. However, Mourinho made five changes to the team who lost 2-1 at Tottenham on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini made his first appearance since sustaining an injury against Reading on October 14, while Wayne Bridge, Khalid Boulahrouz, Geremi and Shevchenko, back from a leg injury, were also restored to the side.
Lampard captained Chelsea in the absence of suspended centre-half John Terry.
O’Neill brought midfielder Steven Davis into the side who beat Blackburn 2-0 at Villa Park on Sunday, with injured striker Chris Sutton missing out in the game against his old club.
Five-times League Cup winners Villa were roared on by 6 000-odd supporters in the 41 516-strong crowd. Their wealthy United States owner, Randy Lerner, had laid on 96 free coaches to bring fans down from Birmingham.
Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Villa at Stamford Bridge on September 30 was the only blip in a 12-game Blues run in which they won every other match. But the Blues were not to be caught cold this time.
The game sparked into life in the 12th minute when Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor played a through-ball for Juan Pablo Angel, but the Colombia hit man was too slow to react.
Then, within seconds, the visitors’ goalkeeper, Thomas Sorensen, was forced into making the first save of the game, palming away an angled blast from Drogba.
And Denmark stopper Sorensen denied the Ivorian from close range two minutes later as the Blues piled on the pressure.
But Villa’s dogged defending went to pot when Lampard was left completely unmarked to head in across Sorensen.
Davis lost the ball on the wing to Germany captain Michael Ballack, who picked out his skipper with a perfect cross. Sorensen got a hand to the ball but he could not keep it out.
Drogba missed a superb chance to make it 2-0 three minutes later, but under little pressure he curled his shot over the bar.
O’Neill brought on Patrik Berger and Liam Ridgewell for captain Gareth Barry and Martin Laursen, who both fell awkwardly.
Villa started the second half on the attack, but in the 53rd minute, Shevchenko had a well-hit blast that Sorensen did well to keep out of the top left corner of his goal. But he soon scored as Chelsea doubled their lead through a pinpoint Lampard cross from the right flank, which the Ukrainian glanced in as he stooped.
Villa threw on Czech Republic striker Milan Baros for Davis with 20 minutes remaining. Mourinho countered by bringing on midfielder Joe Cole and striker Salomon Kalou for Ballack and Shevchenko.
Villa were served notice of Chelsea’s late goal flurry when Cole shot just wide from the top of the penalty box. Geremi set up the third, receiving the ball in his own half before jinking upfield and squaring it for Essien, who weaved into the box and stabbed in.
And Drogba completed the return to form for the Blues by capitalising on a loose ball in the closing stages. — Sapa-AFP